PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

How much are invasive species costing us?

2021-03-31
(Press-News.org) An invasive exotic species is one deliberately or unwittingly introduced by humans into a new habitat, where it becomes an environmental menace. In addition to the loss of biodiversity and other ecological impacts resulting from its presence, an invasive species can lead to economic losses in certain sectors, including agriculture, tourism, and public health. Though biological invasion is the second leading cause of species extinction, decision makers and the general public are still largely unaware of the issue.

After five years of study, the international research team* directed by scientists from the Écologie, Systématique et Évolution (CNRS / Paris-Saclay University / AgroParisTech) research unit have reached an estimate of the cost to human society of invasive species: at least $1.288 trillion in the period from 1970 to 2017. While this yields an annual average of $26.8 billion, the yearly bill actually tripled each decade. In 2017 alone, it hit $162.7 billion, or 20 times the combined budgets of the WHO and the UN Secretariat that year.

Yet the costs of biological invasions remain vastly underestimated and under-reported. They have ballooned over the last decades, and no reversal of the trend is visible on the horizon since the continued expansion of international commerce and transport generally brings with it more invasive species. Furthermore, the researchers note that expenses associated with preventing, monitoring, or combating the spread of these species are trifling in comparison with the cost of the damage they cause. The ravages of biological invasions by exotic species as diverse as the Asian tiger mosquito, red imported fire ant, floating primrose willow, zebra mussel, and black rat each account for losses of tens of billions of dollars.

This research has provided the first complete tally of reported costs resulting from biological invasions around the world, all species combined. It is based on the conservative analysis of 850 studies, covering 2,419 cost estimates that the team of scientists standardized to enable comparison and categorization, according to forty-some variables (e.g., species, region, habitat, and economic sector), within the InvaCost database, whose ongoing development affords a real-time snapshot of the costs associated with biological invasions.

INFORMATION:

The work of these researchers was made possible through financing of the InvaCost database by the BNP Paribas Foundation and the AXA Research Fund, via the Paris-Saclay University Foundation's Chair of Invasion Biology. Their findings plea for implementation of management measures and international political agreements aimed at countering the uncontrolled dissemination of invasive species over the next decades.

*- Scientists from the following French research units participated in this study: BOREA (CNRS / IRD / Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle / Sorbonne University), ISEM (CNRS / IRD / University of Montpellier), MIVEGEC (CNRS / IRD / University of Montpellier), and CEE-M (CNRS / INRAE / University of Montpellier / Institut Agro).



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

How comorbidities increase risks for COVID patients

2021-03-31
Comorbidities such as heart disease, respiratory disease, renal disease and cancer lead to an increased risk of death from Covid-19 according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). At the start of the pandemic, there was concern that specific medications for high blood pressure could be linked with worse outcomes for Covid-19 patients. Previous research from the UEA team showed this wasn't the case and that medications for high blood pressure could, in fact, improve Covid-19 survival rates and reduce the severity of infection. New findings, published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open, additionally show that it is comorbidities such as heart disease, respiratory ...

Mount Sinai study reveals genetic and cellular mechanisms of Crohn's disease

2021-03-31
Mount Sinai researchers have identified genetic and cellular mechanisms of Crohn's disease, providing new insights for future treatments that could offer a tailored approach to patients with the chronic inflammatory disease, according to a study published in END ...

Mice naturally engage in physical distancing, study finds

2021-03-31
CAMBRIDGE, MA -- When someone is sick, it's natural to want to stay as far from them as possible. It turns out this is also true for mice, according to an MIT study that also identified the brain circuit responsible for this distancing behavior. In a study that explores how otherwise powerful instincts can be overridden in some situations, researchers from MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory found that when male mice encountered a female mouse showing signs of illness, the males interacted very little with the females and made no attempts to mate with them as they normally would. The researchers also showed that this behavior is controlled by a circuit in the amygdala, which detects distinctive odors from sick animals and triggers a warning signal ...

Changing hypertension definition may identify more high-risk pregnancies

2021-03-31
NEW YORK, NY (March 31, 2021)--A shift in the definition of high blood pressure may help identify more women who are at risk of developing life-threatening complications during pregnancy and delivery, suggests a new study from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Under the stricter definition, more than 50,000 additional women each year in the United States could become eligible for treatment with aspirin in pregnancy, which lowers the risk of developing preeclampsia, a sudden increase in blood pressure that can lead to stroke, seizures, hemorrhage, and death. The ...

