Scientific Opinion on the assessment of the potential establishment of the apple snail in the EU

摘要: EFSA requested the PLH Panel to review current state of art biology and ecology apple snails, reported in this opinion, perform an environmental risk assessment for validation Plant Health environment guidance document, which will be provided a second opinion. The presents opinion develops uses population dynamics model assess potential establishment snails EU. A thorough literature on Pomacea canaliculata P. maculata was performed collect information data life history characteristics related temperature, used model. Although uncertainties systematics taxonomy genus remain, it is now acknowledged that insularum synonym can undoubtedly differentiated from canaliculata. Natural spread occurs via rivers canals, crawl, drift, float raft. Flooding increases spread. In addition, attachment animals (e.g. birds, cattle, horses, deer aquatic invertebrates) results Human assistance through cultivation transport rice seedlings, aquaculture, aquaria, boats, agricultural field machinery. distribution Europe obtained by calculating with model, average snail abundance per year each node grid 0.25 × degrees covering Europe, resulted following conclusions: (1) area comprises wetlands southern (i.e. Spain, France, most Italy Greece) Balkans up latitude Danube river, (2) includes production areas Europe. © European Food Safety Authority, 2013