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Media Release

European carp
Photo by: CSIRO

‘Invasive aliens’ threaten global biodiversity
Reference: 09/86

While the implications of climate change for biodiversity have been widely recognised, the insidious effect of invasive alien species (IAS) on global biodiversity stays under the radar.

22 May 2009

That is why this year’s theme for the United Nations’ International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) on 22 May is IAS.

The International Convention on Biological Diversity sees IAS as “one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, and to the ecological and economic well-being of society and the planet”.

“All our efforts in managing the impact of climate change on biodiversity could be brought undone by invasive species,” CSIRO Biodiversity Research Director, Dr Mark Lonsdale said.

“All our efforts in managing the impact of climate change on biodiversity could be brought undone by invasive species,” CSIRO Biodiversity Research Director, Dr Mark Lonsdale said.

“Increasing globalisation has led to greater movement of new species around the world, and native species killed or stressed by global change will all too often be replaced by these weeds and feral animals.

“Invasive species are already a major cause of biodiversity loss and we need new tools to tackle them.

“Because of this CSIRO is putting considerable resources into research on IAS and their effect on Australia’s biodiversity, as well as actively participating in international groups such as DIVERSITAS and the Global Invasive Species Programme.”

Current CSIRO research targets invasive species already in Australia as well as trying to anticipate and avert the next generation of IAS. The threats are diverse and hard to predict so excellence in risk-based research to make sense of the complexity is essential.

“Our research ranges from weeds, rabbits, carp and risk analysis of potential invasive species to biological collections that underpin much of the research,” Dr Lonsdale said.

“Our weeds research, for example, ranges from individual weeds such as lantana to the resistance of our ecosystems to weed invasion.”

The Australian National Herbarium, with its collection of native and exotic plants, underpins much of Australia’s weeds research and provides a vital resource when a new invasive plant species is found.

Dr Lonsdale stressed that invasive species are one of many direct threats to global biodiversity and, in Australia, CSIRO is responding to the magnitude of the challenge.

Download images at: 'Invasive aliens' threaten global biodiversity

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What are these?

Fast facts

While the implications of climate change for biodiversity have been widely recognised, the insidious effect of invasive alien species (IAS) on global biodiversity stays under the radar

That is why this year’s theme for the United Nations’ International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) on 22 May is IAS

The International Convention on Biological Diversity sees IAS as “one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, and to the ecological and economic well-being of society and the planet”

Primary Contact

Dr Mark Lonsdale

Chief

CSIRO Entomology

Phone: 61 2 6246 4360

Alt Phone: 61 2 6246 4019

Fax: 61 2 6246 4177

Email: [email-masked]

Title: Alien invaders are on the march (Podcast 22 May 09)

Media: Audio

Size: 4540 KB

Related Areas

Media

Climate Adaptation Flagship

Wealth from Oceans Flagship

CSIRO Entomology

CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research

CSIRO Plant Industry

CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems

Invasive Animals CRC  [external link]

International Convention on Biological Diversity  [external link]

The International Day for Biological Diversity 22 May 2009  [external link]

DIVERSITAS  [external link]

GISP (Global Invasive Species Programme)  [external link]

Related Topics

DIVERSITAS: an integrative approach to biodiversity science

Dr Mark Lonsdale: Chief, CSIRO Entomology

Alien invaders are on the march (Podcast 22 May 09)

Invasive alien species threaten global biodiversity

media Contact

Mrs Julie Carter (BSc GradDipEd)

Communication Manager

CSIRO Entomology

Phone: 61 2 6246 4040

Alt Phone: 61 4 3903 3011

Fax: 61 2 6246 4177

Email: [email-masked]

/csiro/content/standard/ps548.html/news/ps548.html/content/ps548.html

Explore CSIRO

About CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

Find out more about CSIRO

View our organisational chart

Open to the Public

CSIRO has a range of facilities that are opened to the public, with each offering a unique insight into science research activities and history.

Courses

Discovery Centre

Telescope Visitor Centres

Double Helix Club Chapters

Events & Holiday Programs

National Research Flagships

Large-scale, long-term, multidisciplinary science to address Australia's major national challenges and opportunities.

Energy Transformed Flagship

Food Futures Flagship

Climate Adaptation Flagship

Future Manufacturing Flagship

Light Metals Flagship

Minerals Down Under Flagship

Preventative Health Flagship

Water for a Healthy Country Flagship

Wealth from Oceans Flagship

Divisions

CSIRO expertise is organised into 16 research areas.

Australia Telescope National Facility

Energy Technology

Entomology

Exploration and Mining

ICT Centre

Land and Water

Livestock Industries

Marine and Atmospheric Research

Materials Science and Engineering

Mathematical and Information Sciences

Minerals

Molecular and Health Technologies

Petroleum Resources

Plant Industry

Sustainable Ecosystems

Food Science Australia

National Facilities

CSIRO manages national facilities and collections that are opened to researchers around Australia and overseas.

The Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL)

National Collections - The Australian National Insect Collection, The Australian National Fish Collection, The Australian National Herbarium, The Australian National Wildlife Collection

The Marine National Facility - The Southern Surveyor

Telescopes - Parkes, Narrabri, Mopra, Tidbinbilla, VLBI, ASKAP

Pyrotron

CSIRO's core areas of impact

Astronomy & Space

Astronomy & Space Facilities

Astronomy & Space Technologies

Astrophysics

Satellites and Earth Observation

Climate Change

Understanding Our Changing Climate

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change

Energy

Energy Efficiency

Energy & Environment

Energy from Coal

Energy from Oil & Gas

Energy Modelling & Decision Support

Energy Generation & Storage

Renewable Energy

Environment

Biodiversity & Ecology

Bushfires

Environmental Monitoring & Analysis

Forests

Oceans

Pest Management

Pollution

Salinity & Acidity

Soils

Sustainability

Waste Management

Water

Farming & Food

Animal Products

Aquaculture

Crops

Farm Management

Food

Forestry

Pastures

Soil Management

Health & Wellbeing

Prevention

Health Technologies

Treatment

Information & Communication Technology

Communication Networks

Risk Management & Decision Support

Information Security & Privacy

Information Systems

Robots, Sensors & Intelligent Environments

Virtual Environments

Manufacturing

Automation & Control

Fluid Dynamics

Machinery, Process & Systems

Metal Processing

Packaging

Sustainable Manufacturing

Materials

Advanced & Composite Materials

Ceramics

Chemicals

Materials Characterisation & Performance

Metals

Plastics & Polymers

Renewable & Biodegradable Materials

Textiles

Wood

Mining & Minerals

Minerals Exploration

Mining

Minerals Processing & Metal Production

Mining & Minerals Tools & Technologies

Petroleum Exploration & Mining

Transport & Infrastructure

Building & Construction

Fire Safety & Control

Transport

Urban Planning

Utilities

Contact Enquiries: Phone - 1300 363 400 | Email - [email-masked] | Contact Us

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