Microbial communities of fynbos soils have not received as much attention as its aboveground components. This is especially true regarding the impacts of invasive plants on these communities. However, this has recently been explored in a study by C·I·B members.
A recent study, led by C·I·B Post-doc Ana Nunes, confirms the presence of established and widespread populations of the Australian redclaw crayfish in South Africa and Swaziland.
Geographic range expansions by plants and animals have presented a number of puzzles to scientists. The first of these is known as Reid’s paradox: species ranges often expand much faster than expected from normally observed dispersal rates.
Ecological risk assessments are used to identify potential invasive species from the pool of introduced species in a given country or area, and to assess the seriousness of their impacts. C·I·B researchers have developed a qualitative risk assessment method for determining the risk of establishment and spread of the invasive Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the Limpopo River basin in northern South Africa.
A central goal of invasion biology is to prevent or reduce the impacts of invaders on the environment, economy and society. One highly effective way to reduce invasive species impacts in a country is to prevent the introduction of harmful species in the first place.
