Category Archives: Invasive Species
Invasive plants impact species richness, diversity and composition of invaded communities
Invasive non-native species have significant negative ecological and economic impacts. The negative ecological impacts have been widely reported; invasive non-native species may predate or out-compete native species, be the vectors of disease and affect ecosystem services. In the Journal of … Continue reading
Happy Birthday Darwin!
Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, naturalist and the ‘father’ of modern evolutionary theory. 2009 also sees the 15oth anniversary of the publication of ‘On the Origin of Species’, Darwin’s seminal work, setting out his … Continue reading
Scotland Launch Grey Squirrel Cull
A nationally co-ordinated programme has been launched in an attempt to save Scotland’s red squirrel. The £1.3m project will develop habitats in which the red squirrel can thrive, but will also attempt to control the grey population by trapping and … Continue reading
New Model Sheds Light on Mosquito Spread in a Changing Climate
A new study, published online in the British Ecological Society journal, Functional Ecology, uses an innovative model to predict the spread of human disease vectors in a changing climate. Warren Porter, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has developed a unique … Continue reading
London Train Company to Tackle Knotweed
A London railway operator, Tube Lines Group, has announced plans to eradicate the invasive Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) from more than 120 sites across London, using the new chemical herbicide ‘Tordon’. If successful, Tube Line will become the first train … Continue reading
Alien vs. Predator: Battle of the Non-Natives
Two non-native invasive species; the chinese mitten crab and the non-native crayfishs‘ ranges are set to overlap in the near future. Both crustaceans are formidable predators, with a tendency to damage the ecology of their local environment. The signal crayfish … Continue reading
End in Sight for Japanese Knotweed?
A team of scientists based at the Centre for Agricultural and Biosciences International (CABI), after extensive experimental trials, have finally found a solution to the super invasive Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica. Japanese knotweed is one of several invasive non-native species, … Continue reading
British Waterways Releases List of ‘Dirty Dozen’ Invasive Non-Native Species
British Waterways has today released a list of the 12 non-native species most likely to damage the country’s canals, rivers and towpaths, harming native wildlife. The organisation is encouraging people to think about the impact on the environment before releasing … Continue reading
Knowledge and Policy Gaps in Coastal Invasive Species Management
New research published recently in Estuaries and Coastal Science indicates that current policy and knowledge of invasive species in coastal and estuarine areas is seriously lacking. Shipping may introduce invasive non-native species (INNS) through the emptying of ballast water in … Continue reading
GB Invasive Non-Native Species Strategy Launched
Defra yesterday launched the Great Britain Invasive Non-Native Species Framework Strategy, aiming to coordinate existing programmes to tackle non-native invasive species in England, Scotland and Wales and to introduce means to spot threats posed by invaders much earlier. It is … Continue reading