Creepy-crawlies head to Europe thanks to globalisation, climate
Pastor Dale Morgan
Creepy-crawlies head to Europe thanks to globalisation, climate*
PARIS, Jan 25 (AFP) Jan 25, 2008
Europe now has 1,517 alien species of insects, worms, mussels and other
invertebrates, a tally that is growing steadily thanks to globalisation
and climate change, French researchers said on Friday.
The numbers "have increased markedly in recent years," the French
National Institute for Agronomic Research (Inra) said in a press release.
From 2000-2007, on average 19 "exotic" species established themselves
in Europe each year, compared with only 10 each year between 1950 and
1975, it said.
Asia, followed at a distance by North America, is the major source for
these alien species.
Less than 10 percent of the newcomers were deliberately introduced into
Europe.
The rest either hitched a ride in container vessels, trucks and planes
through international trade, or migrated to Europe and discovered a
habitat niche due to today's warmer climate.
Overall, Europe has 10,822 alien species, if fish, birds, mammals and
vegetation are included. Around two-thirds of the aliens are plants.
They include worrisome pests, such as the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes
albopictus) as well as long-established denizens, such as the common
carp (Cyprinus carpio), a native of East Europe and Asia that has spread
across the European continent.
The list is being compiled by 15 European institutions in a consortium
under the name DAISIE (Delivering Alien Invasive Species Inventories in
Europe), on (http://www.europe-aliens.org/).