Articles on Invasive species

Displaying 361 - 380 of 380 articles

The Indian Myna is an invasive species – but has its behaviour changed in Australia? Wikimedia Commons.

Besieged by destructive plants and animals? Blame epigenetics

Lynn B. Martin, University of South Florida and Christina Richards, University of South Florida

Plants and animals that are seemingly harmless in their native habitats can become quite aggressive or even destructive in a new location. Think of the rats that have been a source of human and animal…
One of the worst Christmas presents Australia has had. Richard Taylor

Rabbits and biological control: two unexpected Christmas presents

Brian Cooke, University of Canberra

Domesticated rabbits arrived in Australia with the first fleet and some became established as feral populations around colonial settlements as early as the 1830s. However, the situation changed dramatically…
Starlings were introduced to Australia by humans, but does that matter? Simon Evans

In defence of invasive alien species

Alexis Harley, La Trobe University

My cat caught a starling this week. By the time I intervened, the poor bird’s leg was broken, the kitchen floor was strewn with feathers, and I had to make one of those awful decisions. Was I to leave…
Native or not? Red cabbage palms found in Palm Valley in the Northern Territory were introduced by Aboriginal people thousands of years ago. Jurriaan Persyn

What is a native and why should we care?

Melinda Trudgen, CSIRO and Bruce Webber, CSIRO

New molecular techniques show that an iconic palm only grows in central Australia because humans moved it there thousands of years ago. It poses the question: should we still regard this as a native species…
An introduced species can be invasive without causing native species’ decline. Leaping to conclusions won’t help manage the problem. Degilbo/Flickr

We love to hate the common myna, but what should we do about it?

Kate Grarock, Australian National University

In Australia we are all too familiar with devastating environmental impacts of introduced species such as foxes, rabbits and cane toads. But did you know that some introduced species may have a relatively…
Dingo: when they come to rely on humans for food and water, not killing them can be naive. Flickr/woulfe

Non‑violence has its place, but let’s give dingoes due credit

Guy Ballard, University of New England and Peter Fleming, University of New England

The sad reality of human-dingo relations is that blood will be shed, as Brad Purcell recently reminded us in these pages with his article about non-violent co-existence, The Australian Dingo: to be respected…
The rapacious invader has defied all efforts to stop its spread across tropical Australia. Flickr/blundershot

Great invader’s poison could also be its downfall

Justin Norrie, The Conversation

The cane toad’s highly toxic poison could ultimately prove the most effective weapon against the invasive species itself, according to a team of researchers who say the poison is an effective bait for…
The public often thinks science and technology are the cause of their problems, not the solution. Erik Berndt

Ask and you shall receive ‑ smart consultation leads to better science

Nick Fisher, University of Sydney

Worldwide, and especially in Australia, much valuable science is being wasted or stalled through what is known as technology rejection – the public’s hostile reception of new technologies or scientific…
Honeybees are important pollinators, but not the only ones. BugMan50

Honeybee decline warrants concern, but not panic

Saul Cunningham, CSIRO

In many countries there has been concern about a decline in honeybees. You may have even heard that honeybees face dangers so dire that their imminent decline threatens world food production, with potential…
Dingos are introduced, but have they gone native? AAP

Ask the locals: a new way to tell if dingoes are native

Alex Carthey, University of Sydney and Peter Banks, University of Sydney

Native status is a big deal. It affects where conservation dollars are spent, and our inherent reaction to a species. Most people believe that native equals good and alien equals bad, but in some cases…
Just because an idea seems ridiculous, doesn’t mean it’s not worth discussing. moirabot/Flickr

Elephants on grass: only lively debate can save Australia’s environment

David Bowman, University of Tasmania

Last week I published an opinion piece in Nature attempting to crystallise debate on a number of issues in Australian environmental management: bushfires, weeds, feral animals, management of Aboriginal…
toad. Flickr/rob's lensonlife

Could tadpole weaponry be used against cane toads?

Sunanda Creagh, The Conversation

A chemical produced naturally by cane toad tadpoles may one day be used to help control the invasive species, according to new research published today. Cane toads are native to South America but have…

Related Topics

  1. Biodiversity
  2. Climate change
  3. Conservation
  4. Ecology
  5. Ecosystems
  6. Endangered species
  7. Environment
  8. Introduced species
  9. Wildlife
  10. Wildlife conservation

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