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| American Mink |
Populations of American
mink in the United Kingdom were first established when individuals escaped or
were released from fur farms. A voracious and adaptable predator, the American
mink kills domestic poultry, causes damage to fisheries and predates native
species. The American mink can act as a vector of disease, which it may spread
to native species.
 |
| Floating Pennywort |
Growing at a rate of up to 20cm per day,
this plant may quickly dominate a water body forming thick mats and impeding
water flow. May out-compete native species by blocking out light, causing
deoxygenation, obstructing air breathing insects from reaching the water
surface and reducing water temperatures.
 |
| Canada Goose |
Large flocks of Canada geese
create an enormous quantity of droppings, which foul parks and golf courses.
The droppings can also pollute water bodies, causing health risks to humans. In
areas where Canada geese are found in vast aggregations they can cause damage
to riverbanks and waterside vegetation.
 |
| Himalayan Balsam |
The Himalayan balsam produces a large amount of nectar, which makes it
much more attractive to pollen-spreading insects than neighbouring native
species. Due to its
large size, the Himalayan balsam outcompetes native species for light and
space. The rapid
growth of the Himalayan balsam and its tendency to grow around water can lead
to flooding and other changes in the ecosystem’s water cycle.
 |
| American Bullfrog |
It is thought that the American
bullfrog was introduced to the UK through the release of unwanted pets or
accidental importation with aquatic plants or fish. Classed as
one of the 100 worst invasive species in the world by the IUCN, the American
bullfrog threatens native species, through competition, predation and disease
transmission. More than
£100,000 has been spent on control and monitoring of the American bullfrog in
the UK so far, with over 9,000 individuals having been removed from the wild.
 |
| Killer Shrimp |
The freshwater Killer Shrimp kills a wide
range of British species including young fish. It is rapidly spreading, is one
of the most invasive species in Europe, and can survive for up to 15 days at a
time. They are usually between 10-20mm in length but can grow up to 50mm. They
have distinctive cone-shaped bumps on their tale and usually have striped
backs.
 |
| Zebra Mussels |
Very small animals, from 30-50mm in length. They
have a characteristic ‘D’ shape. They are found in rivers, canals and lakes,
usually in large clusters and can affect lock gates and block pipe work. They
rapidly take nutrients from the water, negatively altering ecosystems and suffocating
native species.
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| Nuttall's Waterweed |
Nuttall's
Waterweed is commonly found in more nutrient-rich water. The
waterweed produces dense growth in slow flowing rivers, drainage channels and
canals can impede flow and exacerbate flooding. It can replace native aquatic
plant species and reduce biodiversity in lakes and ponds and interfere with
recreational activities such as angling and boating.
 |
| Signal Crayfish |
If you see any of these species, please report it to iRecord
at http://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/.
They can be very harmful to the local ecology. Thank-you.
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