100 Alien Invaders
Written by Gill Williams - Published by Bradt
Invasive species pose on of the greatest threats to biodiversity today in many parts of the world. Often introduced by man on pupose, for hunting, pest control, sport or by mistake, these alien species are known to be directly responsible for hundreds, or even thousands of extinctions. Some are very visible, think grey squirrels in Britain, Camels in Australia, and rabbits, native to Spain and Portugal but now widespread across most of the world. However many more are at least as destructive, and come in all shapes and sizes.
Here are some of the most destructive
- Nile Perch - Introduced into Lake Victoria and probably responsible for the extinction of 200 local apsecies.
- Rats - Travelled the world on ships with explorers, and devastated wildlife, especially ground breeding birds, the world over.
- Cane toads were introduced into Australia to eat cane beetles, they are poisonous and have killed great swathes of Australian and Hawaiian wildlife.
- Asian Longhorn beetle - Highly destructive to hardwood forests, introduced accidentally to North America and Austria.
- Gorse - Very pretty in its native north Europe, now a major pest in North, Central and South America, Southern Africa, much of Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
RRP £16.99
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