Evolution occurs when populations of a species split across geographical regions and become inaccessible to one another. The Galapagos islands are a prime example.
Invasive species occur in the UK in four main categories: non-native (such as mollusks), wild, indigenous (it is an animal), and introduced (the products you see in jars and bags). These are not always found in the same regions but can occur at a local level. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) website, the most recent recorded invasive species is the New Zealand mud snail. How do they affect the environment? In the UK, invasive species can affect the ecology of their new environment. They can destroy native species, cause pollution, and put stress on natural ecosystems.
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A relative lack of biological control means that species can spread extremely rapidly when introduced into new environments. Larvae from imported species can also adapt to the new environment more easily than native species, potentially rapidly becoming established in numbers that overwhelm the native population. Invasive species can also have a much more serious impact on the ecosystem, which can impact humans, such as blocking waterways reducing the growth of native plants, and disrupting native biodiversity. Invasive species can be transported in goods that are imported from overseas, such as plants, pets, or fish. This is known as the 'Six Ds': Disease, Disadvantage, Dispersal, Diversion, Dumping and Depletion.
Plants and animals that are not native to a particular country, usually take over the country's native wildlife, native habitats, and destroy the country's natural infrastructure. Common examples of invasive species include harlequin; ladybirds; Japanese knotweed; Canada geese; Hispanic goat (problematic in regions of Spain); Chinese mitten crab; Muntjac deer; terrapins; grey squirrels; pheasants; giant hogweed; rhododendron; Asian hornet; and other examples from the Windermere case study include signal crayfish (which kill native crayfish) and zebra mussels (which clog up pipes).
Affected countries are desperate to protect their local environment from these unwanted intruders, but they do not have the time, manpower, or resources to deal with them. An example of this is Australia, which has built a fence along its coastline to stop the introduction of the cane toad, a native species that poses a threat to native species.
The government cannot adequately control the arrival of species from outside the UK. The world is an exceptionally large place, and space is extremely limited, the planet is teeming with life. Several things can be done, such as maintaining and practicing good biosecurity one of the most important things that can be done to help prevent the introduction of unwanted species. Biosecurity refers to the practice of prevention to eliminate or minimize the risk of a disease or an invasive organism coming to your area. No one wants to think about being unable to consume their favorite fruit, snack, or treat because they may have been infected by an invasive species, but it could be a very real possibility. So, it is only prudent to ensure regular checks of fruits and vegetables before consuming.
There are at least 60 different species of invasive species currently affecting people and places around the world and scientists estimate the total at around 200-300. While the economic impact of invasive species is not always obvious, estimates are that they cost the world $1.4 trillion a year. These costs are varied but include the disruption and loss of wildlife habitat, disease transmission, pollution, road building and destruction, and loss of food production. The loss of indigenous species leads to the loss of ecological biodiversity and the disturbance of habitats. Most species native to the UK can be classified as invasive and if the European species or those occurring within national borders are excluded there are between 300 and 600 native species in the UK that are invasive.
The first and largest scale risk of invasive species is domestic animals like sheep, cows, and pigs. Before the environmental shift that gave rise to the 'petrochemical revolution', it was not common practice to cover grassland with straw or to eat animals that roamed free. Much of our farming is now based on this natural model, and diseases like sheep scab, bovine TB, and foot and mouth spread more readily to animals with loose enclosures. Mollusks are not as common as other invasive species, but the UK produces and consumes millions of brown shrimp, known as prawns, each year. The shrimp are not native to Britain and it is becoming increasingly likely that soon we will see them entering the native population, threatening the future of the edible species.
Prevention, control, and eradication:
The first method is called prevention - UK organizations involved in controlling invasive species focus on prevention rather than control. They aim to reduce the spread of invasive species before they cause problems, by working with the species where they are found to reduce the effects of spread. This is done through, for example, changing fishing practices and encouraging farmers to use good agricultural practices, such as using field margins to prevent spread and maintaining hedgerows, which are a natural barrier against new movement of plant and animal species. Early action can be the difference between a situation that can be controlled with existing tools, or one where all the options are limited.
The second method is called control - Before any control action is undertaken, there are three basic questions asked, 1. Is this being done at the highest levels of government? 2. Is this issue discussed at a national level with representatives from all the relevant parts of government, local authorities, businesses, farming communities, environmental NGOs, and so on? 3. Is this intervention being framed in terms of its full impact on the UK in a holistic way, or is it simply being framed in terms of its impact on the rest of Europe?
The third method is called eradication - This involves removing the source of the problem (in this case the invasive species). There are many reasons to do this, the most obvious of which is the obvious in this case is that if we do not kill them then they will not eventually die out on their own and in this case, toxic chemicals are then used to kill invasive species.
Invasive species are one of the biggest environmental challenges we face, both in Europe and worldwide. The public has a role in preventing invasive species from spreading in the first place, in addition to eradicating those already in the UK and trying to prevent further spread. The future is going to be wild, so the UK must be prepared. There are strict laws the restrictions on invasive alien animals, if one is found, owned, or looked after them, and selling or displaying them for business.
The public is advised by the UK government to not keep them in their houses, gardens, or businesses; sell them to other people; exchange them for goods; release them into the environment; let them breed or escape; import them into the UK and not to export them to other countries.
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