Be a citizen scientist and stop the spread of invasive species in Britain

'The Observer Ethical awards have teamed up with the University of Hull to help record data on invasive species, so that scientists can monitor their spread and their effect on their local environment. The list of Britain's top 10 unwanted non-native invasive species is listed below. Over the next few months we're asking you to keep an eye out for these species and to photograph and catalogue whenever you can, sending this vital data off to the organisations listed in each box'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2012/jan/15/citizen-scientist-invasive-species-pictures

'Invasive non-native species: Attack of the Aliens'

A recent article from The Observer on INNS. Very good in my opinion!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jan/15/invasive-non-native-species-extinction

Scottish Mink Initiative update

http://web83.extendcp.co.uk/scottishmink.org.uk/news.html

Click on the link to view the Scottish Mink Initiative Dec 2011 newsletter. Includes updates from all project areas and details of upcoming events.

'Waging war on rhodies'

Follow the link to view the recent article from Trout and Salmon magazine on the Rhododendron clearance project currently underway on the River Orrin.

http://www.rafts.org.uk/conon-restoration-trout-salmon/

INNS Control - South West Scotland

Just to let you all know that it is not just up north that INNS control is taking place and we are running an INNS project down here on the River Annan. We have been battling the usual suspects of Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and American mink.

Japanese knotweed has been treated using the stem injection system and the impact on the plant in the first year has been extremely encouraging. We aim to inject all visible stems that are large enough and results can normally be seen after 2 weeks. We have managed to treat around 80% of the known knotweed in the catchment at least once using this method.

To control Himalayan balsam we have been working with the Criminal Justice Service (CJS) who have provided teams of unpaid workers (as they are now called) who have been cutting and hand pulling balsam along the river. As part of the project 5 of the unpaid workers received Lantra brushcutter training increasing their chances of future employment. Unfortunately as with many places the Himalayan balsam population has literally exploded this year covering 3 or 4 times as much of the catchment as in the previous years.

American mink control has been more successful and the number of mink in the upper catchment has been heavily reduced. This is being backed up by the number of prints recorded on rafts as well as anecdotal evidence from anglers. We hope to build more rafts and expand the operation further downstream and into the tributaries of the Annan over the next few months.

The Bush and The Moth

After a summer controlling Himalayan balsam in the Lower Ness catchment, Steve and his two colleagues had earned a trip to the seaside with Tom Prescott of Butterfly Conservation Scotland.
These cliffs on the west coast of Mull support a rare moth and a well-established population of the bush Cotoneaster microphyllus, a native of the Himalayas. Gardeners are encouraged to plant Cotoneaster for its berries, which are attractive to birds. Unfortunately, the birds then go and plant it where it is less welcome.

These cliffs are one of very few sites in UK where the Slender Scotch Burnet occurs. Cotoneaster has steadily invaded its habitat. In recent years, work has been undertaken by Butterfly Conservation Scotland to clear areas of Cotoneaster and restore the moth's natural habitat. Volunteers have played an important role in this work. (Photo by John Knowler.)

Small bushes can be uprooted.

Larger plants are cut with loppers.

Cut stems are sprayed with a 20% solution of glyphosate

Mink spread in Patagonia

Invasives are a worldwide problem...
In 1974, a bird new to science was discovered in Patagonia. Only a few decades later, it is now considered to be Endangered. Its numbers have fallen for various reasons, but the introduction of non-native trout has contributed to the decline. Introduced American mink have also been spreading in western Patagonia. When researchers visited one of their breeding sites in March this year, they found mink had devastated the colony. Over 30 breeding adults were killed, and over 40 eggs abandoned.

Japanese knotweed invasion causes major price drop for Hertfordshire home

"The price of a couple's Hertfordshire house has dropped by more than £250,000 because Japanese knotweed has invaded it, according to an independent surveyor.

With its value falling from an estimated £305,000 to £50,000, experts have told owners Matthew Jones and Sue Banks from Broxbourne that, unless action is taken, it will be impossible to sell."

Read more about it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-15461880

Rhododendron on the way out at Torridon

Deciduous bushes in winter? No, rhododendron killed by stem injection. For the last few years, the National Trust for Scotland have been working towards eradicating Rhododendron ponticum at their Inverewe and Torridon properties in Wester Ross.

