Invasive species in the British Isles
Encyclopedia
As with other islands globally, the British Isles are particularly vulnerable to invasive species. Usually, an island will have several distinct species, which are not present on the nearest mainland, and vice-versa. Species coming in to the British Isles
from elsewhere can have a severe impact on native wildlife, bringing disease, out-competing for resources and introducing new predators in to the food chain. However, it is worth mentioning that the Romans
introduced many new plants which we now revere and cultivate such as the sweet chestnut
and horseradish
. They also may have introduced the edible snail, Helix pomatia
, although it has never entered British cuisine.
But invasive non-native species are not only an economic problem, they are also a well known threat to our environment. From challenging the survival of our rarest species (see our case studies on the Red Squirrel and Water Vole) to damaging some of our most sensitive ecosystems (see our freshwater and small islands examples), the biodiversity impacts of invasive non-native species are severe and growing. Their impact is now so significant that they are considered to be one of the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide - even more than pollution or climate change.
It’s not just our wildlife that suffers, invasive non-native species can also have an impact on the way we live. Some species have a direct impact on our health (see the dangers of Giant Hogweed) while others have less apparent, but just as serious effects (see flooding and invasive non-native species).
Unlike some other serious environmental problems, such as pollution, the effect of an invasive non-native species is not a one off event. Once a species has been introduced the problems persist and escalate as the species spreads further. If we don't act, the problem of invasive non-native species will continue to escalate at an ever increasing rate, causing us to feel more of the impacts and incur more cost every year.
Case studies of impact examples can be found at the Non-native Species Secretariat website.
Information on control methods for aquatic species can be found at the GB Non-native Species Secretariat website.
from North America
, which out-competes the smaller native Red Squirrel
, as well as carrying a virus that is fatal to the Reds. Attempts to eradicate the grey have proved unsuccessful, and priority is now being given to preserving the remaining Red habitats.
The following is a partial list of invasive species:
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
from elsewhere can have a severe impact on native wildlife, bringing disease, out-competing for resources and introducing new predators in to the food chain. However, it is worth mentioning that the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
introduced many new plants which we now revere and cultivate such as the sweet chestnut
Sweet Chestnut
Castanea sativa is a species of the flowering plant family Fagaceae, the tree and its edible seeds are referred to by several common names such Sweet Chestnut or Marron. Originally native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, it is now widely dispersed throughout Europe and parts of Asia, such as...
and horseradish
Horseradish
Horseradish is a perennial plant of the Brassicaceae family, which also includes mustard, wasabi, broccoli, and cabbages. The plant is probably native to south eastern Europe and the Arab World , but is popular around the world today...
. They also may have introduced the edible snail, Helix pomatia
Helix pomatia
Helix pomatia, common names the Burgundy snail, Roman snail, edible snail or escargot, is a species of large, edible, air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusk in the family Helicidae...
, although it has never entered British cuisine.
Problems
Whether you are interested in the environment or not, the problems caused by invasive non-native species affect us all. For a start, they cost us billions of pounds - in the region of £2 billion every single year in Britain alone.But invasive non-native species are not only an economic problem, they are also a well known threat to our environment. From challenging the survival of our rarest species (see our case studies on the Red Squirrel and Water Vole) to damaging some of our most sensitive ecosystems (see our freshwater and small islands examples), the biodiversity impacts of invasive non-native species are severe and growing. Their impact is now so significant that they are considered to be one of the greatest threats to biodiversity worldwide - even more than pollution or climate change.
It’s not just our wildlife that suffers, invasive non-native species can also have an impact on the way we live. Some species have a direct impact on our health (see the dangers of Giant Hogweed) while others have less apparent, but just as serious effects (see flooding and invasive non-native species).
Unlike some other serious environmental problems, such as pollution, the effect of an invasive non-native species is not a one off event. Once a species has been introduced the problems persist and escalate as the species spreads further. If we don't act, the problem of invasive non-native species will continue to escalate at an ever increasing rate, causing us to feel more of the impacts and incur more cost every year.
Management of invasive species
Whilst some species have adapted harmoniously in to the ecology of the British Isles, the presence of some has proved disastrous for native flora and fauna.Case studies of impact examples can be found at the Non-native Species Secretariat website.
Information on control methods for aquatic species can be found at the GB Non-native Species Secretariat website.
Grey Squirrel
One very notable example is that of the Grey SquirrelEastern Gray Squirrel
The eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
from North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, which out-competes the smaller native Red Squirrel
Red Squirrel
The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia...
, as well as carrying a virus that is fatal to the Reds. Attempts to eradicate the grey have proved unsuccessful, and priority is now being given to preserving the remaining Red habitats.
