Skip to main content

Search the SPREP Catalogue

Refine Search Results

Tags / Keywords

Language

Available Online

Tags / Keywords

Available Online

5 result(s) found.

Sort by

You searched for

  • Tags / Keywords mile-a-minute weed
    X
  • Tags / Keywords flatworm
    X
The potential detrimental impact of the New Zealand flatworm to Scottish islands
Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB
Available Online

Boag, B.

,

Neilson, R.

2019
The New Zealand ?atworm, Arthurdendyus triangulatus, is an alien invasive species in The British Isles and the Faroes. It was probably ?rst introduced after WWII and is an obligate predator of our native earthworms. It was initially considered a curiosity until observations in the 1990s in Northern Ireland found it could signi?cantly reduce earthworm numbers. In 1992, it was scheduled under the Countryside and Wildlife Act 1981 then transferred to the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act in 2011 which makes it an o?ence to knowingly distribute the ?atworm. A retrospective survey in Scotland showed that it was detected in botanic gardens, nurseries and garden centres in the 1960s but then spread to domestic gardens then ?nally to farms in the 1990s. Although the geographical distribution of A. triangulatus was initially con?ned to mainland Scotland it was subsequently found established on 30 Scottish Islands. Most of the islands are to the north and west of Scotland and have cool damp climates which are favoured by the New Zealand ?atworm. These islands also generally have relatively poor soils that support grassland farming systems. Evidence from both Northern Ireland and Scotland suggests anecic species of earthworm which occur predominantly in grassland, which help drainage and are a source of food for both animals and birds are at particular risk from the ?atworm. The detrimental impact of the ?atworm on soil processes and wildlife has yet to be quantitatively evaluated but unlike many other invasive species there is currently no known means of control. The precautionary principle must be therefore applied wherever possible and every opportunity taken to stop its further spread.
Potential impact of climate change on the distribution of six invasive alien plants in Nepal.
BRB
Available Online

Shrestha Uttam Babu

The biological invasions have been increasing at multiple spatial scales and the management of invasive alien species is becoming more challenging due to confounding effects of climate change on the distribution of those species. Identification of climatically suitable areas for invasive alien species and their range under future climate change scenarios areessentialfor long-term management planningofthesespecies. Using occurrence data of six of the most problematic invasive alien plants (IAPs) of Nepal (Ageratum houstonianum Mill., Chromolaenaodorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob., Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit., Lantana camara L., Mikania micrantha Kunth, and Parthenium hysterophorus L.), we have predicted their climatically suitable areas across the country under the current and two future climate change scenarios (RCP 4.5 scenarios for 2050 and 2070). We have developed an ensemble of eight different species distribution modelling approaches to predict the location of climatically suitable areas. Under the current climatic condition, P. hysterophorus had the highest suitable area (18% of the total country’s area) while it was the lowest for M. micrantha (12%). A predicted increase in the currently suitable areas ranges from 3% (M. micrantha) to 70% (A. houstonianum) with the mean value for all six species being 29% under the future climate change scenario for 2050. For four species (A. houstonianum, C. odorata, H.suaveolens and L. camara), additional areas at elevations higher than the current distribution will provide suitable habitat under the projected future climate. In conclusion, all six IAPs assessed are likely to invade additional areas in future due to climate change and these scenarios need to be considered while planning for IAPs management as well as climate change adaptation.