The Brazilian Biological Invasion Platform: six years of lessons learned reporting non-native marine species

Considering the potential ecological, socioeconomic, and human health threats related to non-native species introduction, the management of biological invasions is a priority for biodiversity conservation and human welfare. Science-based databases that provide lists and records of non-native species are fundamental to supporting regional and local management actions and decision-making processes. When easily available and disseminated, they can also reach the broader public and foster societal engagement. Here, we describe our experience with the Brazilian Biological Invasion Platform, a portal launched in 2019 that compiles and reports records of estuarine and marine non-native species in Brazil. The system was developed by integrating the Application Programming Interface (API) from Google Maps. Data collation involves four steps: (i) taxon selection; (ii) searches for non-native species reported for Brazil in the scientific literature (including gray literature); (iii) data filtration and extraction to spreadsheets for each species—date, type of record, spatial coordinates, habitat, ecosystem, and source of information; and (iv) careful revision and data transfer to a general database. Finally, the records are uploaded to the platform. The website allows searches by species and by record, with different filters, which are displayed on a map. People and institutions can contribute recommendations, comments, and new records through an online form. The portal encompasses more than 188 non-native and 151 cryptogenic species, with over 6,200 georeferenced records of zoo- and phytoplankton, zoo- and phytobenthos, nekton, and bacteria. We discuss the decision-making process and lessons learned during the first years of the platform, highlighting its impact on management and science outreach, gaps, needs, and challenges, in addition to perspectives for the coming years. Sharing these experiences will contribute to other initiatives already in progress or under development, which constitute important tools to connect biological invasion science, policy, and social awareness.