Stephen Mason kindly showed me the results of the stem injection treatments at Torridon.

A leafless rhododendron stand, 12 months after treatment.

Every stem must be injected. Any missed will survive. With the higher light levels, mosses are already moving in.

Inevitably, a few stems are missed, especially where they have layered, as here.

The dead stems have been removed, and the ground has started re-vegetating.

Rhododendron control

Rob Dewar of National Trust for Scotland demonstrates stem injection of R. ponticum. This is a quick, environmentally benign method of killing rhododendron.
This was demonstrated last week during a workshop on rhododendron control at Kinloch Hourn. Thanks to all the 'rhoddy experts' who contributed, and the Estate, who provided material to practice on.

The "lever-and-mulch" technique uses hand-tools, and no chemicals.

Rhododendron survey

An initial survey of Rhododendron ponticum along Loch Hourn - a lot easier by boat!

Updates on the Killer Shrimp

Photo: Environment Agencyhttps://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/alerts/index.cfm?id=3

Dikerogammarus villosus, sometimes known as the 'killer shrimp', is an invasive non-native species that has spread from the Ponto-Caspian Region of Eastern Europe. As a voracious predator it kills a range of native species, including young fish, and can significantly alter ecosystems. It is present at three locations across England and Wales and has not yet been discovered elsewhere.

A new briefing note to keep stakeholders informed of developments relating to the Killer Shrimp (Dikerogammarus villosus) is now available. In addition, the Environment Agency has compiled a factsheet summarising the most relevant facts about this species. CEFAS have also reported on biosecurity treatments used for the killer shrimp. All updates available through weblink above.

Scottish Mink Initiative new website!

http://www.scottishmink.org.uk/

The Scottish Mink Initiative aims to create a 20,000 sq km safe haven for native wildlife in rural Tayside, Aberdeenshire, Moray, the Cairngorms and the Highlands. The initiative aims to protect native wildlife, such as water voles, ground nesting birds and economically important populations of salmon and game birds.

There are five full time members of staff - four locally based Mink Control Officers who recruit and coordinate volunteer effort and a Coordinator who oversees the day to day running of the project:

Project Coordinator: Hollie Walker 07825 183 037 hollie@rafts.org.uk
Aberdeenshire: Sarah Atkinson 07825 180 319 sarah@rafts.org.uk
Cairngorms & Moray: Cat Robinson 07825 185 178 cat@rafts.org.uk
North Tayside: Ann-Marie MacMaster 07825 186 043 ann-marie@rafts.org.uk
Highland: Gunnar Scholtz 07825 184 080 gunnar@rafts.org.uk

The Deveron,Bogie & Isla Fisheries Trust along with the Cromarty Firth Fisheries Trust are taking on the project within their areas:
Deveron, Bogie & Isla: Alastair Fenn 07850 328 382 alastairfenn@deveron.org
Cromarty Firth, Black Isle & Kyle of Sutherland: Meryl Norris 07828 140 392 merylnorris@gmail.com

PHD Student from the University of Aberdeen
West Coast (Kyle of Lochalsh & Gairloch): Elaine Fraser 07801 953 436 elaine.fraser@abdn.ac.uk


If you are keen to volunteer with the project please contact your relevant project officer.

Himalayam balsam in a riparian woodland

It was definitely a wet woodland today.......

Around a field margin.....

Is'nt it bonny...?

Japanese knotweed by the Tay.

Update on the taxonomy of Rhododendron ponticum

New research by James Cullen and the Botanical Society of the British Isles finds that naturalised populations commonly identified as R. ponticum in fact represent parts of a complex variable hybrid swarm involving that species and R. catawbiense and R. maximum, and perhaps R. macrophyllum.

The name R. x superponticum Cullen is proposed.

Find out more at: http://www.bsbi.org.uk/blog.html

http://www.bsbi.org.uk/

VIDEO: Japanese knotweed above Pitlochry

The thing about invasives is that the more you look, the more you find. This source is at Moulin, above Pitlochry. Fragments had been found further down in the town itself, possibly/ probably coming from this source. Japanese knotweed really is a problem in towns where it can affect buildings and is very expensive to put right any damage that it causes.

By the Tay

The photos below are from a survey for invasives along the Tay between Aberfeldy and Kenmore. The dominant invasive is himalayam balsam, which is extensive but still containable. Small areas of Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and white butterburr are also present, along with a small area of the garden escapee Lambium. There are several thousand square metres in total over a length of about 6 miles.

