From detection to action—a proposed workflow to ensure first reports of alien species from molecular analyses are acted upon

Gaps between detection and action often hinder timely biosecurity responses. For example, the polyphagous shot hole borer ( Euwallacea fornicatus ) was first recorded in South Africa in 2012 through DNA barcoding, but action only followed a field observation in 2017. Here we present a simple, generalisable workflow that aims to ensure molecular observations are evaluated and flagged for further action. Using South Africa as a case study, 10,084 records from the ‘Barcode of Life Data System’ (BOLD) for South Africa were compared with three datasets: a watch list of species of concern (400 species); a list of high-risk agricultural pests detected at the border but not yet established (218 species); and the Botanical Database of Southern Africa (BODATSA, 68,153 records), which includes alien plant species found outside of cultivation. We identified four species on the watch list or pest list that appear to be present in South Africa based on molecular observations, flagged four species as possible additions to the list of alien plants outside cultivation, and identified several discrepancies between lists that should be investigated and resolved. This, we believe, demonstrates the potential for the workflow to guide prioritisation of surveillance and biosecurity actions. The value of the workflow, however, depends on the curation of the underlying lists, how regularly it is applied, and institutional uptake. The workflow should thus be seen as a potential tool to improve the flow of information from detection to action within the context of an integrated and responsive biosecurity system.