Alien Species of the Week!!!

Red-necked wallaby
(Macropus rufogriseus)

Alien Species of the Week: 

 Red-Necked Wallaby

Whilst researching for this blog I was surprised by how many alien species there were that I hadn't even considered! So I thought I would briefly introduce a new alien species each week to show just how widespread and varied they can be.

This week I'm focusing on the Red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus). Originating from eastern Australia and Tasmania, this marsupial species was first introduced to Britain in 1975, with two pairs taken from Whipsnade Zoo. By 1993, the population grew to 26 individuals. This small colony of red-necked wallabies can be found on the island of  Inchconnachan, Loch Lomond, Scotland.

Today, it is estimated that over 100 red-necked wallabies live and continue to thrive at four different sites across Britain, including the Isle of Man.

Although, they make an exciting tourist attraction, some environmentalists argue that these feral colonies of wallabies should not be allowed to thrive in Britain. Red-necked wallabies can damage the natural habitat by feeding on native plant species and are able to outcompete native species.

However, whether these small populations of wallabies are really a big threat to British wildlife depends on each individual’s opinion!

Below I have linked a short video by the BBC about the Scottish wallaby colonies-enjoy!!!

Scottish Wallaby Colony to Move On

Welcome!!

As indicated by its title, this blog focuses upon the impact of Alien species upon the Earth's environments. However, when I speak of "Aliens" I'm not taking about the green creatures in a Steven Spielberg blockbuster, nor the fearful looking monsters seen in Alien vs. Predator, but rather a species occurring in an area outside of its historically known natural habitat.

As the world becomes increasingly globalised and travel and trade expand, humans have both intentionally and /or unintentionally facilitated the movement of invasive species across the globe. As a result, alien species that become invasive are considered to be the main direct drivers of biodiversity loss at a global level. Many scientists and environmentalist consider these invasions as a threat and regard them as a form of "Eco-terrorism".

To fully understand the impacts of alien species on the Earth's ecosystems and how they are helped by climate change, I will in this blog discuss past aliens species invasions and how coupled with climate change they led to the past global decline in megafauna. I will also discuss the natural and anthropogenic factors which are causing alien invasive species to become more common in our ever globalising world. As well as invasive species, I will also discuss the impacts of animal introductions to foreign environments e.g. islands.

Finally, the aim of this blog is to not solely investigate the negative impacts invasive alien species have on the environments they invade but also the positive affects these species can have on ecosystems,

 

I hope to entertain you along this alien voyage of discovery...

 Aliens out, Locals in!

This short video gives a quick overview of the drastic affects alien species can have on an environment: