The main objective of this project is to provide a framework for studying the risk management of biological invasions. The impact of biological invasions is well-known and can be exacerbated by the processes of global change the planet is currently undergoing. Managing an invasive species will depend on the species itself, the conditions that favored its establishment, and the public's perception of it during its establishment.
Ulex europaeus (L.), a globally invasive species outside its native range in Europe, was chosen as the model species. This species and its distribution in the Canary Islands, restricted to the island of Tenerife, will serve as a specific model for a risk analysis, since on this island the species is distributed in only a few populations and no naturalized individuals have been detected on other islands of the archipelago. However, in areas of New Zealand and on Réunion Island, U. europaeus exhibits characteristics of an invasive species that displaces native flora, which is why this species was chosen, as acquiring a thorough understanding of its status and ecology will help to determine its invasive potential on the island of Tenerife.
On the one hand, seeds from individuals from different regions of origin (New Zealand, Reunion and the Canary Islands) will be used to carry out comparative studies under different environmental conditions, and to determine which group of these populations with different origins is most favored in the different environmental gradients to which they will be working.
Furthermore, a demographic study of the species will be conducted in Tenerife. This work will be carried out using Geobotanical Information System models and will also allow for the development of potential distribution models for the species, facilitating a better understanding of its range and identifying where to focus control efforts.
A sociological study of public perception of the species will also be conducted in areas of Tenerife where it is expanding or where stable populations exist, not only with the local population but also with managers and technicians of protected natural areas. Risk perception will be assessed through specially designed surveys. With all this information, we hope to be able to determine the species' risk using a predictive digital model. Thanks to early detection and the effective management and eradication techniques described in the literature, we intend to eradicate it from the island, starting with the populations closest to the Protected Natural Areas.