Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)
The spread of invasive species (IS) has the potential to upset ecosystem balances. In extreme cases, this can hinder economical utilization of both aquatic (fisheries) and terrestrial (agricultural) systems. As a result, many countries regard risk assessment of IS as an important process for solving...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-06-01
|
| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/12/2035 |
| _version_ | 1797596492055183360 |
|---|---|
| author | Xuxin Zhang Hehe Du Zhouzhou Zhao Ying Wu Zhenjie Cao Yongcan Zhou Yun Sun |
| author_facet | Xuxin Zhang Hehe Du Zhouzhou Zhao Ying Wu Zhenjie Cao Yongcan Zhou Yun Sun |
| author_sort | Xuxin Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The spread of invasive species (IS) has the potential to upset ecosystem balances. In extreme cases, this can hinder economical utilization of both aquatic (fisheries) and terrestrial (agricultural) systems. As a result, many countries regard risk assessment of IS as an important process for solving the problem of biological invasion. Yet, some IS are purposefully introduced for what is seen as their potential economic benefits. Thus, conducting IS risk assessments and then formulating policies based on scientific information will allow protocols to be developed that can reduce problems associated with IS incursions, whether occurring purposefully or not. However, the risk assessment methods currently adopted by most countries use qualitative or semiquantitative methodologies. Currently, there is a mismatch between qualitative and quantitative assessments. Moreover, most assessment systems are for terrestrial animals. What is needed is an assessment system for aquatic animals; however, those currently available are relatively rudimentary. To fill this gap, we used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to build a risk assessment model system for aquatic IS. Our AHP has four primary indexes, twelve secondary indexes, and sixty tertiary indexes. We used this AHP to conduct quantitative risk assessments on five aquatic animals that are typically introduced in China, which have distinct biological characteristics, specific introduction purposes, and can represent different types of aquatic animals. The assessment results show that the risk grade for <i>Pterygoplichthys pardalis</i> is high; the risk grade for <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i>, <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>, and <i>Trachemys scripta</i> elegans is medium; and the grade risk for <i>Ambystoma mexicanum</i> is low. Risk assessment of the introduction of aquatic animals using our AHP is effective, and it provides support for the introduction and healthy breeding of aquatic animals. Thus, the AHP model can provide a basis for decision-making risk management concerning the introduction of species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:51:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d55bb46577b1444fa7c989aa89b48f79 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T02:51:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-d55bb46577b1444fa7c989aa89b48f792023-11-18T08:59:40ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-06-011312203510.3390/ani13122035Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP)Xuxin Zhang0Hehe Du1Zhouzhou Zhao2Ying Wu3Zhenjie Cao4Yongcan Zhou5Yun Sun6Sanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572022, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaCollaborative Innovation Center of Marine Science and Technology, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaSanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572022, ChinaSanya Nanfan Research Institute, Hainan University, Sanya 572022, ChinaThe spread of invasive species (IS) has the potential to upset ecosystem balances. In extreme cases, this can hinder economical utilization of both aquatic (fisheries) and terrestrial (agricultural) systems. As a result, many countries regard risk assessment of IS as an important process for solving the problem of biological invasion. Yet, some IS are purposefully introduced for what is seen as their potential economic benefits. Thus, conducting IS risk assessments and then formulating policies based on scientific information will allow protocols to be developed that can reduce problems associated with IS incursions, whether occurring purposefully or not. However, the risk assessment methods currently adopted by most countries use qualitative or semiquantitative methodologies. Currently, there is a mismatch between qualitative and quantitative assessments. Moreover, most assessment systems are for terrestrial animals. What is needed is an assessment system for aquatic animals; however, those currently available are relatively rudimentary. To fill this gap, we used the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to build a risk assessment model system for aquatic IS. Our AHP has four primary indexes, twelve secondary indexes, and sixty tertiary indexes. We used this AHP to conduct quantitative risk assessments on five aquatic animals that are typically introduced in China, which have distinct biological characteristics, specific introduction purposes, and can represent different types of aquatic animals. The assessment results show that the risk grade for <i>Pterygoplichthys pardalis</i> is high; the risk grade for <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i>, <i>Crassostrea gigas</i>, and <i>Trachemys scripta</i> elegans is medium; and the grade risk for <i>Ambystoma mexicanum</i> is low. Risk assessment of the introduction of aquatic animals using our AHP is effective, and it provides support for the introduction and healthy breeding of aquatic animals. Thus, the AHP model can provide a basis for decision-making risk management concerning the introduction of species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/12/2035biological invasioninvasive species (IS)introduced aquatic animalsrisk assessmentanalytic hierarchy process (AHP)aquatic ecosystem |
| spellingShingle | Xuxin Zhang Hehe Du Zhouzhou Zhao Ying Wu Zhenjie Cao Yongcan Zhou Yun Sun Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Animals biological invasion invasive species (IS) introduced aquatic animals risk assessment analytic hierarchy process (AHP) aquatic ecosystem |
| title | Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) |
| title_full | Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) |
| title_fullStr | Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) |
| title_short | Risk Assessment Model System for Aquatic Animal Introduction Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) |
| title_sort | risk assessment model system for aquatic animal introduction based on analytic hierarchy process ahp |
| topic | biological invasion invasive species (IS) introduced aquatic animals risk assessment analytic hierarchy process (AHP) aquatic ecosystem |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/12/2035 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT xuxinzhang riskassessmentmodelsystemforaquaticanimalintroductionbasedonanalytichierarchyprocessahp AT hehedu riskassessmentmodelsystemforaquaticanimalintroductionbasedonanalytichierarchyprocessahp AT zhouzhouzhao riskassessmentmodelsystemforaquaticanimalintroductionbasedonanalytichierarchyprocessahp AT yingwu riskassessmentmodelsystemforaquaticanimalintroductionbasedonanalytichierarchyprocessahp AT zhenjiecao riskassessmentmodelsystemforaquaticanimalintroductionbasedonanalytichierarchyprocessahp AT yongcanzhou riskassessmentmodelsystemforaquaticanimalintroductionbasedonanalytichierarchyprocessahp AT yunsun riskassessmentmodelsystemforaquaticanimalintroductionbasedonanalytichierarchyprocessahp |