Quagga mussels from Europe were recently discovered in the Wraysbury river near London, highlighting dangers posed by invasive species to waterways throughout the United Kingdom. Researchers have also recognized at least 10 of the species becoming prevalent in Holland.
Killer shrimp are among the non-native species arriving in England from distant locations, such as the Ponto-Caspian region, which includes Turkey and the Ukraine. The animals are native to the Azov, Black and Caspian seas.
Investigators believe that when several species arrive in a non-native area from a single location, the animals may assist each other in establishing a presence. In part, this is due to commensalism, or the ability of species to thrive from the life cycles of other animals. This trait could set off an "invasion meltdown" throughout the United Kingdom, as the species help reinforce survivability of the non-native creatures.
Conservation efforts should focus on monitoring areas where invasive species have already been recorded, researchers stated.
"The invader we are most concerned about is the quagga mussel, which alarmingly was first discovered in the UK just two weeks ago. This pest will smother and kill our native mussels, block water pipes and foul boat hulls. We are also really worried about Ponto-Caspian shrimps, which will eat our native shrimps," David Aldridge of the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge, said.
The discovery of the quagga mussel found near Heathrow Airport was made on October 1.
Zebra mussels, a relative of the quagga, first came to the British Isles in 1824, and is now widespread throughout the nation. Both of the invasive species compete with native mussels for the food, driving other animals to extinction. The bivalves also possess striped shells, which can be exploited for camouflage by the similarly-adorned demon and filler shrimps.
Cargo ships fill with ballast water off the coast of the Netherlands, occasionally taking on Ponto-Caspian species such as shrimps and mussels, before crossing the English Channel to England.
"In some parts of Britain the freshwater community already looks more like the Caspian Sea. The Norfolk Broads, for example, typically viewed as a wildlife haven, is actually dominated by Ponto-Caspian zebra mussels and killer shrimps in many places," Aldridge stated in a university press release.
Quagga mussels are only about two inches in diameter, but breed quickly, posing a potentially serious hazard to the British environment.
Killer shrimp, otherwise known as the "pink peril" is joined in Great Britain by the aptly-named bloody red shrimp and demon shrimp, just in time for Halloween.
Study of invasive species arriving in England from southeast Europe, and how it could trigger an invasion meltdown, was profiled in the Journal of Applied Ecology.