The following is a partial list of invasive species:
Mammals
- Brown RatBrown RatThe brown rat, common rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Brown Norway rat, Norwegian rat, or wharf rat is one of the best known and most common rats....
- Black RatBlack RatThe black rat is a common long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus in the subfamily Murinae . The species originated in tropical Asia and spread through the Near East in Roman times before reaching Europe by the 1st century and spreading with Europeans across the world.-Taxonomy:The black rat was...
- House MouseHouse mouseThe house mouse is a small rodent, a mouse, one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus.As a wild animal the house mouse mainly lives associated with humans, causing damage to crops and stored food....
- Grey squirrelEastern Gray SquirrelThe eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus native to the eastern and midwestern United States, and to the southerly portions of the eastern provinces of Canada...
from North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas... - Edible dormouseEdible dormouseThe edible dormouse or fat dormouse is a large dormouse and the only living species in the genus Glis.-Description:...
from Europe - CoypuCoypuThe coypu , , also known as the river rat, and nutria, is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent and the only member of the family Myocastoridae. Originally native to subtropical and temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by...
from South AmericaSouth AmericaSouth America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
(subsequently eradicated) - European RabbitEuropean RabbitThe European Rabbit or Common Rabbit is a species of rabbit native to south west Europe and north west Africa . It has been widely introduced elsewhere often with devastating effects on local biodiversity...
from continental EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... - American minkAmerican MinkThe American mink is a semi-aquatic species of Mustelid native to North America, though human intervention has expanded its range to many parts of Europe and South America. Because of this, it is classed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Since the extinction of the sea mink, the American mink is the...
- Red-necked wallabyRed-necked WallabyThe Red-necked Wallaby is a medium-sized marsupial macropod, common in the more temperate and fertile parts of eastern Australia, including Tasmania.- Description :...
from AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... - Feral goatFeral goatThe feral goat is the domestic goat when it has become established in the wild. Feral goats occur in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Great Britain, Hawaii, the Galapagos and in many other parts of the world...
- Reeves's MuntjacReeves's MuntjacThe Reeves' Muntjac is a muntjac species found widely in southeastern China and in Taiwan. They have also been introduced in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Ireland by 2008. It feeds on herbs, blossoms, succulent shoots, grasses and nuts, and was also reported to eat trees...
deer from ChinaChinaChinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... - Fallow deerFallow DeerThe Fallow Deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. This common species is native to western Eurasia, but has been introduced widely elsewhere. It often includes the rarer Persian Fallow Deer as a subspecies , while others treat it as an entirely different species The Fallow...
from continental Europe - Sika deerSika DeerThe Sika Deer, Cervus nippon, also known as the Spotted Deer or the Japanese Deer, is a species of deer native to much of East Asia and introduced to various other parts of the world...
from AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population... - Chinese water deer from China
- Domestic cat from the Middle East
Birds
- Ruddy DuckRuddy DuckThe Ruddy Duck is a small stiff-tailed duck.Their breeding habitat is marshy lakes and ponds throughout much of North America, and in South America in the Andes. They nest in dense marsh vegetation near water. The female builds her nest out of grass, locating it in tall vegetation to hide it from...
from America - Mandarin DuckMandarin DuckThe Mandarin Duck , or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan.-Description:...
from Asia - Little OwlLittle OwlThe Little Owl is a bird which is resident in much of the temperate and warmer parts of Europe, Asia east to Korea, and north Africa. It is not native to Great Britain, but was first introduced in 1842, and is now naturalised there...
from mainland Europe - Rose-ringed ParakeetRose-ringed ParakeetThe Rose-ringed Parakeet , also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that has an extremely large range. Since the trend of the population appears to be increasing, the species has been evaluated as Least Concern by IUCN in 2009.Rose-ringed parakeets are...
from AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population... - Red-legged PartridgeRed-legged PartridgeThe Red-legged Partridge is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds. It is sometimes known as French Partridge, to distinguish it from the Grey or English Partridge....
- Golden PheasantGolden PheasantThe Golden Pheasant or "Chinese Pheasant", is a gamebird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae...
from Asia - Lady Amherst's PheasantLady Amherst's PheasantThe Lady Amherst's Pheasant, Chrysolophus amherstiae, is a bird of the order Galliformes and the family Phasianidae.These are native to south western China and Myanmar, but have been introduced elsewhere, and have established a self-supporting, but now declining, feral population in England, the...
- Common PheasantCommon PheasantThe Common Pheasant , is a bird in the pheasant family . It is native to Georgia and has been widely introduced elsewhere as a game bird. In parts of its range, namely in places where none of its relatives occur such as in Europe , it is simply known as the "pheasant"...
- Canada GooseCanada GooseThe Canada Goose is a wild goose belonging to the genus Branta, which is native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, having a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body....
