Information on how invasive fish species enter and spread in aquatic ecosystems of southern Africa is critical for managing such invasions. This is particularly important for alien sport fishes that are “conflict species” because they have economic and recreational value.
A recent study by C·I·B student, Vuyisile Thabethe and colleagues assessed how the germination of invasive seeds are influenced after being eaten by indigenous, Knysna (Tauraco corythaix) and purple-crested (Gallirex porphyreolophus) turacos, and invasive, rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri).
Normally, frogs eat small invertebrates that easily fit into their mouths, but studies of stomach contents have shown that they sometimes eat eggs, tadpoles and even adults of other frogs. What are the conditions under which frogs eat frogs?
Invasions of alien species begin with the human-assisted movement of living individuals or propagules across biogeographic barriers. As a result, the contributions of specific pathways to introduction and subsequent invasion—and the changes in the importance of pathways over time—are receiving increasing attention from scientists and policymakers.
Prevention of the introduction of new invasive species to a country is considered to be an effective measure against biological invasions. The growth of online sellers, however, makes the regulation of plant introductions much more challenging - a new plant is only a few clicks away and can be bought very easily.
