Muntjac deer.
Aliens descend on Britain
Updated: 22 March 2010
In this blog, Dr Helen Roy, an ecological entomologist at the Biological Records Centre - part of the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) - and one of the country's foremost ladybird experts, gives us the lowdown on aliens in Britain. Or to be a bit more technical about it, invasive species.
Helen and colleagues from CEH, Mark Hill and Chris Preston, tell us what invasive species are, how they got here and what scientists are doing about them.
Later, we'll find out more about the harlequin ladybird: what to do if you spot one, how to be sure it's a harlequin and what you can do to help scientists keep track of their spread across Britain.
Helen has a keen interest in invasive species like the harlequin ladybird, muntjac deer and Buddleia and spends much of her time looking at how they affect native plants and animals.
She coordinates the UK Ladybird Survey, and is working on a project to produce a comprehensive information portal on non-native species in Britain. She leads a European study group within the International Organisation for Biological Control on the Risks and benefits of Exotic Biological Control Agents.
At a later date, we'll hear about Helen's plans for the invasive species information portal project and find out why scientists like Helen are so excited about it.
See all 4 blog posts (4 comments)
22 March 2010
- Helen Roy: How you can help monitor invasive species (2)
Chinese muntjac deer, Chinese mitten crab, zebra mussels, tree-of-heaven, American skunk-cabbage and creeping water-primrose are at the centre of a new website launched today called 'Recording Invasive Species Counts'.
26 February 2010
1 February 2010
- Helen Roy: Aliens in the attic (1)
"Ladybird knocks spots off the squirrel's migration" (The Times, 7th February 2008); "Invading ladybirds breed up ecological storm for UK species" (Guardian, 30th June 2009); "Harlequin ladybird threat to 1000 species" (Mirror, 30th June 2009); "Bewa...
26 January 2010
