BES in the News: Recent Press Cuttings

BBC News, 24 May 2013
100 years of aliens in our gardens
Since 1913 UK gardeners have welcomed a wealth of “alien” plant species from overseas to decorate their green spaces. Many are harmless but when some, such as the highly invasive Japanese knotweed, break out into the wider countryside they can have serious implications for our native environment. The British Ecological Society (BES) is celebrating its centenary with an exhibit: “Have aliens landed in your garden?” at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Dr Ken Thompson reveals our changing tastes for exotic plants over the last 100 years and highlights some new and unexpected animal arrivals.

Radio New Zealand, 24 May 2013
Lost in translocation?
Dr Laura Molles of Lincoln University in New Zealand talks to Radio New Zealand about her new paper in Journal of Applied Ecology on the impact of translocation on the kokako’s song

Daily Telegraph, 22 May 2013
Happy 100th birthday, British Ecological Society
Ken Thompson
You’re quite likely to be aware that the Chelsea Flower Show is 100 years old this year, but less likely to have noticed that the British Ecological Society, the oldest in the world, also has its centenary in 2013. It is celebrating with a whopping conference at ExCeL London in August, but warms up at Chelsea, in the form of an environment exhibit (GP J4) in the Great Pavilion. The theme will be how Britain’s gardens have changed over the past 100 years, with “1913 plants” and “2013 plants”, plus the odd insect …

Metro, 1 May 2013
Beware the unnatural prawn killers: Shrimp among foreign invaders threatening our wildlife
Aidan Radnedge
Their name is used to describe the quaking targets of playground bullies and anything that’s disappointingly small. But now it seems shrimps are getting their own back. A menacing member of the family of crustaceans has made a dirty dozen list of foreign invaders which are threatening our native wildlife.

Daily Telegraph, 1 May 2013
Invasive mussels latest threat to rivers
Louise Gray
A team of scientists at Cambridge University identified the 12 species that could wipe out native species and cause millions of pounds worth of damage. Some such as the giant ‘killer shrimp’ and water primrose have already arrived on our shores and are well known as pests. Others such as the Asian clams and red swamp crayfish are already here and causing damage.

University of Cambridge, 1 May 2013
‘Dirty dozen’ invasive species threaten UK
Parts of the UK are at greater risk of invasion by non-native aquatic species than previously thought, according to new research. The first to include human factors in models used to predict where invasive species will arrive and spread, the study shows the Thames, Anglian and Humber river basins are most vulnerable. The findings, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology today, should help improve control of invasive species in the UK.

RSPB Blog, 19 April 2013
Where have all the breeding waders gone and how are we going to get them back?
Jennifer Smart

BBC News, 19 December 2012
Human wellbeing can strengthen case for conservation
Mark Kinver
Linking biodiversity to health could help researchers communicate the importance of conservation. Does outdoor play help keep the doctor away? The growing evidence linking green spaces to human wellbeing could help strengthen the case for conservation, a conference has been told. Professor Ken Norris from Reading University said green spaces improved wellbeing, so that meant “they can also be linked to our health”. Ecologists need to do better when it comes to convincing people about the importance of conservation, he added. He made his comments at the British Ecological Society’s annual meeting in Birmingham.

BBC News, 18 December 2012
In pictures: Celebrating world ecology
Winning images from the British Ecological Society’s photography competition are to be shown at the Society’s annual meeting at Birmingham University from 17 to 20 December 2012.

BBC News, 18 December 2012
Invasive insects changing Antarctic landscape
Mark Kinver
An invasive species has the potential to drastically alter Antarctic ecosystems that have been isolated for millions of years, research suggests. A species of midge was able to release large volumes of nutrients into the soil, changing the way native species had lived and evolved, a UK team found. They added the species was well-suited to thrive in the extreme conditions. Details of the research were presented at the British Ecological Society’s annual meeting in Birmingham.