Design an Invasive Species

What is a non-native species? A native species is a species from a particular place or country. A non-native species is a species which has been brought to a new place or country by humans. These species may have been introduced accidentally or deliberately from all over the world.

Are all non-native species bad news? No! Most non-native species are harmless Some may even be beneficial, such as crops and sheep

Are all non-native species bad news? However, a small number can spread rapidly and cause damage to the environment or harm our native species. We call these invasive non-native species.

How did they get here?

What makes a successful invasive species? Invasive species may: Grow quickly Spread rapidly Be highly adaptable Be tougher than our native species

What problems can they cause?  Eat our native species  Compete for food or resources  Spread disease  Damage habitats  Block waterways and cause flooding

What can we do to stop the spread?

Become a Biosecurity Agent! Report sightings so that invasive species can be removed Never release unwanted pets Choose native plant species for gardens and ponds Dispose of unwanted plants carefully Check, clean and dry nets and other equipment after fishing or pond dipping Clean boats before moving between waterways

Case Files

Name: American mink Where is it from? North America How did it get here? Escaped and released from fur farms. What makes it a successful invasive species? An adaptable predator, it feeds on a wide variety of prey. What problems is it causing? It feeds on our native water vole and ground-nesting birds. How can we stop it spreading? Sightings should be reported so that mink can be removed.

Name: Harlequin ladybird Where is it from? Eastern Asia How did it get here? Arrived by flight, and imported on fruit, vegetables and flowers. What makes it a successful invasive species? Can survive in many different habitats and is a ferocious predator. What problems is it causing? It competes with native ladybirds for food, and also feeds on the native ladybirds themselves. How can we stop it spreading? Imported fruit and flowers should be carefully checked for stowaways.

Name: Himalayan balsam Where is it from? Himalaya mountain range in Asia How did it get here? Introduced and spread as a garden plant - floating seeds travel a long way. What makes it a successful invasive species? Grows rapidly and spreads quickly. What problems is it causing? It crowds out native species and is more attractive to bees and other pollinating insects. How can we stop it spreading? Gardeners should choose native plants instead.

Name: Signal crayfish Where is it from? North America How did it get here? Was introduced to be farmed for food, but escaped. What makes it a successful invasive species? It grows faster and is hardier and more aggressive than our native crayfish. What problems is it causing? It carries deadly crayfish plague which affects native white-clawed crayfish. How can we stop it spreading? Captive individuals must not be released.

Name: Carpet sea squirt Where is it from? Northwest Pacific Ocean How did it get here? Attached to the hulls of boats What makes it a successful invasive species? Grows rapidly and can live on lots of different surfaces. What problems is it causing? It can smother the sea bed and even grows over other animals and plants. How can we stop it spreading? Boat hulls should be cleaned before moving between water bodies.

Your Task! Design a brand new, ultimate invasive species! Think about where your species has come from - how did it get here? What makes it such a successful invasive species? What problems is it causing? How can we stop it spreading?