We are looking for a way of funding eradication of these species.

Intermingling with other riverside vegetation

VIDEO: Himalayam Balsam mapping

Giant hogweed leaves.

Butterburr

This plant is becoming establsihed in the area between Kenmore and Aberfeldy, in this case, constraining a footpath.

Japanese knotweed below Kenmore

Lower down....

VIDEO: An invasives source

Garden escapee

This pretty little planr is called Lambium, and is threatening to become invasive in many areas of the country.

Non Native Species Secretariat Newsletter

https://secure.fera.defra.gov.uk/nonnativespecies/news/index.cfm?id=55

The new Non Native Species Secretariat newsletter provides a summary of some of the most significant developments over the past few months. It's aimed at a broad audience and designed to promote better sharing of information, greater awareness and encourage partnership working. We hope that it will also provide an opportunity for local groups to share experiences of tackling the INNS problems in their area.

Invasive Species Compendium

The Invasive Species Compendium is an online, open access reference work covering recognition, biology, distribution, impact and management of the world's invasive plants and animals.

To find out more:

http://www.cabi.org/Default.aspx?site=170&page=4127

CABI Invasive Species Compendium:

http://www.cabi.org/isc

If you can't kill 'em....

....build a great big wall to stop 'em!

Two dams have been constructed in an attempt to prevent the spread of American Signal Crayfish from the Clyde to the Annan catchment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-13964184

Ladybird spotting: British v foreign bugs

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14043356

A handy new article on how to tell our native ladybirds from the invasive Harlequin...coming to a garden near you soon?!?!

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Kill and learn lots

Last year we decided to take on the prevalent problem of skunk cabbage on the Duirinish Burn at Balmacara. We dug out and analysed the plants and then dug out the rest and learnt quite a lot in the process. I have walked the burn this season and have been impressed with the results. The method works! The problem hasn't gone away, some seedlings went undetected, some plants weren't completely removed and of course there is the five hundred metre stand and associated spread supplying seed down the burn that hasn't been tackled yet. We did remove one particular plant at the "sepation zone" and left it to see how it re-grew, and it is fine and healthy - minus and seed head now.

Whilst hunting for largely absent plants earlier in the season I did get proof of seed distribution and found that the seed is about 2-3mm brown and a bit leathery, see pic above. I think control was something of the order of 90% but I now have questions about if a small crow bar could be used to pulverise the base plate and if that cluster of seedlings are actually sprouts from remaining plant fragments........? Have to get out and find out.

Reaching for the sky

Giant hogweed. Everything about this plant is big, even its name ... Heracleum mantegazzianum.

It is a biennial, so individual plants die after flowering. However, its seeds can survive up to 5 years in the soil, so whatever treatment is used, control must be continued for at least 5 years on any given site.

Slashers at dawn

Balsam bashing near Smithton.

Water Users Beware!

Our waterways are under threat from invasive aquatic species.

As a water user, you may unknowingly be helping to spread invasive species from one waterbody to another in equipment, shoes and clothing.


Help stop this happening by following these three simple steps: Check, Clean, Dry.



Check your equipment and clothing for living organisms

Pay particular attention to areas that are damp or hard to inspect



Clean and wash all equipment, footwear and clothes thoroughly

If you do come across any organisms, leave them at the waterbody where you found them



Dry all equipment and clothing: some species can live for several days in damp conditions

Make sure you don't transfer water elsewhere



For further information visit: http://www.nonnativespecies.org

Anglers in Highland use this information pack which highlights INNS issues in your region: http://db.tt/VfAfGY9

Double whammy

Rhododendron ponticum and Japanese knotweed vie for space on a roadside at Ardgour.

More Skunk cabbage from Strathconon earlier this year

Found at a garden pond in Strathconon with a burn leading into the main River Meig. A potential problem but doesn't appear to be at the moment according to Meryl.

Also found in another garden pond leading into the main Conon river system. The Victorians have a lot to answer for.

Skunk on the run

American Skunk Cabbage has been steadily encroaching into an area of wet woodland by Loch Mhor. After failing to reduce the population with a spade, we resorted to glyphosate. All treated plants died. Those shown here were left as a control, and marked with a cane.