Invasive Species
The human as a speciating force of nature!
How do we rule this planet? Mostly inadvertently, it seems. The numbers of extinctions are only matched by the displaced species which have become greater in number as they struggle to establish in new niches and habitats, including the pathogens, the unwanted and the invasive.
Human epoch or just invasive hominid species?
When we raped the Americas and dug up coal industriously for the first time, chopped down forests for ships and swapped lives for lifestyle, was that the beginning of something? Kings Philip, Louis and James began the Anthropocene, according to the latest thinking. Personally, I prefer even the 60s to that!
Dynamics of Invasive Fish Species Revealed
When a plant or animal invades your garden, your farm or your lake, the means of dealing with it can be limited. Now we have some understanding of the invasiveness, we can probably do much more to limit these IAS.
Cats control lizard populations but the reptiles adapt well
Why and how do island species suffer so much from cats, rats and dogs, and the rest of the invasive species? A few hundred years too late, we might finally be getting around to countering the effects of predators on the most vulnerable of animal species. There are also the native predators to consider, of course.
Camels lynx and eagles invade?
When is an alien species really alien? Maybe only when it is a critical danger to another species. A new book from a popular author puts forward persuasive and alarming arguments. Camels, eagles, snakes, spiders and influenza virus, wrapped up in invasive packaging.
Simply red (squirrel) is better
We struggle against invasive species, but sometimes research helps to finally understand what can be done to preserve the status quo. The red squirrel is healthy in Europe and in Scotland, but where pine forests are less common and the greys virus can strike, none remain.
From rabbiting to killer shrimps: IAS (Part II) in detail
Part II of the impact invasive alien species have on ecosystems and biodiversity. The modern ecologist calls rabbits an IAS, but European scientists have started counting the cost of all of their aliens and invaders.
IAS lose us ecosystems and biodiversity
Research into invasive species and their impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. An IAS is an Invasive Alien Species, whether human-directed or not, whether plant or animal, or the disease/parasites they carry.
Changing climate may help invasive Asian tiger mosquito spread north
The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) could be heading further north. A changing climate is creating conditions that may allow the Asian tiger mosquito to spread into northern Europe. The invasive mosquito species is associated with transmitting various infectious diseases.
Bitterling battle between parasite and host
The invasive species in this case is the recently-introduced (40 years ago) Asian mussel, Anodonta woodiana, whose larvae parasitise bitterling fish (Rhodeus amarus). These European fish use many Unionid mussels' gills as a safe haven for their vulnerable eggs.
Study highlights worrying numbers of UK ladybirds
A study has found that native UK ladybirds are declining as the invasive harlequin ladybird species spreads across Europe.
Invasive Burmese Pythons vs. The Everglades
The Burmese python is an invasive species with established populations in the Everglades National Park in Florida. The pythons are having a devastating effect on native mammal populations.
A new weapon against invasive species
The proposed Joint Work Programme to improve communication strategies in the global biodiversity community.
Invasive coconut-smelling ants reach Hawaii
A super colony of invasive odorous house ants has been established in Hawaii, the first confirmed infestation outside mainland USA. The odorous house ants (Tapinoma sessile) that emit a coconut odour when crushed have travelled to Maui, 2,500-miles from the United States mainland.
Invasions from 'above' worse than those from 'below'
New research shows that invasive species introduced 'upstream' spread more rapidly and colonize more successfully than species that are introduced downrange within a given habitat.
Help spot the invaders on British shores urges marine charity
New arrivals are crowding out native British species around the UK's coast says a marine charity which is enlisting the public to help map the extent of the invasion. The Marine Conservation Society has launched a Marine Non-native Species ID Guide to help spot these invaders so it can build up a picture of the extent of the influx.
Invasive species continue to affect ecosystems after removal
Scientists from the University of California have thrown new light on how invasive species can affect local ecosystems, even after their removal from the environment. The Kudzu Vine, Brown Tree Snake, the Common Carp, Garlic Mustard and the Blue Mussel - just a few of hundreds of invasive species threatening ecosystems across the planet.
Tackling invasive species together
The UK Environment Agency has released a list of the top 10 most threatening invasive species and there are fears that many UK rivers may fail to meet European ecological status targets as a result of the impacts of these species on ecosystems.