Dermatologist perceptions of teledermatology implementation, future use after COVID-19

2021-03-31
What The Study Did: This study sought to assess dermatologists' perceptions of and experiences with teledermatology in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and new regulatory changes including parity in reimbursements between video and in-person visits. Authors: Jules B. Lipoff, M.D., of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2020.0195) Editor's Note: The article includes conflict of interest disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, ...

Association between renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19

2021-03-31
What The Study Did: Researchers compared mortality and severe adverse events in this systematic review and meta-analysis of 52 studies that evaluated clinical outcomes among nearly 102,000 patients with COVID-19 who did and didn't receive angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Authors: Vassilios S. Vassiliou, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., of the University of East Anglia in Norwich, United Kingdom is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.3694) Editor's Note: The article includes conflict of interest disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, ...

Risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections, hospitalization, mortality among US nursing home residents

2021-03-31
What The Study Did: This study identified risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 incidence, hospitalization and death among nursing home residents in the United States. Authors: James S. Goodwin, M.D., of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.6315) Editor's Note: The article includes funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support. INFORMATION: Media ...

Risk factors for complications from COVID-19, perceived chances of infection and protective behavior

2021-03-31
What The Study Did: This study documented how perception of risk of infection and severe complications from COVID-19 were associated with underlying reported health. Authors: Robert F. Schoeni, Ph..D., of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.3984) Editor's Note: The article includes conflict of interest and funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest ...

Simulation-based estimation of SARS-CoV-2 infections associated with school closures and community-based interventions

2021-03-31
What The Study Did: In this decision analytical modelling study, researchers investigated the association of school reopening or closure with new and cumulative COVID-19 case numbers compared with other community-based interventions. Authors: David Naimark, M.D., M.Sc., of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada, is the corresponding author. To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/ (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.3793) Editor's Note: The article includes conflict of interest and funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict ...

How industrialized life remodels the microbiome

How industrialized life remodels the microbiome
2021-03-31
CAMBRIDGE, MA -- Thousands of different bacterial species live within the human gut. Most are beneficial, while others can be harmful. A new study from an MIT-led team has revealed that these bacterial populations can remake themselves within the lifetime of their host, by passing genes back and forth. The researchers also showed that this kind of gene transfer occurs more frequently in the microbiomes of people living in industrialized societies, possibly in response to their specific diets and lifestyles. "One unexpected consequence of humans living ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

SwRI-led work confirms decades-old theoretical models about solar reconnection

New Study identifies early signs of valve failure one year after TAVI, raising durability concerns in younger patients

Untangling glucose traffic jams in Type 2 diabetes

University of Houston professor creates new drug delivery system to tackle lupus

Community-based approach boosts family engagement in ADHD care

Identifying a compass in the human brain

How AI support can go wrong in safety-critical settings

American Geriatrics Society unveils updated alternatives to potentially harmful medications for older adults

Conflicts of interest on CDC vaccine panel were at historic lows before RFK Jr. dismissal

Stapokibart for severe uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Brain abnormalities seen in children exposed prenatally to the pesticide chlorpyrifos

Self-reported hearing aid use and risk of incident dementia

Over-the-counter oral contraceptive use and initiation of contraception

Over-the-counter pill boosts access to contraception, OHSU study finds

New research ferments the perfect recipe for fine chocolate flavor

SwRI study supports theory that asteroids Bennu and Ryugu are part of the Polana family

Seabirds only poop while flying

SwRI develops orbital debris detection system for spacecraft

Exploration and dispersal are key traits involved in a rapid range expansion

New study reveals the gene responsible for diverse color patterns in African violet flower

A novel technology to control crystallinity of pore walls

Researchers uncover potential mechanism driving treatment resistance in common breast cancer

Colorado State University shutters animal study after pressure from national research ethics group

Texas study reveals heat waves can cause more polluted air

A potential ‘green’ alternative to formaldehyde and PFAS in fabric finishing

Small molecule could alleviate acetaminophen-induced liver injury

Nuclear waste could be a source of fuel in future reactors

New study reveals preventing an hour of intense pain in chickens costs less than a hundredth of a cent

An alternative to LASIK — without the lasers

Ultrasound could deliver drugs with fewer side effects

[Press-News.org] How much are invasive species costing us?