Checklist of introduced taxa in Cyprus

Data Records

The data in this checklist resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 1,499 records.

2 extension data tables also exist. An extension record supplies extra information about a core record. The number of records in each extension data table is illustrated below.

This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.

Versions

The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.

How to cite

Researchers should cite this work as follows:

Demetriou J, Roy H, Zenetos A, Reyserhove L, Martinou A (2026). Checklist of introduced taxa in Cyprus. Version 1.2. The Cyprus Institute. Checklist dataset. https://cloud.gbif.org/eca/resource?r=alien-species-cyprus&v=1.2

Rights

Researchers should respect the following rights statement:

The publisher and rights holder of this work is The Cyprus Institute. To the extent possible under law, the publisher has waived all rights to these data and has dedicated them to the Public Domain (CC0 1.0). Users may copy, modify, distribute and use the work, including for commercial purposes, without restriction.

GBIF Registration

This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: 40344688-4ac9-41c0-abdc-ad4556a76dc0.  The Cyprus Institute publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by Participant Node Managers Committee.

Keywords

Checklist; Inventorythematic; alien species; biological invasions; checklist; introduced species; invasive alien species

Contacts

Geographic Coverage

Cyprus

Taxonomic Coverage

All introduced species in Cyprus

Project Data

Invasive alien species (IAS) are fungi, plants and animals that are – unintentionally or intentionally – introduced by human activities into ecosystems where they do not naturally occur, causing significant harm to nature and, in some cases, people too. OneSTOP seeks to minimise the introduction, establishment and spread of terrestrial invasive alien species. It does so by integrating new detection approaches with data dissemination methods and models to prioritise species and action through stakeholder engagement and effective management. By leveraging technologies including computer vision, environmental DNA (eDNA) and citizen science, the project is developing novel approaches for species detection. To support policymakers and practitioners, OneSTOP is implementing a data-driven prioritisation system that uses automated workflows, model projections, and multi-criteria analysis to assess and rank risks effectively. By ensuring that IAS data and software are open and FAIR, the project facilitates rapid information sharing to inform rapid action. OneSTOP is also incorporating co-creation methodologies through five Living Labs, culturomics for socioeconomic insights, and active stakeholder participation to harmonise policy goals, enhance public engagement and improve IAS management strategies. More information on OneSTOP is available at the project homepage: https://onestop-project.eu/.

The personnel involved in the project:

Sampling Methods

Bibliographic compilation of records of alien, cryptogenic and data-deficient taxa on the island of Cyprus based on checklists published in the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species on Cyprus (Martinou et al. 2022) and the Cyprus Database of Alien Species (CyDAS) (Demetriou et al. 2025). Checklists include records from scientific literature, online sources (Hand et al. 2011; CyArthros 2024; EASIN 2026; WoRMS Editorial Board 2026), review and research articles (e.g. Georgiadis 1995; Katsanevakis et al. 2009; Zenetos et al. 2009, 2022, 2024; Gerber and Schaffner 2016; Magliozi et al. 2022; Demetriou et al. 2023; Rousou et al. 2023; Michail et al. 2026), citizen-science data (iNaturalist) as well as expert consultation, including up-to-date information up to April 30th 2026.

Method step description:

1. The source data for this checklist is a Google spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xN4xmYDG-vdggcT8arDlQrlrgqlxFvNBYS5P1kVhwFY/edit?gid=818849950#gid=818849950
2. This raw data file was reformatted to make it more machine-readable and uploaded to a GitHub repository (https://github.com/onestop-project/alien-species-cyprus). We developed a RMarkdown script to document and perform the transformation of the data to Darwin Core.
3. The resulting Darwin Core data files are uploaded to the ECA IPT and documented with metadata. This dataset was published to GBIF.

