GLANSIS Data Dictionary

Figure 1: Proposed framework by Kocovsky et al. (2018; Figure 1), modified from Blackburn et al. (2011; Figure 1), for management alternatives for non-native and invasive species.

Figure 2: GLANSIS controlled vocabulary for the establishment process.

Considerations (Methods Explorer and results, Species Level Risk Assessments Explorer results) – The GLANSIS Risk Clearinghouse Methods Explorer enables searching for Risk Assessments Method Literature by features of the methods. Searchable features include whether the method addresses each of the following considerations.

• Arrival – The initial stage of the establishment process during which the non-native species initially enters the system of interest.
• Survival – The stage marked as 'Survival' in Figure 1.
• Establishment – The stage at which a species is reproducing and overwintering. Since survival is an element of establishment, a method that considers survival is always categorized as considering establishment as well.
• Spread – The section of Figure 1 between C3 and D2.
• Ecological Impacts – See Impact Terms section of dictionary.
• Socioeconomic Impacts – See Impact Terms section of dictionary.
• Manageability – An assessment considers manageability if it contains any statements about whether a species can be managed and/or how easy or difficult management is for that species.
• Management (Species profiles) – Management efforts related to controlling or eradicating species, including Regulations and Biological, Physical, or Chemical Controls.

• Lake (HUC) (Species List Generator, Map Explorer, species profiles) – All GLANSIS records are point data, but each point is assigned the corresponding Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC). An explanation of HUCs can be found at https://water.usgs.gov/GIS/huc.html.
• Basemap (Map Explorer) – Various foundational map layers, such as Topographic, National Geographic, Oceans, Gray, Dark Gray, Imagery, and USA Topographic.
• Surface Layers (Map Explorer)
  • General: Geomorphology depth, Geomorphology substrate, Spring/Summer surface temperatures, Cumulative degree days, Ice duration, and Upwelling.
  • Ecological Classification: Aquatic ecological units (An ecological classification with 77 types, each of which depicts a unique combination of depth, thermal regime, mechanical energy, and tributary influence).
  • Habitat Suitability: Layers representing the suitability of the Great Lakes for a particular species (e.g., Hydrilla, Grass Carp, Snakehead) based on Niche Centrality, Benthic Temp, Growing Degree Days, SAV, and Photic zones.
• Shoreline Layers (Map Explorer) – Includes Shoreline Classification and Sinuosity.

The terms in this section are used exclusively in the Risk Assessment Methods Explorer.

• Publication Type
  • Peer – Peer-reviewed literature appears in published scientific journal articles or books.
  • Gray – Information produced outside of traditional publishing (reports, policy literature, theses, working papers, etc).
  • Web – Sources taken from the internet, not typically subject to a review process.
• Geographic scope – This field selects the geographic range of the original methodology.
• Taxonomic scope – This field selects the taxa for which the method was designed.
• Assessment Type
  • Qualitative – Assessment based on non-numerical data.
  • Quantitative – Assessment based on numerical data.
  • Scenario (vector) associated risk – Assessment in which multiple possible future scenarios are assessed for risk.
  • Semi-quantitative – Assessment in which qualitative data is collected, then assigned numerical values.
• Result Type
  • Binary – Results answer a yes/no question.
  • Categorical – Results fall into predefined categories (e.g., high, moderate, low).
  • Heat Maps – Results are presented as a map with color indicating an area's risk.
  • Probabilistic – Results express risk as a percentage.
• Review Type
  • Agency – Used for government agency reports.
  • Committee – Reviewed by a committee (e.g. theses and dissertations).
  • External – Reviewed by reviewer(s) outside the agency/institution.
  • Internal – Reviewed by reviewer(s) within the agency/institution.
  • Peer – Highest level of review. Truly blind review process.

An impact is defined as an effect that a species has on an ecosystem, flora/fauna, human health, and/or economy in the area where it is introduced. Impacts are recorded globally in the backbone NAS Database where a species is introduced outside of its historic range.

GLANSIS Organisms Impact Assessments (OIA) and Risk Assessments (RA) subdivide impact into 3 primary categories: Environmental Impact, Socio-economic Impact, and Beneficial Impact.

Table 1. Cross-platform comparison of the GLANSIS and NAS Impact Type categories.