Invasive Species in Britain[]
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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Grey Squirrel[]
One very notable example is that of the Grey Squirrel 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:
[edit] Vertebrates[]
[edit] Mammals[]
- Brown Rat
- Black Rat
- House Mouse
- Grey squirrel from North America
- Edible dormouse from Europe
- Coypu from South America (subsequently eradicated)
- European Rabbit from continental Europe
- American mink
- Red-necked wallaby from Australia
- Feral goat
- Reeves's Muntjac deer from China
- Fallow deer from continental Europe
- Sika deer from Asia
- Chinese water deer from China
- Domestic cat from the Middle East
[edit] Birds[]
Main article: List of non-native birds of Great Britain*Ruddy Duck from America
- Mandarin Duck from Asia
- Little Owl from mainland Europe
- Rose-ringed Parakeet from Asia
- Red-legged Partridge
- Golden Pheasant from Asia
- Lady Amherst's Pheasant
- Common Pheasant
- Canada Goose
[edit] Reptiles[]
- European pond terrapin
- Wall lizard
[edit] Amphibians[]
- Alpine Newt
- Midwife Toad
- Yellow-bellied Toad
- Marsh Frog
- Edible Frog
- American bullfrog (not established)
[edit] Fish[]
- Zander
- Wels catfish
- Rainbow trout
- Bitterling
[edit] Invertebrates[]
[edit] Molluscs[]
[edit] Freshwater snail[]
- Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray, 1843)
[edit] Land slug[]
- Arion vulgaris (Moquin-Tandon, 1855)
[edit] Crustaceans[]
- Signal crayfish
- Chinese mitten crab
- Darwin's barnacle
[edit] Insects[]
[edit] Butterflies and moths[]
- Large Chequered Skipper butterfly from continental Europe to Channel Islands (subsequently lost)
- Large Copper butterfly Lycaena dispar rutilus from Continental Europe (subsequently lost)
- Large Copper butterfly Lycaena dispar batavus from The Netherlands (subsequently lost)
- Large Blue butterfly from Sweden
- Geranium Bronze butterfly from South Africa via Southern Europe on geranium (not established)
- Map butterfly (subsequently eradicated)
- Psychoides filicivora moth from the Far East
- Azalea Leaf Miner moth from East Asia
- Argyresthia cupressella moth from United States
- Brown House Moth from Asia
- Tachystola acroxantha moth from Australia
- Coleotechnites piceaella moth from United States
- Cotoneaster Webworm moth from United States
- Blastobasis lignea moth
- Blastobasis lacticlella moth
- Adoxophyles oporana moth
- Carnation Tortrix
- Light Brown Apple Moth Epiphyas postvittana from Australia
- Codling Moth
[edit] Ants[]
- Pharaoh ant from United States
- List of non-endemic ant species introduced to Great Britain
[edit] Plants[]
- Japanese knotweed
- Oxford ragwort
- Hottentot fig
- Fox and cubs
- Jewelweed
- Giant Hogweed
- American Willow herb
- Evening primrose
- Water fern
- Autumnal crocus
- Pigmy weed
- Least duckweed
- Canadian Pond Weed
- Bermuda buttercup
- Guernsey fleabane
- Rhododendron
- floating pennywort
- Purple dewplant
- Himalayan Balsam
- Common Field speedwell
- Purple pitcher
- Whorled Water Milfoil, invasive to Ireland