Trade in snakes, macaques, sharks out of control, CITES affirms
CITES convention examines effects of trade on at-risk species like long-tailed macaques, sharks, and several snake species. Unsustainable wildlife trade not only devastates local ecosystems, it also causes great suffering to individual animals and can introduce invasive species that damage ecosystems abroad.
Rodent eradication declared a success in South Georgia
50 tonnes of rodenticide spread by helicopter to remove invasive species. South Georgia has been colonised by invasive rodent species. These introduced rodents feed on the eggs and young of ground-nesting native birds, which can offer no resistance. Every year thousands, perhaps millions, of young birds are eaten alive by rats.
Wild parakeets face a UK cull
The government announces measures to kill the non-native species that is becoming a pest. The UK government is to remove a species of parakeet from the British countryside because it poses a threat to crops, electricity grids and native birds.
Alien invasion of the Antarctic
New research looks at the risk of biological invasion with fresh produce in the Antarctic region. With an exponentially increasing population of tourists and researchers, the Antarctic region is currently at increasing risk of non-native species introductions.
£100 million investment for UK river wildlife
New funding to clean rivers and waterways to boost wildlife. The funding represents the start of a four year programme to tackle pollution, invasive weeds and removing redundant man-made structures like dams and weirs that inhibit the growth and development of natural wildlife.
Native plants pushed out by introduced species as cities grow
Urbanisation is a human phenomenom but plants too are affected by the growth of cities and a new study finds flora is becoming less diverse. While the number of species in the city has remained constant at around 700, the team found many changes in the make up of the city's flora. Many non-native plants have been introduced and flourished in the city in the past 70 years, while native plants have been declining at a rate of 2.4 species-a-year.
Special ELF 'mini-harpoons' to halt Caribbean Lionfish invasion
In the Dutch Caribbean, special Lion Fish Eliminating Devices are now being implemented in an effort to halt the alarming spread of this voracious intruder. The Lionfish is creating an ecological disaster on the Caribbean coral reefs. The devices, which are not actual harpoons, have been specially developed to enable divers to capture the highly poisonous lionfish from a safe distance.
How invasive species can trigger mass extinctions
Researchers from Ohio suggest that human activity that is allowing the introduction of invasive species into ecosystems tcould potentially lead to the Eath's sixth mass extinction. 65 million years ago dinosaurs dominated the Earth. Global temperatures were between six and 14 degrees Celsius warmer than at present and sea levels were over 300 metres higher. 40% of the present land mass was under the sea.
Invasive Species and Climate Change
How climate change can give a boost to non-native species with potentially devastating results. A recent study indicates that a combination of a warmer world, more extreme weather and higher levels of planet-warming carbon dioxide have the potential to devastate ecosystems.
Arizona's cotton growers target invasive pest with new strategy
A joint initiative by cotton growers, the USDA and the University of Arizona's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has used a combination of genetically engineered crops and the deliberate release of sterile pink bollworm to almost completely eradicate this invasive pest from the state's cotton crop and allowed Arizona's cotton growers to reduce their use of pesticides.
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Recent News
We use the tiger (this is a prime Siberian example) to show up our failure to conserve wild species, but while we monopolise all the food that animals require, we could remember that it is not only their conservation we urgently need to cover. It is also our own indulgences.
How can you describe the threats existing to species, both large and small? Using the highly-threatened primates, we can perhaps see how they have contrived to exist until the current time. Then we can better understand just how we can prevent factors simply wiping them from the face of the earth, often through ignorance, lack of care, prejudice and of course the universal profit motive. Conservation begins in our minds, but demands much more than that.
What does that blue butterfly do when you are not watching. We still have to discover exactly how the Eurasian large blue exploits Myrmica ants, but many of its relatives are either cuckoos (eg. (Phengaris alcon), or outright predators like the AustralasianLiphyra brassolis larvae ,eating the whole brood of the green ants they live with. How did such diverse habits evolve? Well, start reading here.
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Recent Blog Posts
The future is certainly renewable, but are we too late to prevent future centuries problems of global warming- and the rest! Here are some current US solutions to waste and warming for you to enjoy---there are some ads in this piece but weve allowed them for one blog only.
Need to save money after the spending boom to end them all? Here are 2 sets of opinions on how to pull out the plugs at night at least.
When dolphins are 'rescued' in various countries, the car given seems to be ill-considered. We are simply looking at the success rate which is reported to be low, in most places. They could even end up in commercial aquarium shows, but they certainly rarely make it back to the sea.
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