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Invasive Alien Species (IAS) threaten biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services, modify landscapes and impose costs to national economies. Management efforts are underway globally to reduce these impacts, but little attention has been paid to optimising the use of the scarce available resources when IAS are impossible to eradicate, and therefore population reduction and containment of their advance are the only feasible solutions. CONTAIN, a three-year multinational project involving partners from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and the UK, started in 2019. It develops and tests, via case study examples, a decision-making toolbox for managing different problematic IAS over large spatial extents. Given that vast areas are invaded, spatial prioritisation of management is necessary, often based on sparse data. In turn, these characteristics imply the need to make the best decisions possible under likely heavy uncertainty. Our decision-support toolbox will integrate the following components: (i) the relevant environmental, social, cultural, and economic impacts, including their spatial distribution; (ii) the spatio-temporal dynamics of the target IAS (focusing on dispersal and population recovery); (iii) the relationship between the abundance of the IAS and its impacts; (iv) economic methods to estimate both benefits and costs to inform the spatial prioritisation of cost-effective interventions. To ensure that our approach is relevant for different contexts in Latin America, we are working with model species having contrasting modes of dispersal, which have large environmental and/or economic impacts, and for which data already exist (invasive pines, privet, wasps, and American mink). We will also model plausible scenarios for data-poor pine and grass species, which impact local people in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. We seek the most effective strategic management actions supported by empirical data on the species’ population dynamics and dispersal that underpin reinvasion, and on intervention costs in a spatial context. Our toolbox serves to identify key uncertainties driving the systems, and especially to highlight gaps where new data would most effectively reduce uncertainty on the best course of action. The problems we are tackling are complex, and we are embedding them in a process of co-operative adaptive management, so that both researchers and managers continually improve their effectiveness by confronting different models to data. Our project is also building research capacity in Latin America by sharing knowledge/information between countries and disciplines (i.e., biological, social and economic), by training early-career researchers through research visits, through our continuous collaboration with other researchers and by training and engaging stakeholders via workshops. Finally, all these activities will establish an international network of researchers, managers and decision-makers. We expect that our lessons learned will be of use in other regions of the world where complex and inherently context-specific realities shape how societies deal with IAS.

El agua es un fluido de proceso de mucha importancia en Tecnología Nuclear. La Unidad de Actividad Química (UAQ) ha dedicado mucho esfuerzo al estudio de sus propiedades fundamentales y de sus aplicaciones, con miras a optimizar el funcionamiento de los sistemas refrigerante, moderador y auxiliares en Centrales Nucleares. Uno de los aspectos fundamentales de estudio ha sido la necesidad de mantener agua muy pura en esos circuitos, para minimizar la corrosión de los materiales estructurales, y la incorporación de radionucleídos al agua. Esta incorporación es responsable de un incremento de las dosis ocupacionales de radiación de los trabajadores. La tecnología del agua como insumo de la industria nuclear requiere poseer capacidades en la producción y mantenimiento de agua extremadamente limpia. Dichas capacidades son las que se usan también para brindar soluciones a la provisión de agua a comunidades rurales aisladas, y a las pequeñas empresas para encontrar alternativas al tratamiento de sus efluentes. Los estudios para estos fines se han canalizado a través de una colaboración con las Universidades Nacionales de San Martín y de Tucumán. Water is a fluid process of great importance in Nuclear Technology. Chemical Activity Unit (UAQ) has devoted much effort to the study of fundamental properties and applications in order to optimize the operation of cooling systems, and auxiliary moderator in nuclear power plants. One of the fundamental aspects of this study was the need for very pure water in these circuits, to minimize corrosion of structural materials, and the incorporation of radionuclides into the water. This incorporation is responsible for increased radiation dose occupational workers. Water technology as an input of the nuclear industry, for skills, is required in the production and maintenance of water extremely clean. These capabilities are also used to provide solutions to the water supply to isolated rural communities, and small businesses to find alternatives to treat their effluents. Studies for this purpose have been channeled through a partnership with the National Universities of San Martín and Tucumán. Keywords.- Water, Nuclear industry. Fil: Navntoft, Luis Christian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Araujo, Paula Zulema. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Mendive, Cecilia Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Cicerone, Daniel. No especifica; Fil: Pizarro, R.. No especifica; Fil: Soler Illia, Galo Juan de Avila Arturo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Dawidowski, Laura Elena. No especifica; Fil: Litter, Marta Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Blesa, Miguel Angel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Apella, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Hidalgo, Margarita del Valle. No especifica; Fil: Garcia, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Powell, Priscila Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Puchulu, María Bernardita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Fernández, D.. No especifica

