The morphological traits of invasive largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) are more specialised for preying on fish than native species counterparts. This was the finding of a collaborative project involving researchers from the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands and C∙I∙B members from the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and Stellenbosch University.
Secondary invasion and/or dominance by weedy native species are often observed after clearing target invaders in South Africa but are seldom reported on and identified by name and/or correctly defined.
Invasive Alien Plants (IAPs) pose major threats to South Africa’s biodiversity, ecosystems and water resources. The availability of moderate resolution satellite data offers invasion scientists an opportunity to map and monitor the spread of IAPs, thanks to technological advances in satellite remote sensors.
An increase of 20 to 30 percent in the number of invasive alien species will lead to dramatic biodiversity loss worldwide. This is one conclusion of a study by an international team of researchers led by C·I·B associate Franz Essl that was published in the journal Global Change Biology.
When comparing three invasive alien plants (IAP) in South Africa to their native counterparts in the United States, a clear increase in phytochemical diversity in the invaded region was found, highlighting the role of secondary metabolites in plant invasions.