Amphibians
- Alpine NewtAlpine NewtThe Alpine Newt is a newt of the Salamander order Caudata in the class of Amphibians.-Description:...
- Midwife ToadMidwife toadMidwife toads are a genus of frogs in the Discoglossidae family, and are found in most of Europe and northwestern Africa. Characteristic of these toad-like frogs is their parental care: the males carry a string of fertilised eggs on their back, hence the name "midwife". The female expels a strand...
- Yellow-bellied ToadYellow-bellied toadThe Yellow-Bellied Toad belongs to the order of Anura, the archaeobatrachial family of Bombinatoridae, and to the genus of fire-bellied toads.- Anatomy :...
- Marsh FrogMarsh FrogThe Marsh Frog is the largest frog native to Europe and belongs to the family of true frogs. It is very similar in appearance to the closely related Edible Frog and Pool Frog...
- European tree frogEuropean tree frogThe European tree frog is the common name of Hyla arborea. The original name of this frog was Rana arborea. Some of the other common names include:*Rainette verte *Laubfrosch *Ranita de San Antonio...
- Edible FrogEdible FrogThe Edible Frog is a name for a common European frog, also known as the common water frog or green frog . It is used for food, particularly in France for the delicacy frog legs...
- American bullfrogBullfrogThe American bullfrog , often simply known as the bullfrog in Canada and the United States, is an aquatic frog, a member of the family Ranidae, or “true frogs”, native to much of North America. This is a frog of larger, permanent water bodies, swamps, ponds, and lakes, where it is usually found...
(not established)
Butterflies and moths
- Large Chequered SkipperLarge Chequered SkipperThe Large Chequered Skipper is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. The species can be found in isolated populations in Europe. It is endanged in The Netherlands....
butterfly from continental Europe to Channel IslandsChannel IslandsThe Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
(subsequently lost) - Large CopperLarge CopperThe Large Copper is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.The insect has a wide range occurring throughout the Northern Palearctic ecozone north to the middle taiga zone .-Subspecies:...
butterfly Lycaena dispar rutilus from Continental Europe (subsequently lost) - Large CopperLarge CopperThe Large Copper is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.The insect has a wide range occurring throughout the Northern Palearctic ecozone north to the middle taiga zone .-Subspecies:...
butterfly Lycaena dispar batavus from The Netherlands (subsequently lost) - Large Blue butterfly from SwedenSwedenSweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
- Geranium BronzeGeranium BronzeThe Geranium Bronze or Brun des pélargoniums in French is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.The wingspan is 15–23 mm for males and 18–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas, but usually from August to May in South Africa...
butterfly from South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
via Southern Europe on geranium (not established) - MapMap (butterfly)The Map is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is common throughout the lowlands of central and eastern Europe, and is expanding its range in western Europe....
butterfly (subsequently eradicated) - Psychoides filicivora moth from the Far EastFar EastThe Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
- Azalea Leaf MinerCaloptilia azaleellaThe Azalea leaf miner is a moth of the Gracillariidae family. It is endemic to Japan, but has been introduced worldwide.The wingspan is 10-11 mm. The moth flies from May to October depending on the location....
moth from East AsiaAsiaAsia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population... - Argyresthia cupressellaArgyresthia cupressellaThe Cypress Tip Moth is a moth of the Yponomeutidae family. It is endemic to the western coast of the United States and Canada, but has been introduced in Europe.The wingspan is 8–9 mm...
moth from United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - Brown House Moth from Asia
- Tachystola acroxanthaTachystola acroxanthaTachystola acroxantha is a moth of the Oecophoridae family. It is native to Australia, but is an invasive species in Europe. It was probably imported with Australian plants....
moth from AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... - Coleotechnites piceaellaColeotechnites piceaellaThe Orange Spruce Needleminer is a moth of the Gelechiidae family. It is found in north-eastern United States and Canada...
moth from United States - Cotoneaster Webworm moth from United States
- Blastobasis lignea moth
- Blastobasis lacticlella moth
- Adoxophyles oporana moth
- Carnation Tortrix
- Light Brown Apple MothLight brown apple mothThe light brown apple moth is a leafroller moth belonging to the lepidopteran family Tortricidae.-Adult moths:...
Epiphyas postvittana from Australia - Codling MothCodling mothThe codling moth is a member of the Lepidopteran family Tortricidae. They are known as an agricultural pest, their larva being the common apple worm or maggot. It is native to Europe and was introduced to North America, where it has become one of the regular pests of apple orchards. It is found...
- Horse-chestnut leaf minerHorse-chestnut leaf minerThe horse-chestnut leaf miner is a leaf-mining moth of the Gracillariidae family. The horse-chestnut leaf miner was first observed in Macedonia in 1984, and was described as a new species in 1986. Its larvae are leaf miners on the Common Horse-chestnut...
