Final answer:
NIS stands for Non-Indigenous Species, which are species moved outside their natural range by humans, and they may or may not impact the local ecosystems. In contrast, invasive species are a type of NIS that have caused damage. Efforts to manage NIS include multiple EU-funded projects and the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Step-by-step explanation:
NC and NIS are acronyms that refer to specialized terms within biology, specifically in ecology and environmental science. NC is not specified in the context of this question, but NIS stands for Non-Indigenous Species. Non-Indigenous Species describe those species moved outside their usual geographic range by human actions, whether intentional or accidental, and this movement does not necessarily have to impact the native species and ecosystems adversely.
An Invasive species is a subtype of NIS that has caused ecological and economic damage. On the other hand, Cryptogenic species are those for which the origin is uncertain; a species that cannot be clearly classified as native or non-indigenous.
Understanding NIS is crucial because they have been receiving significant attention by scientists, policy makers, and managers, particularly in the marine system. Efforts to address NIS include various EU-funded projects and directives like ERNAIS, DAISIE, VECTORS, and the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), which aims to achieve a Good Environmental Status (GES) and includes NIS as a key descriptor for environmental assessment.