Effective long-term management is needed to address the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) that cannot be eradicated. We describe the fundamental characteristics of long-term management policies for IAS, diagnose a major shortcoming, and outline how to produce effective IAS management. Key international and transnational management policies conflate addressing IAS impacts with controlling IAS populations. This serious purpose–implementation gap can preclude the development of broader portfolios of interventions to tackle IAS impacts. We posit that IAS management strategies should directly address impacts via impact-based interventions, and we propose six criteria to inform the choice of these interventions. We review examples of interventions focused on tackling IAS impacts, including IAS control, which reveal the range of interventions available and their varying effectiveness in counteracting IAS impacts. As the impacts caused by IAS increase globally, stakeholders need to have access to a broader and more effective set of tools to respond. Fil: García Díaz, Pablo. University of Aberdeen; Reino Unido Fil: Cassey, Philip. University of Adelaide; Australia Fil: Norbury, Grant. Crown Research Institutes. Landcare Research; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Lambin, Xavier. University of Aberdeen; Reino Unido Fil: Montti, Lia Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina Fil: Pizarro, J. Cristóbal. Universidad de Concepción; Chile Fil: Powell, Priscila Ana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina Fil: Burslem, David F. R. P.. University of Aberdeen; Reino Unido Fil: Cava, Mário. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Damasceno, Gabriella. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Fasola, Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Asociación Ornitológica del Plata; Argentina Fil: Fidelis, Alessandra. Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho; Brasil Fil: Huerta, Magdalena F.. Universidad Austral de Chile; Chile. Universidad de Concepción; Chile Fil: Langdon, Bárbara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Subsede San Martín de Los Andes-inibioma | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Subsede San Martín de Los Andes-inibioma.; Argentina Fil: Linardaki, Eirini. University of Aberdeen; Reino Unido Fil: Moyano, Jaime. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Subsede San Martín de Los Andes-inibioma | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Subsede San Martín de Los Andes-inibioma.; Argentina Fil: Nuñez, Martin Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Subsede San Martín de Los Andes-inibioma | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Subsede San Martín de Los Andes-inibioma.; Argentina Fil: Pauchard, Aníbal. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Subsede San Martín de Los Andes-inibioma | Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Subsede San Martín de Los Andes-inibioma.; Argentina Fil: Phimister, Euan. University of Aberdeen; Reino Unido Fil: Raffo, Eduardo. Gobierno de Chile. Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero; Chile Fil: Roesler, Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina Fil: Rodríguez Jorquera, Ignacio. Universidad Austral de Chile; Chile. Universidad de Concepción; Chile Fil: Tomasevic, Jorge A.. Universidad Austral de Chile; Chile. Universidad de Concepción; Chile

Dispersal abilities of invading species emerge from the interaction between the species and some features of the target community. Ligustrum lucidum is a tree species invading different ecosystems. Major spatial patterns of Ligustrum invasions and their ecological consequences have been analyzed, but no study addressed the dispersal process at a fine scale, assessing the effects of different biological and environmental factors. Ligustrum lucidum is an ornithochoric species. The structure of the environment determines bird movements and thus affects seed dispersal. We used inverse modeling to analyze bird-mediated dispersal of L. lucidum seeds in a secondary Yungas forest and surrounding crop-fields. We assessed the effects of egestion mode (regurgitation and defecation) and tree density (as an environment character) on seed dispersal. Seed dispersal presented different spatial patterns depending on the egestion mode. Tree density was positively associated with the number of regurgitated dispersed seeds and negatively associated with the number of defecated dispersed seeds. In both cases, dispersal distance increased in open areas, but absence of perches inhibited seed arrival. Thus, spread of L. lucidum is facilitated in open areas with some trees; inside the native forest, short distance dispersal facilitates the gradual invasion by this exotic species. Our results suggest that processes like crop abandonment and forest succession, which are active in subtropical montane systems, may facilitate L. lucidum invasion. Our seed dispersal models should be combined with actual distribution maps of L. lucidum to identify areas vulnerable to new invasions. Fil: Powell, Priscila Ana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Cátedra de Ecología General; Argentina Fil: Aráoz, Ezequiel. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina

One of the most proposed climate change mitigation strategies is carbon sequestration by vegetation. This depends on the rate of carbon uptake and transformation in biomass, the rate of release through respiration, and the stability of the stocks to disturbances. Forest diversity influences these factors, in a degree that varies according to certain functional characteristics. The Dry Chaco is the largest dry forest in the world, and one of the regions with the highest deforestation rates of the planet. Our aim was to geographically describe three carbon stock attributes from forest communities of the Dry Chaco Forests in Argentina at the landscape scale: wood density, tree height and annual carbon increase in aboveground biomass, as proxies of forest stability and carbon long-term persistence. In addition, we evaluated the relationships between these attributes and climate features, in the search of potential climate controls. Higher precipitation during the growing season and low mean annual temperature benefited the combination of these three treats related to C storage persistence. The distribution of the most favorable states of the three attributes is centered at the northwestern area of the Dry Chaco. Our geographic description of carbon stocks attributes can contribute to more suitable conservation planning and allows forecasting potential shifts in forests due to climate change. Fil: Powell, Priscila Ana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Cátedra de Ecología General; Argentina Fil: Nanni, Ana Sofía. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina Fil: Nazaro, María Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina Fil: Loto, Dante Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santiago del Estero. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia de Santiago del Estero; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales. Instituto de Silvicultura y Manejo de Bosques; Argentina Fil: Torres, Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Museo de Zoología; Argentina Fil: Gasparri, Nestor Ignacio. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina

