GLANSIS
Database News and Search Help
Search Tips
To obtain a list of all species that are presently included in GLANSIS, use the following search criteria defaults:
| Group | ALL |
| Lake (HUC) | ALL GREAT LAKES DRAINAGES |
| Genus, Species, Common Name | LEAVE BLANK |
| Status | ALL |
| Freshwater/Marine | ALL |
| Pathway | ALL |
| Exotic/Transplant | ALL |
The geographic limiter allows selection of a single lake or lake basin in addition to the full search. When searching on a subset, the fields in the data table will be limited to that geographic area. The map indicates the portion of the database searched. For example, when limiting the search to Lake Superior, the date returned in the data table (Year First Collected in Selected HUCs) is the first date for Lake Superior, not the first date for the Great Lakes as a whole. Status (in selected HUCs) in this table includes only the status for the geographic area searched. Likewise if one drills down past the fact sheet to the records, you will find only the records for Lake Superior if the initial search was so limited.
Database Search Terms
Status – This feature searches the actual collection records. A species may appear on lists resulting from searches based on both “reported” and “established” search criteria, usually in cases in which early records were considered ‘reports’ and only later collections identified the species as ‘established’.
Freshwater/Marine – Species with a broad salinity tolerance are dual listed as both freshwater and marine.
Exotic/Transplant– These terms are relative to the whole United States, not to the Great Lakes basin specifically. Species listed as ‘unknown pathway’ are not currently included in the cryptogenic search criterion. We currently do not list any hybrids separately from the parent species.
Pathway – This feature searches the actual collection records, each individual record may include up to 3 pathways, resulting in potentially hundreds of specific pathways per species. Thus a species may appear on multiple lists resulting from searches based on differing search criteria. Only the dominant pathways are currently included in this search feature, each combines many of the specific pathways available in the individual records. For example, shipping includes not only ballast water, but also solid ballast and hull fouling. Releases or escapes from any commercial-scale fish production facility, regardless of purpose, is considered in the aquaculture pathway. The term ‘aquarium release’ is used for cases when the probable pathway is an individual releasing a pet or single tank. There may be significant overlap between the ‘aquarium release’ and ‘pet escape’ pathways; the later is exclusively used when the invasive is the pet itself while the former may include plants, mollusks or diseases incidentally released. Bait release may overlap with aquaculture, particularly for bait species cultured in the region, if it is unknown whether particular populations came from recreation release or escape from a rearing facility. Planted and stocked are very similar terms, the former is used principally for plants (including those which escaped cultivation) and the latter for fish deliberately and legally released. Canals are separated from other forms of dispersal due to the facilitation of the dispersal by the artificial connection.
Status of the Database
Over 180 species are presently included in GLANSIS. Detailed fact sheets are available for each species.
September 15, 2009. We have now implemented point mapping for all the species in GLANSIS. Please be patient – the new point maps are slower to download than the old watershed maps, particularly for species with a lot of records. The information content is greatly improved, so we feel that for most users it is worth the longer wait. Quality control on the new maps is underway - please bring any mapping errors to our attention. We are also aware that the coverage is not complete. We are entering additional data points as quickly as possible. If you are aware of infested sites not currently mapped, please bring them to our attention. Large datasets which can be backloaded into the database are particularly appreciated.
We solicit and encourage reporting of errors and submission of corrections and additions to database information (especially verified collection records). Please contact Rochelle Sturtevant ().
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
The GLANSIS project has received funding under the Great Lakes Restoration initiative for several improvements in support of early detection and rapid response. Look for them to be rolled out over the coming year!
- Addition of ‘range expansion’ species – those native to one portion of the Great Lakes but which are considered invasive to other portions of the basin.
- Addition of high priority ‘watchlist’ species – those which have been identified in the literature as high risk for invading and becoming established in the Great Lakes.
- Updated and consistent 'impact' information, especially potential impacts, better able to risk assessment
- Addition of management information — regulations, best management practices and control methodologies – – for all the species in the database.
- Enhanced bibliographic information.
- Addition of non-technical fact sheets for priority species of public interest.
See also:
- National Invasive Species Information Center*
- NISbase - An International Nonindigenous Species Database Network (NISbase web site)*
- U.S. Geological Survey Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS web site)*
*Links lead off GLERL's website