Alien species cause a number of impacts in the ecosystems they live in, ranging from hardly detectable to dramatic change. Measuring such impacts is not always straightforward. Furthermore, a wide range of methods and variables has been used to describe these impacts, making comparison between species and habitats difficult.
Research on rough-barked Honey Myrtle (Melaleuca parvistaminea) in South Africa began in 2009 when the newly formed SANBI’s Invasive Species Programme attempt to identify potentially invasive alien plant species as targets for eradication.
The smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), a premier sportfish from North America, and has been stocked into rivers and dams throughout the fynbos region of South Africa to improve angling. Bass are voracious predators and there is growing concern over their impact on populations of the small and vulnerable endemic fish species.
To coincide with its Annual Research Meeting, the Centre for Invasion Biology (C·I·B) supported a workshop focusing on the “Drivers, mechanisms, impacts and adaptations” of insect invasions through looking at agricultural pests, biocontrol agents, vectors of human disease and threats to ecosystems.
When an invasive plant enters a new area, they often change the chemical profile of the soil and bring with them a new set of soil microorganisms. Soil microorganisms play an important role in the functioning of the soil and can be used as direct expression of the impacts of invasive plants on native soils.
