The GB Invasive Non-native Species Strategy Olaf Booy GB Non-native Species Secretariat
Who am I? 4.2 staff
What are we talking about? Non-native = animals or plants that have been introduced by human action Invasive non-native = negative environmental, economic or social impact
100,000+ non-native taxa worldwide
A relatively recent phenomenon Global temporal trends in first record rates (dots) for all non-native species Seebens et al. 2017. Nature Comms Unprecedented mixing of species
Global impacts Comprehensively assessed groups (>150 spp)
Global impacts Comprehensively assessed groups (>150 spp) 16.2% of extinctions are driven by invasive alien species ONLY 43% of extinctions are driven by other threats 40.5% of extinctions are driven by invasive alien species + other threats IUCN Red List v 2016.3
Global impacts Biggest impacts on islands and other isolated ecosystems 95% of avian extinctions 90% of herpetological extinctions 70% of mammal extinctions 70% of plant extinctions
Global impacts Biggest impacts on islands and other isolated ecosystems 95% of avian extinctions 90% of herpetological extinctions 70% of mammal extinctions 70% of plant extinctions Oceanic islands But also on continents too Continents threatened birds at risk from INNS
Red squirrel suffering from pox Not just about extinctions
Number of alien species Number of non-native species Numbers of species in Great Britain 2,000 established NNS in GB 10-12 new species PA 700 700 600 600 500 500 400 400 300 300 200 200 100 100 0 0
Numbers of species in Great Britain c. 10-15% of established non-native species in GB are invasive but proportions are different for different taxa and environment
Numbers of species in Great Britain c. 10-15% of established non-native species in GB are invasive 8% 40% Plants Animals
Numbers of species in Great Britain c. 10-15% of established non-native species in GB are invasive 13% 40% 25% terrestrial freshwater marine
Native origin
Native origin
Invasive non-native species Native origin 20 18 16 14 12 Invasiveness by origin 10 8 6 4 2 0 European Non-European
Impacts in GB some examples
Voracious omnivore
Impacts Replaced 90% of benthic macroinvertebrate biomass in some European water bodies Patrick Steinmann Invert sample from Lake Zurich
Impacts
Impacts
Image: John Anderson
Invasive Alien species: importance Burn caused by Giant hogweed
Zebra mussel clogging water company pipe
Economic impact 1.8 Billion pa in UK 64% Agriculture 13% Construction/Dev. 7% Forestry 6% Tourism 5% Transport
Government action: a small proportion of a small proportion c.10-15% invasive 2,000 nonnative species
Government action: a small proportion of a small proportion government action on c. 25 c.10-15% invasive 2,000 nonnative species
Are we doing enough and are we using our limited resources to best effect?
GB Non-native Species Programme GB Programme Board Small independent secretariat
Prevention is better than cure Prevention Early detection and Rapid response Control
Prioritising species: risk analysis Using evidence to underpin decision making Precautionary (coping with uncertainty / lag) Proportionate (implications for trade, etc) Japanese Knotweed
Using risk assessment to underpin decision making
Entry Establishment Spread Impact Overall V. High V. High Moderate High V. High Entry Establishment Spread Impact Overall V. High V. Low V. Low Low V. Low Response Alert! Legislation Rapid response Response Monitor and review
Risk management Not just about risk, but also whether something useful can be done
HIGH RISK Eradicate HIGH RISK Manage
RISK Prioritising based on risk and feasibility HIGH MED LOW V. LOW LOW MED HIGH V. HIGH FEASIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT
Contingency plans in action: Asian hornet
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012..
2013
2014
Prioritising and coordinating 2016 the response to invasive non-native species in GB 2017 Olaf Booy GB Non-native Species Secretariat
Other eradication action
The need for early detection and surveillance
pilot start
Biosecurity: preventing entry and spread Aquatic campaigns (where impact is greatest)
Invasive non-native species week
Role of Local Action Groups Biosecurity Detection and surveillance Local / regional management
Role of Local Action Groups
Summary Chose our battles carefully robust method for prioritising species / actions Particularly important: Biosecurity Early detection Data flow and rapid reporting Thanks!
Number of alien species The future? 700 600 non-native 500 400 300 200 invasive 100 0
Hawaii Hawaii hosted over 114 endemic species of birds. 56 now globally extinct But added 53 new species
Site impacts IAS impact 62 natural WHS s out of 224 Osipova et al. 2014.
WFD at Risk Sites
GB Non-native Species Programme Stakeholder Involvement Forum Media and Comms. Working Group GB Programme Board Country Working Groups Non-Native Risk Analysis Mechanism Rapid Response Working Group Monitoring
12,000+ non-native species
INNS are a major threat on Continents Oceanic Islands Continental Islands Continents n=430 n=176 n=620 Globally threatened bird species not threatened by invasives Globally threatened bird species threatened by invasives
Actual Global Total > x Predicted Global Total > x Vitousec, PM et al (1997) New Zealand Journal of Ecology 21 (1): 1-16. Analysis by A. Launer, Stanford University, reproduced with permission.
Risk assessment Template with 80 questions Follows QA process, similar to journal peer review Independent Expert Risk Analysis Panel botanist, entomologist, marine, fish, economist Programme Board Peer Review NNSS website
Impacts of invasive plants Not just about extinctions Vila et al 2011.
Number of Number non-native of alien species species 1500-1549 1550-1599 1600-1649 1650-1699 1700-1749 1750-1799 1800-1849 1850-1899 1900-1949 1950-1999 Numbers of species in Great Britain 2,000 established NNS in GB 10-12 new species PA About 10-15% invasive 200-300 species Many more species coming from further afield 700 600 500 500 400 400 300 300 200 200 100 100 0 0
An example is the Micronesian Kingfisher Todiramphus cinnamominus which was endemic to the island of Guam, but following predation by invasive alien snakes (Brown tree snake Boiga irregularis) it became Extinct in the Wild in 1986 when the last remaining wild birds were taken into captivity for captive breeding. In fact the Brown tree snake has caused many extinctions on Guam, including the local extinction of over half of Guam s native bird and lizard species as well as two out of three of Guam s native bat species.