Key Takeaways
- The UK government is releasing species such as crayfish, weevils, and fungi into the environment to tackle invasive species.
- The goal is to reduce the establishment of invasive species by 50% by 2030, as set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
- Biological control agents, such as the South American weevil and the rust fungus, are being used to target invasive species like Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam.
- The government is also breeding threatened species, such as the native white-clawed crayfish, to protect their populations from invasion.
- Invasive species, such as raccoons and raccoon dogs, are a concern due to their potential to harm native wildlife and spread disease.
Introduction to Biological Control
The UK government has been working to tackle the issue of invasive species across Britain by releasing species such as crayfish, weevils, and fungi into the environment. This approach, known as biological control, involves using living organisms to control the population of invasive species. Scientists working for the government have been breeding these species in labs and releasing them into the wild to target invasive species like Japanese knotweed, signal crayfish, and Himalayan balsam. The goal of this approach is to reduce the establishment of invasive species by 50% by 2030, as set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Science Behind Biological Control
The science behind biological control is constantly evolving, and scientists are working to identify which species can be used to tackle invasive pests without harming other organisms. Olaf Booy, deputy chief non-native species officer at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, explained that biological control agents can reduce the need for human labor and are often more effective than traditional methods of control. For example, the South American weevil Listronotus elongatus has been released to target floating pennywort, which spreads and chokes the life from rivers. Similarly, the psyllid Aphalara itadori has been used to target Japanese knotweed, and the rust fungus Puccinia komarovii var. glanduliferae has been used to target Himalayan balsam.
Breeding Threatened Species
In addition to releasing biological control agents, the government is also breeding threatened species to protect their populations from invasion. Britain’s native white-clawed crayfish has disappeared from most of the country since the invasive American signal crayfish was introduced in the 1970s. To address this, scientists have created protected "ark sites" where white-clawed crayfish can survive free from threats. A new hatchery has been set up in Yorkshire to release them into the wild in secure locations, and in Devon, the Wildwood Trust is expanding its hatchery and building a bespoke ark site pond. More than 1,500 breeding-age crayfish have been translocated to eight safe sites in Gloucestershire.
Concerns About Invasive Species
While the government’s efforts to tackle invasive species are underway, there are concerns about the potential for new invasive species to establish themselves in the wild. Raccoons and raccoon dogs, which are kept as pets, are a particular concern due to their ability to escape and establish themselves in the wild. These medium-sized predators could be harmful to native wildlife, and their potential to spread disease is also a concern. Social media trends depicting raccoons as cuddly and desirable pets could encourage people to keep them as pets, which could lead to their establishment in the wild.
The Economic and Environmental Impact
The economic and environmental impact of invasive species is significant, with invasive non-native species costing Britain’s economy nearly £2bn a year. The government’s environmental improvement plan sets out plans to reduce the establishment of invasive species to protect native wildlife and farmers’ livelihoods. The biosecurity minister, Sue Hayman, emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of invasive species, stating that "with a changing climate we are constantly assessing for new risks and threats, including from invasive plants and animals, as well as managing the impacts of species already in this country." Overall, the government’s efforts to tackle invasive species through biological control and breeding threatened species are critical to protecting native wildlife and the environment.