Aims: Ligustrum lucidum, native to China, is one of the dominant exotic and invasive tree species in secondary forests in Argentina. (1) We assessed its invasion during 20 yr in post-agricultural secondary forests dominated by native tree species, and (2) evaluated tree demographic rates of native individuals under and away from L. lucidum trees that invaded these forests. Locations: Four 1-ha permanent plots of secondary forests, subtropical Andes of Tucumán, Argentina. Methods: We quantified the invasion of L. lucidum individuals (≥10-cm diameter) from 1991 to 2011 within four 1-ha plots of secondary forests and analysed annual growth and mortality rates of native tree individuals (≥10-cm diameter) under and away from L. lucidum trees. For this, we compared tree demographic rates of all native individuals together (community level) under and away from individuals of L. lucidum, referred to as exotic and native neighbourhoods, respectively. Then, we described the relative growth rate of native tree species in exotic/native neighbourhoods (species level) and related them to their demographic life histories and morpho-physiological traits. Results: Both density and basal area of L. lucidum increased from 0.1% to 4% between 1991 and 2011. Native tree individuals grew 65% less in exotic neighborhoods compared to native neighborhoods. Relative growth rate showed negative values under L. lucidum individuals for the abundant species Ocotea porphyria, Parapitadenia excelsa, Juglans austalis and Allophylus edulis, indicating competition; while less abundant species Terminalia triflora, Cupania vernalis and Blepharocalix saliscifolius showed positive growth values under L. lucidum, suggesting a facilitation process. Thus, L. lucidum competes efficiently with some native tree species, particularly with those abundant species that dominate the canopy. Conclusions: Ligustrum lucidum is invading post-agricultural secondary forests dominated by native tree species. While invading, L. lucidum competes with native abundant tree species that dominate the main structure of the forest canopy. As this invasive trend will likely increase in the near future, L. lucidum may alter forest structure, composition and dynamics, as well ecosystem functioning. Fil: Malizia, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina Fil: Osinaga Acosta, Oriana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina Fil: Powell, Priscila Ana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina Fil: Aragón, Myriam Roxana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina

The Dry Chaco is one of the most active agriculture frontiers, which imposes trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services (ES). Most studies analyze real or potential supply of ES associated to land use change; but they usually neglect ES social demands. Interviews to inhabitants of small urban centers in the Argentinean Dry Chaco revealed that wind speed control and dust control are high valued ES in towns within agricultural contexts. The absence of such perception in forest context towns, and the presence of vegetation covering soil during the windy and dry season support such demand. Loss of air quality –as an agricultural disservice- is a socially perceived ES so far ignored in the environmental research agenda, which should be reversed. Fil: Sacchi, Laura Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Estudios Sociales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina Fil: Powell, Priscila Ana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Cátedra de Ecología General; Argentina Fil: Gasparri, Nestor Ignacio. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina Fil: Grau, Hector Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo; Argentina

Urbanization is a global phenomenon with still unknown consequences for vegetation dynamics of urban ecosystems, especially in subtropical areas of developing countries. In this paper we analyze the vegetation productivity trend associated to urban densification and urban expansion during the last decade, in twelve cities of northern Argentina. We used time series analysis of MODIS-NDVI images to reconstruct the phenological patterns to retrieve a productivity trend under three spatial classes of urban dynamics: (1) urban, (2) expansion and (3) periphery. Our results show that trends in vegetation productivity are more associated to the environmental characteristics (basal productivity and climate) than to the land cover class. The average trend in productivity in urban areas ranged between -2.54% year-1 (Metán) and -0.22% year-1 (Concepción). In contrast, the range was much tighter between classes; it was -1.37% year-1 in urban areas and -1.21% in the periphery. In this sense we found significant differences between cities, but no significant differences were observed between classes. Urban growth and urban expansion patterns found in our study suggest the system dynamics is dominated by sprawl patterns rather than by a homogeneous densification. Related to this phenomenon, our results dismissed the idea of urban expansion as the main factor affecting vegetation phenology and supported the hypothesis of regional warming as an explanation for the decrease in vegetation productivity, probably due to the decrease of water balance in arid regions. Fil: Paolini, Leonardo. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; Argentina Fil: Aráoz, Ezequiel. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; Argentina Fil: Gioia, Antonela. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; Argentina Fil: Powell, Priscila Ana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Ecología Regional; Argentina. Universidad del Norte Santo Tomás de Aquino; Argentina