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Britain is home to 2,000 invasive species, including the gray squirrel, which threaten our native wildlife, experts warn.
A major report, published today, reveals the extent to which “alien” species have spread across the planet, wreaking havoc on wildlife and even human health.
Thousands of these plants, animals and other organisms can be found in Britain, having been introduced by human activity.
These include gray squirrels, Asian hornets and rhododendrons, which can be devastating to our native species.
The report, which is the first global analysis of invasive alien species and their management, is produced by the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Britain is home to 2,000 invasive species, including the gray squirrel, which threaten our native wildlife, experts warn. In the photo: giant hogweed
This shows that there are more than 37,000 alien species introduced by human activities to regions around the world, with a global economic cost of £336 billion in 2019.
Of these, 3,500 are ‘invasive’, with known negative consequences for nature and humans.
More than 200 new alien species are recorded each year, and these have been a major factor in 60 percent of global animal and plant extinctions.
Professor Helen Roy, an ecologist at the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology and co-chair of the report, said one of the best-known biological invasions in Britain is that of the gray squirrel.
They were first introduced to England from North America in 1876 as an ornamental species to populate the grounds of stately homes.
It wasn’t until 1930 that the damage caused by the species was recognized: They compete with our native red squirrels for food and habitat and carry a deadly virus that can kill red squirrel populations.
They are also devastating to British timber, costing the industry around £14 million a year.
“But there are other examples as well,” Professor Roy said. ‘Minks in Britain are causing problems for native water mice and driving their numbers to very low levels.
‘The rhododendron, which is so prolific in the understory of many UK forests, is definitely a reservoir for fungal tree diseases.
Professor Helen Roy, an ecologist at the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology and co-chair of the report, said one of the best-known biological invasions in Britain is that of the gray squirrel.
There have been increasing sightings of the Asian hornet in recent years, raising concerns that it is an important predator for our native bees
‘Killer shrimp also cause a lot of problems in our freshwater systems.’
In recent years there have been increasing sightings of the Asian hornet, raising concerns that it is an important predator for our native bees.
Experts are also concerned about the harlequin ladybug, an aggressive predator with a huge appetite that could threaten our native ladybugs by outcompeting them for food.
Giant hogweed, on the other hand, is an alien species that can affect human health, sometimes causing unpleasant blisters on the skin of people who come into contact with it.
Of Britain’s 2,000 non-native species, 12 to 14 per cent are known to cause problems for biodiversity and ecosystems, Professor Roy added.
The oak processionary caterpillar, accidentally introduced to imported trees in London in 2006, can have devastating effects on oak trees.
They also release a toxic protein that causes rashes, irritation and breathing difficulties in animals and humans.
Experts are also concerned that some alien species not currently found in Britain could arrive soon, such as raccoons.
The IPBES report describes invasive alien species as one of the top five drivers of the ‘biodiversity apocalypse’, linked to climate change and pollution.
Commenting on the report, Dr. James Bell, Quantitative Ecologist at Rothamsted Research said: ‘This report represents an important milestone and provides much-needed evidence on how humans and nature are under extreme pressure from more than 3,500 invasive alien species around the world.
‘Professor Helen Roy is a world leader in monitoring invasive alien species and her team provides the scientific basis to support the UK’s policy response and species alerts.’
‘Early detection and monitoring of these invasive species is key to success, yet we are still very vulnerable.
‘Effective control is often absent or too complicated, which is why prevention is better than cure.
‘Take for example the Box Tree Moth caterpillar which has spread rapidly from East Asia across continental Europe and is now systematically defoliating native boxwood plants in southern England, not to mention our beloved garden boxwood plants – we can only watch.
“The UK is not keeping pace with the rapid increase in invasive alien species and effective, coordinated control at national level is imperative.
Experts are also concerned about harlequin ladybugs, an aggressive predator with a huge appetite that could threaten our native ladybugs by outcompeting them for food.
“Significant new investment in monitoring infrastructure and control measures is needed to help conservation organizations identify and then mitigate growing threats.
Several recent invasions of Britain should cause us concern for the near future and beyond.
“This includes the impact of the Asian hornet on our honeybees, the devastating effects of the rapidly spreading Himalayan balsam on our precious wildlife reserves, and the growth of ‘crayfish plague’, a disease spread by the invasive American signal crayfish. to exterminate our native crayfish.’