- Invasive species in the British Isles
As with other islands globally, the British Isles are particularly vulnerable to invasive species. Usually, an island will have several distinct species, which are not present on the nearest mainland, and vice-versa. Species coming in to the
British Isles from elsewhere can have a severe impact on native wildlife, bringing disease, out-competing for resources and introducing new predators in to the food chain.Management of invasive species
Whilst some species have adapted harmoniously in to the ecology of the British Isles, the presence of some has proved disastrous for native flora and fauna.
Grey Squirrel
One very notable example is that of the
Grey squirrel fromNorth America , which out-competes the smaller nativeRed Squirrel , as well as carrying a virus that is fatal to the Reds. Attempts to eradicate the grey have proved unsuccessful, and priority is now being given to preserving the remaining Red habitats.List of invasive species
Mammals
*
Brown Rat
*Black Rat
*House Mouse
*Grey squirrel fromNorth America
*Edible dormouse from Europe
*Coypu fromSouth America (subsequently eradicated)
*European Rabbit from continentalEurope
*American mink
*Red-necked wallaby fromAustralia
* Feralgoat
*Reeves's Muntjac deer fromChina
*Fallow deer from continental Europe
*Sika deer fromAsia
*Chinese water deer from ChinaBirds
"See "
*Ruddy Duck from America
*Mandarin Duck from Asia
*Little Owl from mainland Europe
*Rose-ringed Parakeet fromAsia
*Red-legged Partridge
*Golden Pheasant from Asia
*Lady Amherst's Pheasant
*Common Pheasant
*Canada Goose Reptiles
*
European pond terrapin
*Wall lizard Amphibians
*
Alpine Newt
*Midwife Toad
*Yellow-bellied Toad
*Marsh Frog
*Edible Frog
* American bullfrog (not established)Fish
*
Zander
*Wels catfish
*Rainbow trout
*cocopolo
*Bitterling
*packerina Crustaceans
*
Signal crayfish
*Chinese mitten crab
*Darwin's barnacle Insects
Butterflies and moths
*
Large Chequered Skipper butterfly from continental Europe toChannel Islands (subsequently lost)
*Large Copper butterfly "Lycaena dispar rutilus" from Continental Europe (subsequently lost)
*Large Copper butterfly "Lycaena dispar batavus" fromThe Netherlands (subsequently lost)
*Large Blue butterfly fromSweden
*Geranium Bronze butterfly fromSouth Africa via Southern Europe ongeranium (not established)
* Map butterfly (subsequently eradicated)
* "Psychoides filicivora " moth from theFar East
* Azalea Leaf Miner moth from EastAsia
* "Argyresthia cupressella " moth fromUnited States
*Brown House Moth from Asia
* "Tachystola acroxantha " moth fromAustralia
* "Coleotechnites piceaella " moth from United States
* Cotoneaster Webworm moth from United States
* "Blastobasis lignea " moth
* "Blastobasis lacticlella " moth
* "Adoxophyles oporana " moth
*Carnation Tortrix
*Light Brown Apple Moth "Epiphyas postvittana" from Australia
*Codling Moth Ants
*
Pharaoh ant fromUnited States
*List of non-endemic ant species introduced to Great Britain Plants
*
Japanese knotweed
* Oxford ragwort
*Hottentot fig
*Fox and cubs
*Jewelweed
*Giant Hogweed
* American Willow herb
* Evening primrose
* Water fern
*Autumnal crocus
* Pigmy weed
*Least duckweed
*Canadian Pond Weed
* Bermuda buttercup
* Guernsey fleabane
* Rhododendron
* floating pennywort
*Purple dewplant
*Himalayan Balsam
* Common Field speedwell
* Purple pitcheree also
*
List of introduced species
*List of invasive species
*
*List of non-endemic ant species introduced to Great Britain
*List of extinct animals of the British Isles
*Fauna of Europe
*Invasive species in Australia
*Invasive species in New Zealand
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.