Read more about the article Australian acacias are genetically highly diverse across the globe
Invasive Sydney Golden Wattle (Acacia longifolia) invading areas in Pinheiro da Cruz, Setúbal district, Portugal (photo provided by Sara Vicente).

Australian acacias are genetically highly diverse across the globe

Australian acacias are some of the world’s worst invasive plants and their success has been heavily shaped through their usage by humans for various purposes. C·I·B research members Prof Jaco Le Roux, Prof Dave Richardson and Prof John Wilson, together with colleagues from the University of Lisbon, published a meta-analysis on the genetic diversity of 37 Australian Acacia species.

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Read more about the article Umuthi markets. Not safe from invaders…
Ewa Wojtasik visiting muthi traders at informal markets in Johannesburg and Durban (Photo credit: Ewa Wojtasik)

Umuthi markets. Not safe from invaders…

C·I·B core team member Marcus Byrne, along with University of Witwatersrand’s traditional medicine expert Vivienne Williams and student Ewa Wojtasik explored the viability of alien plants utilised in the South African umuthi trade and results of the study was published in the South African Journal of Botany.

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C·I·B researcher analyse pathways of biological invasions

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.

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Developing invasive species watch lists for resource poor nations

Invasive species risk assessments have been developed to identify species that pose an invasion risk. Unfortunately, risk assessments tend to be expensive and time consuming, and due to a lack of resources (data, skills and funding) many resource poor nations cannot implement these tools. For developing nations, a useful alternative approach may be to develop watch lists of invasive species.

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Read more about the article Global initiative guide regulations to reduce alien species in Antarctica
After undergoing biosecurity checks, cruise ship passengers wait to go ashore on South Georgia. (Photo credit: Martin Collins)

Global initiative guide regulations to reduce alien species in Antarctica

Recently published C·I·B research conducted in association with the International Polar Year ‘Aliens in Antarctica’ project has measured the propagule load carried in the clothing and gear of researchers and visitors to the Antarctic region.

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