WALLINGFORD – Scientists have enlisted 66 species potential biodiversity threats to other species in the European Union. Although none of these organisms have been found in the European Union except for in the captivity. North America’s fox squirrel, the venomous striped eel catfish, and 64 other species were considered a threat for the biodiversity in the EU. The main motive behind recognizing these dangerous species is to prevent them from crossing the EU borders and establishing themselves.
Helen Roy, who works as an ecologist at the Center for Ecologist and Hydrology in Wallingford, England used the technique of “Horizon Scanning” to prepare this list. He with the help of his colleagues decreased the number of hazardous species on the list from 329 invasive species to 66. This method of horizon scanning has been used for the first time on a continental scale to account for so many taxonomic groups. The researchers feared that all these listed dangerous species are expected to enter the EU within the next decade. Also, they said these species would establish themselves completely and spread in the EU region which would result in the change of local ecosystems.
Scientists named the eight most dangerous species, out of which the popular names are East Asia’s voracious northern snake, rusty crayfish, and Asia’s golden mussels. Northern snake has wrecked the US water since the early 2000s. Rusty Crayfish, which lives in the Ohio River could spread fungus or harmful diseases to local species. And Asia’s golden mussels could accumulate on native plants and clog pipes. Most importantly, scientists revealed that if this invasion in the EU territory occurs, it will be because of human activities.
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