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Impact of nature's invading aliens measured for the first time

Invasive Alien Species, ranging from disease and plants, to rats and goats, are one of the top three threats to life on this planet, according to a new publication coordinated by the Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP), of which BirdLife International is a partner.

...The paper entitled, Global indicators of biological invasion: species numbers, biodiversity impact and policy responses, published in the journal Diversity and Distributions, looked at 57 countries and found that, on average, there are 50 non-indigenous species per country which have a negative impact on biodiversity. The number of invasive alien species ranged from nine in Equatorial Guinea to 222 in New Zealand.

BirdLife International - www.birdlife.org
25 Jan 2010

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Article Cited

Global indicators of biological invasion: species numbers, biodiversity impact and policy responses. 2010; 16(1): 95 - 108

More Invasive Species New

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Recent Cold Wave Prompts Major Sea Turtle Rescue at Canaveral National Seashore

The weather has created plenty of problems all across the country in recent weeks, and the frigid temperatures in Florida affected more than the citrus crop. Thousands of sea turtles were rescued from the unusually cold water, many of them at Canaveral National Seashore.

Five species of sea turtles occur in the waters of Canaveral National Seashore, and all are federally classified as threatened or endangered. Mosquito Lagoon in the park is a major nursery area for juvenile green and loggerhead sea turtles, but the unusually cold temperatures earlier this month created major problems for the animals—and a big challenge for employees and volunteers from a host of agencies and organizations.

National Parks Traveler - www.nationalparkstraveler.com
25 Jan 2010
J Burnett

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Other Related News

>>> Deaths reveal booming sea turtle population: Big recovery evident in losses during freeze

>>> Rain Eases but Storm-Battered Pelicans Still Pouring into California Bird Centers

Crews try to protect wildlife from Texas spill

Crews worked Sunday to protect two sensitive wildlife areas after a large crude oil spill shut down parts of a major southeast Texas port, state Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said.

The U.S. Coast Guard said about 462,000 gallons - or 11,000 barrels - of oil spilled into the water Saturday when an 800-foot tanker collided with a harbor vessel pushing two barges near Port Arthur, about 90 miles east of Houston.

The tide lifted the two ships, and they separated early Sunday without more oil being spilled, Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Brahm said. The crew of the damaged tanker, the Eagle Atome, said the remaining 69,000 of the 80,000 barrels of oil in the ship were pumped out.

SFGate - www.sfgate.com (source: Associated Press)
25 Jan 2010
Location: Texas, USA - Map It

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More deer test positive for CWD

West Virginia wildlife officials say they're "not pleased, but not surprised" to learn that 16 additional Hampshire County deer have tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

...The 16 CWD-positive results were the most discovered in a single batch since sampling began in 2005. Overall, 2 1/2 times as many infected deer turned up in 2009 than were discovered in 2008. Paul Johansen, the DNR's assistant wildlife chief, called the findings "unwelcome." "It's definitely something we didn't want to see," he said.

Charleston Gazette - sundaygazettemail.com
23 Jan 2010
J McCoy

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Other Chronic Wasting Disease News

>>> Va.'s first Chronic Wasting Disease case puts hunters on edge

>>>Ohio's deer herd dodged chronic wasting disease

OTHER WILDLIFE HEALTH NEWS