- Box tree moth Cydalima perspectalis from East Asia
Ants
- Pharaoh antPharaoh antThe pharaoh ant is a small yellow or light brown, almost transparent ant notorious for being a major indoor nuisance pest, especially in hospitals. The origin of this "tramp" ant is uncertain, although favoured alternatives include West Africa and Indonesia...
from United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... - List of non-endemic ant species introduced to Great Britain
Plants
- Japanese knotweedJapanese knotweedJapanese Knotweed is a large, herbaceous perennial plant, native to eastern Asia in Japan, China and Korea...
- Oxford ragwortSenecio squalidusOxford Ragwort , is a member of the Senecio genus in the daisy family Asteraceae. It is a yellow-flowered herbaceous plant, native to mountainous, rocky or volcanic areas, that has managed to find other homes on man-made and natural piles of rocks, war-ruined neighborhoods and even on stone walls...
- Hottentot fig
- Fallopia baldschuanicaFallopia baldschuanicaFallopia baldschuanica is a species of flowering plant in the knotweed family known by several common names, including Russian vine, Bukhara fleeceflower, Chinese fleecevine, mile-a-minute and silver lace vine...
or Russian vine - Fox and cubs
- Jewelweed
- Giant HogweedGiant HogweedHeracleum mantegazzianum, commonly known as giant hogweed, cartwheel-flower, wild parsnip, wild rhubarb, giant cow parsnip, or giant cow parsley, is a plant in the family Apiaceae. It typically grows to heights of , sometimes reaching...
- American Willow herbEpilobium ciliatumEpilobium ciliatum is a species of willowherb known by the common names Fringed Willowherb and American Willowherb. This plant is found in many parts of the world. It is native to much of North America and eastern Asia, and it is an introduced species in much of Eurasia and Australia...
- Evening primroseOenotheraOenothera is a Genus of about 125 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous flowering plants, native to North and South America. It is the type genus of the family Onagraceae, the Evening Primrose Family. Common names include evening-primrose, suncups, and sundrops.The species vary in...
- Water fernAzolla filiculoidesAzolla filiculoides is a species of Azolla, native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Americas as well as most of the old world including Asia and Australia....
- Autumnal crocus
- Pigmy weedCrassula helmsii-Origins:Originally found in Australia and New Zealand, it has been introduced around the world. In the UK it is considered an invasive species.-Description:...
- Least duckweed
- Canadian Pond Weed
- Bermuda buttercupOxalis pes-capraeOxalis pes-caprae is a species of tristylous flowering plant in the wood sorrel family Oxalidaceae...
- Guernsey fleabaneConyza sumatrensisConyza sumatrensis is an annual herb native to North America but naturalised worldwide.In certain countries the plant has started to exhibit resistance to herbicides....
- RhododendronRhododendron ponticumRhododendron ponticum, called Common Rhododendron or Pontic Rhododendron, is a species of Rhododendron native to southern Europe and southwest Asia.-Description:...
- floating pennywortHydrocotyle ranunculoidesHydrocotyle ranunculoides, known commonly as water pennywort or floating pennywort is an aquatic plant in the Apiaceae. It is native to North and South America and parts of Africa. In the UK it is an invasive alien species which is currently spreading in waterways in the UK. It is also a weed in...
- Purple dewplant
- Himalayan BalsamHimalayan BalsamImpatiens glandulifera is a large annual plant native to the Himalayas. Via human introduction it is now extant across much of the Northern Hemisphere.-Etymology:...
- Common Field speedwellVeronica persicaVeronica persica is a flowering plant native of Eurasia. First recorded in Britain in 1825 and now widespread in the United States, and east Asia .-General description:The seed leaves are broadly triangular cotyledons, with truncated base...
- Purple pitcherSarracenia purpureaSarracenia purpurea, commonly known as the purple pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant, or side-saddle flower, is a carnivorous plant in the family Sarraceniaceae...
- Whorled Water MilfoilWhorled water milfoilThe whorled water milfoil, Myriophyllum verticillatum is an invasive aquatic plant.With the increase in water sports, the spread of many water milfoils has increased over the years...
, invasive to Ireland
See also
- GB Non-native Species Secretariat
- List of introduced species
- List of invasive species
- Invasive species in AustraliaInvasive species in AustraliaInvasive species are a serious threat to the native biodiversity of Australia and are an ongoing cost to Australian agriculture.Management and the prevention of the introduction of new invasive species are key environmental and agricultural policy issues for the Australian federal and state...
- Invasive species in New ZealandInvasive species in New ZealandA number of introduced species, some of which have become invasive species, have been added to New Zealand's native flora and fauna.Both deliberate and accidental introductions have been made from the time of the first human settlement with several waves of Polynesian people at some time before the...