Invasive Species

Question 1

What is the driving force behind biodiversity loss?

Answer 1

Human activities

Question 2

What % of species imported appear in the wild?

Answer 2

10%

Question 3

What % of species become established?

Answer 3

10%

Question 4

What % of species become a pest?

Answer 4

10%

Question 5

What is the rule?

Answer 5

10% rule

Question 6

Give three examples of the types of invasive species

Answer 6

Predator
Parasite
Parasitoid

Question 7

Give three more examples of the type of invasive species

Answer 7

Pathogen
Herbivore
Swamping (growing in dense concentrations)

Question 8

Give an example of an invasive parasite

Answer 8

the isopod that has invaded mud shrimp

Question 9

How does the isopod affect mud shrimp?

Answer 9

Enters the gill chamber, sucks the blood and destroys the ability to reproduce

Question 10

Invasive species are an important component of what?

Answer 10

Evolutionary processes

Question 11

How are most invasive species introduced?

Answer 11

Purposely mediated human introductions as garden plants
Horticultural industry
Farming
Accidental

Question 12

Do all introductions have negative effects?

Answer 12

No not all

Question 13

Give an example of how one invasive plant can have a positive impact on native biodiversity

Answer 13

Himalayan Balsam has the ability to offer a valuable nectar source for pollinators in later summer months

Question 14

In the UK, what percentage of plant species are non-native?

Answer 14

10%

Question 15

Give an example of the percentage of non-native species found in another country

Answer 15

In New Zealand up to 50% of the plant species are non-native

Question 16

Give an example of the rate in which a species can invade

Answer 16

Himalayan Balsam was introduced as a garden plant in 1839 and quickly adapted to the environment, reproducing in large numbers (Hedja, 2009).

Question 17

Give a characteristic of a why an invasive species may be successful

Answer 17

Himalayan Balsam has an ability to literally launch its seeds over a distance of 3-5 meters (Ammer, 2011) and using river habitats to disperse further

Question 18

How can some native species be vulnerable to invasion?

Answer 18

Some plant species may be specialist in their habitat requirements, and invasive alien species are normally generalist species

Question 19

What makes a good invasive species?

Answer 19

High productive rate
Broad habitat requirements
Good dispersal

Question 20

What makes s good habitat for invasion?

Answer 20

Early successional area

Disturbed areas

Question 21

Why are remote islands good for invasive species?

Answer 21

Low taxonomic diversity
Empty niche space
No predators

Question 22

Define invaders

Answer 22

A species from somewhere else

Question 23

Define Weed or pest

Answer 23

A species that someone would like to remove

Question 24

Give an example of two stowaways

Answer 24

Black rat and house mice

Question 25

Give an example of an invasive mammal in the UK

Answer 25

The Rabbit

Question 26

Where are rabbits native?

Answer 26

The Iberian peninsular

Question 27

Are rabbits invasive in their native range? And if not, what are their characteristics

Answer 27

Never a pest, smaller and mature earlier | Lower reproduction rate

Question 28

When were rabbits introduced into the UK?

Answer 28

12th Century

Question 29

How did rabbits evolve?

Answer 29

They became more hardy and prolific

Question 30

How did agriculture help rabbits?

Answer 30

Winter crops facilitated their establishment

Question 31

Give an example of an invader that has impacted the rabbit invader

Answer 31

Mixamatosis

Question 32

What is mixamotosis?

Answer 32

It’s a virus spread through insect transmission

Question 33

What impact can Himalayan balsam have on river banks?

Answer 33

It can outcompete native plant communities by competing for space, light and nutrients and during winter can result in the erosion of river banks

Question 34

Give an example of an invasive duck in the UK

Answer 34

The Ruddy Duck!

Question 35

When was the ruddy duck introduced?

Answer 35

1948

Question 36

How many breeding pairs of Ruddy Duck were introduced? And in what year?

Answer 36

Three breeding pairs in 1948

Question 37

What was the population of Ruddy Duck by 1992?

Answer 37

3500

Question 38

What percentage did the ruddy ducks population increase each year?

Answer 38

15%

Question 39

What happened as the Ruddy Duck spread through Europe and Iceland?

Answer 39

It hybridized

Question 40

What is the name of the duck species that the Ruddy Duck interbred with in Europe?

Answer 40

The endangered white headed duck

Question 41

Give an example of an invasive pathogen

Answer 41

Ash dieback

Question 42

What factor can increase invasive species and why?

Answer 42

Climate change can increase invasive species spread by creating suitable conditions for invasive species to colonise

Question 43

Give an example of the impact an invasive species can have on native plant communities and pollination

Answer 43

Himalayan Balsam can disrupt native plant-pollinator relationships resulting in a reduction in genetic diversity (Truscott et al., 2008)

Question 44

How can some species be introduced accidently?

Answer 44

Some species can be introduced accidently by transport (I.e. seeds stuck on car tyres).

Question 45

Give an example on the extent of a species introduction from one plant

Answer 45

Japanese knotweed established itself from one individual plant and spreads through rhizomes. It outcompetes and destructs habitats

Question 46

How can some species of invasive plants facilitate their survival?

Answer 46

Dispersal methods and mutualistic bonds with pollinators

Question 47

Give an example of how invasive plants can have a positive effect on pollinators?

Answer 47

It can provide a nectar source, and increase their geographical range

Question 48

Explain how Himalayan Balsam can be hardy in terms of its seeds?

Answer 48

Its seeds can last up to 18 months allowing it to easily recolonize

Question 49

Why else may Himalayan Balsam be popular with native pollinators?

Answer 49

It’s brightly coloured and attractive petals (purple and blue).