Bibliographic Citations

1. CyArthros (2024) Terrestrial Arthropods of Cyprus (https://cyarthros.myspecies.info/).
2. Demetriou J, Martinou AF, Bowler D, Peyton J, Pescott OL, Michailidis N, Mountford O, Onete M, Stoumboudi M, Rathod B, van Breda J, Roy HE, Zenetos A (2025) The Cyprus Database of Alien Species (CyDAS). Scientific Data 12: 1881 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-06151-w
3. Demetriou J, Radea C, Peyton JM, Groom Q, Roques A, Rabitsch W, Seraphides N, Arianoutsou M, Roy HE, Martinou AF (2023) The Alien to Cyprus Entomofauna (ACE) database: a review of the current status of alien insects (Arthropoda, Insecta) including an updated species checklist, discussion on impacts and recommendations for informing management. NeoBiota 83: 11-42. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.83.96823
4. EASIN (2026) European Alien Species Information Network https://easin.jrc.ec.europa.eu/easin
5. Georgiades C (1995) The adventive flora of Cyprus, taxonomic, floristic, phytogeographic, ecophysiological study (Ph.D. Thesis, Athens University, 1995).
6. Gerber E, Schaffner U (2016) Review of Invertebrate Biological Control Agents Introduced Into Europe (CABI Switzerland, 2016).
7. Hand R, Hadjikyriakou GN, Christodoulou CS (2011-) Flora of Cyprus – a dynamic checklist http://www.flora-of-cyprus.eu/.
8. Katsanevakis S, Tsiamis K, Ioannou G, Michailidis N, Zenetos A (2009) Inventory of alien marine species of Cyprus (2009). Mediterranean Marine Science 10(2): 109–134. https://doi.org/10.12681/mms.113
9. Magliozzi C, Artois M, Bertaccini A, Candresse T, Tsiamis K, D’Amico F, Deriu I, Gervasini E, Cardoso AC (2022) European primary datasets of alien bacteria and viruses. Scientific Data 9(1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-022-01485-1
10. Martinou A, Pescott O, Michailidis N, Zenetos A, Jenna Wong L, Pagad S (2020) Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species - Cyprus. Version 1.9. Invasive Species Specialist Group ISSG. Checklist dataset. https://doi.org/10.15468/uryl57
11. Michail C, Crocetta F, Zenetos A, Langeneck J, Tsiamis K, Tiralongo F, Kletou D, Constantinou G, Cai LL, Vasiliades L, Rousou M, Katsanevakis S, Tanduo V, Hadjieftychiou SI, Papageorgiou IV, Kleitou P (2026) Marine non-indigenous species of Cyprus: pathways, introduction dynamics, spatial patterns, and policy implications. Biological Invasions 28(97). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-026-03814-6
12. Rousou M, Langeneck J, Apserou C, Arvanitidis C, Charalambous S, Chrysanthou K, Constantinides G, Dimitriou PD, García Gómez SC, Hadjieftychiou SI (2023) Polychaetes (Annelida) of Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea): An Updated and Annotated Checklist including New Distribution Records. Diversity 15(8): 941. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15080941
13. WoRMS Editorial Board (2026) World Register of Marine Species https://www.marinespecies.org.
14. Zenetos A, Konstantinou F, Konstantinou G (2009) Towards homogenization of the Levantine alien biota: Additions to the alien molluscan fauna along the Cypriot coast. Marine Biodiversity Records 2: e156. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755267209990832
15. Zenetos A, Tsiamis K, Galanidi M, Carvalho N, Bartilotti C, Canning-Clode J, Castriota L, Chainho P, Comas-González R, Costa AC (2022) Status and Trends in the Rate of Introduction of Marine Non-Indigenous Species in European Seas. Diversity 14(12):1077. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121077
16. Zenetos A, Delongueville C, Scaillet R (2024) An overlooked group of citizen scientists in non indigenous species (NIS) information: shell collectors and their contribution to molluscan NIS xenodiversity. Diversity 16: 299. https://doi.org/10.3390/d16050299

Additional Metadata