Protected areas (PAs) are a key intervention for conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services. A major challenge for PAs is the control of invasive alien plants that spread into PAs from surrounding areas such as forestry plantations.
C·I·B researcher, Charles Griffiths, is a co-author on a recently-published study that shows major changes in the invertebrate community of a small, urban estuary resulting from the proliferation of alien reef-building worms, Ficopomatus enigmaticus.
Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri) are the most invasive parrot species in the world and have already invaded 35 countries on five continents. In South Africa, the first sightings were noted in the 1970’s with strongholds predominantly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
There are very, if any, ecosystems on Earth that are not substantially influenced by human activities. In most ecosystems, humans have changed many abiotic and biotic components, for example by changing disturbance or nutrient regimes and by adding or removing species. In many cases, the ecosystems that currently exist have no historical analogues; this greatly complicates the task of managers who seek to conserve local, regional and global biodiversity and to ensure the sustainable delivery of ecosystem services.
In a paper published by C·I·B researchers, Rainer Krug and Dave Richardson examined a system consisting of two seed-attacking biocontrol agents (a midge, Dasineura dielsi and a weevil, Melanterius servulus) and one invasive alien plant (Acacia cyclops).
