Tag: Invasive species

Flusspferd als eingeschleppte Süßwasser-Megafauna
Hippopotamus – This mammal, weighing up to three tons, is one of the largest freshwater inhabitants on Earth. In Colombia, feral populations exist today after animals escaped from a private collection and spread along the Magdalena River. (© Joachim Huber, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Introduced freshwater megafauna: Benefits and risks of large animals in rivers and lakes

Rivers and lakes are home to some of the largest animals in inland waters—from giant catfish, sturgeons, salmon, and carp to turtles and crocodiles. However, many of these species have been deliberately introduced by humans into new regions. A new global study in the journal One Earth systematically examines for

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Threatened by invasive species: Partula radiolata
The endangered tree snail Partula radiolata from the island of Guam. A recent study shows that snails are particularly often victims of invasive species: since the 1970s, the introduction of the rosy wolfsnail has led to the extinction of more than 50 Partula species on Pacific islands. (© USFWS - Pacific Region, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Invasive species & extinction: What role do non-native animals and plants play?

Whether rats on tropical islands, introduced snails in the Pacific, or feral cats in remote bird colonies – invasive alien species (IAS) can throw entire ecosystems off balance and push animal and plant species to the brink of extinction. In 2023, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

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Stephenschlüpfer
The Lyall’s wren extinct less than ten years after humans settled Stephens Island. It is considered a classic example of the extinction of an island endemic with no natural defense mechanisms against invasive predators. (© Vertebrate Zoology Curator, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Human-Caused Species Loss: Global Impact Far Greater Than Expected

A study published in early October in the journal Science suggests that human-caused species loss has far-reaching consequences that were previously underestimated. The scientists highlight the fact that the extinction of bird species has not only wiped out ecological roles but also billions of years of unique evolutionary history. In

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