1.Killer Shrimp
| Dikerogammerus Villosus Dikerogammarus
villosus another Alien / Invasive Species in the UK is referred to as
the killer shrimp as it has a voracious appetite. While only 3cm long,
this tiny terror kills a huge range of native species such as freshwater
invertebrates, particularly native shrimps and even very young fish,
altering the ecology of the habitats it invades.
Insects such as damselflies and waterboatmen, common sights on British lakes and rivers, could be at risk, with knock-on effects on the species which feed on them. The shrimp is currently found at three sites in England and Wales. The Environment Agency and its partners are working with anglers and boat owners to make sure that the species remains isolated in these locations and spreads no further. |
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2. Water Primrose
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Ludwigia grandiflora another Alien / Invasive
Species in the UK know as the Creeping water primrose has recently been
sold in the UK as a pond and aquarium plant. The plant can spread
rapidly – taking over from all other wildlife, and completely covering
waterways. In France, Holland and Belgium this plant has caused serious
damage to the aquatic environment and an economic study estimated that
Ludwigia could cost the UK over £150 million a year if it were allowed
become as well established here. It has so far been recorded in sixteen sites across the UK. All of these infestations are either being managed, or have been eradicated. |
3. Floating Pennywort
| Hydrocotyle Ranunculoides Floating pennywort
another Alien / Invasive Species in the UK was first brought to Britain
in the 1980s and is still sold as a plant for aquariums and garden
ponds. It now grows in the shallow margins of slow-flowing water bodies
(particularly ditches, slow flowing dykes and lakes), and forms dense
interwoven mats of vegetation, which can often be mistaken for solid
ground. These mats quicklycover the water surface, ruining the habitat for other wildlife and making sports such as boating canoeing and fishing impossible. The Environment Agency spent over half a million pounds removing floating Pennywort from rivers and streams in 2009. |
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4. American Signal Crayfish
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Pacifastacus leniusculus White clawed
crayfish, which are native to the UK, are now seriously endangered,
thanks to the spread of their cousins from across the pond – the much
larger and more aggressive American signal crayfish another Alien /
Invasive Species in the UK. American signal crayfish not only drive out
native white clawed crayfish as they compete for food and habitat, but
also carry a water-borne fungus which is fatal to our native species. It
is predicted that white clawed crayfish could become extinct in the UK
within decades if efforts are not made to protect them. The Environment Agency is running the first ever captive breeding programme for native crayfish, releasing the new crayfish into ark sites where they are safe from American signal crayfish. |
5. Topmouth Gudgeon
| Pseudorasbora parva Originally from Japan but now found primarily here in stillwaters, the topmouth gudgeon another Alien / Invasive Species in the UK can reproduce rapidly with numbers in excess of 65 fish per square metre. This tiny fish – which is only a few centimeters long – crowds out other fish, out competing them for food and can also introduce disease that prevents other species from spawning. The Environment Agency is working to prevent the spread of topmouth gudgeon, and also eradicating them where they are found. |
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6. Giant Hogweed
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Heracleum mantegazzianum Giant hogweed another Alien / Invasive Species in the UK was introduced to Britain in 1893 as an ornamental plant. It escaped from gardens and now colonises many areas of wasteland and riverbanks. The plant spreads rapidly along watercourses forming dense colonies that suppress the growth of native plants and grasses, leaving the banks bare of vegetation in winter and increasing the risk of erosion and flooding. The stems, edges and underside of the leaves have small hairs containing poisonous sap, which can cause blistering and skin irritation.The Environment Agency and other partners are currently involved in a co-ordinated chemical control programme to halt the spread of Giant Hogweed. |
7. Japanese Knotweed
| Fallopia japonica Japanese knotweed another Alien / Invasive Species in the UK was first brought to Britain in the mid-nineteenth century as an ornamental garden plant. Since then it has caused serious problems in a range of habitats – particularly roadsides, riverbanks and derelict land – by displacing native flora and even causing structural damage. Every year, Japanese Knotweed causes £150 million worth of damage and disruption throughout the UK. Some waterways become choked, railways need constant attention and many development sites become overrun by the plant. In 2010, the government licensed the release of a biological control against Japanese knotweed. |
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8. Himalayan Balsam
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Impatiens glandulifera Himalayan balsam is a native of the western Himalayas another Alien / Invasive Species in the UK. Introduced to Britain in1839, it escaped from gardens and rapidly colonised river banks and areas of damp ground. It is the tallest annual plant in Britain, growing up to 3m high. The characteristic purplish-pink slipper-shaped flowers appear in June. Himalayan balsam plants grow in dense stands that suppress the growth of native grasses and other flora. In autumn the plants die back,leaving the banks bare of vegetation, and therefore liable to erosion. The Environment Agency and other partners support a variety of volunteer groups who remove this invasive plant by hand from waterways. |
9. Mink
| Mustelavison Mink are native to North America but were bought into Britain in the early 20th century to be bred for their fur. By the 1950s mink escaped from fur farms and spread throughout the country. They usually hunt for food in woodlands and near watercourses and eat fish, small mammals and birds. They also prey upon poultry on farms and fish stocks in lakes. Mink often need to be controlled because of the damage that they can cause to wildlife, fisheries and property. They are a particular danger to our native water voles, which are protected in this country. Currently mink are trapped and destroyed to minimise the damage they can wreak on our native species. |  |
10. Parrot’s Feather
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Myriophyllum aquaticum Parrot’s feather originates from l South America and is sold as a pond plant is another Alien / Invasive Species in the UK. It has now spread to over 150 sites in the UK. The plants form dense mats that cover the water surface and can severely inhibit navigation, fishing and many other forms of water-related sport and recreation. These dense mats cover the water surface, starving the waterbody of light, nutrients and oxygen which kills many of the species living in it and also increases the risk of flooding. They can also tempt children or animals to walk across it, exposing them to deep water.Where this plant is increasing the risk of flooding, the Environment Agency removes it either mechanically or by hand. |
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