Poisonous red fire ants, fish that breathe from water and live in dry mud, or mangos, have been declared invasive species in Spain. The expansion of exotic species harmful to ecosystems is an ever-increasing phenomenon.
It is usually enough to open the door slightly to spread and degrade the ecosystems where they thrive. The government plans to expand the list of invasive species with three species of ants, fish Paramisgurnus dabryanusRed dirt that absorbs palms, myopors (a tree from antipodes), and a whole family of mongooses and mercates – including the mongoose, the European mongoose.
To enter this list of invaders it is not necessary that they are already expanding. Trade varieties were previously cataloged, the escape of which is like dropping a time bomb. Once their official invasive alien status is confirmed, they are prohibited by law from owning, transporting and trading. There is nothing wrong with having pets or selling them in stores. Transport nothing for their possible sale.
The red fiery ant bites and is poisonous. It comes from South America and has colonized half the world. He moved north and, although low temperatures were expected to slow his way, on the one hand, his greater ability to adapt and on the other hand the global warming of the earth led to his discovery at latitudes that were considered forbidden. For insects. An excellent summary of a cocktail that manages biological invasions.
The United Nations has already addressed concerns about the expansion of fire ants in the world almost 15 years ago. “It has a great opportunity to enter everywhere. Once achieved, international trade does the rest and allows them to spread around the world.”
A case of a Solenopsis invicta bite was reported in Malaga, Spain in 2006, leading to an anaphylactic episode. The insect was found on an imported tree. This was the first case observed in Spain and depicts a simple gate through which biological invasions can penetrate.
Alberto Tinaout, an ant expert from the Spanish Entomology Association, says there is not much data that Solenopsis invicta Installed in Spain, but “sometimes catalogs drag the list of other countries”.
As for the other two species that join the catalog of invasive exotic species, the insane ant and the pharaoh, Tinaouti explains that the first one was installed on the southern shore of the Mediterranean for some time. “I do not agree to call it invasive, because we have not noticed any specific damage. He is, of course, a foreigner and settled in Spain, but I do not see such a nature of harm. About Pharaoh, “At this moment he is sporadically revealed when he arrives, for example, in fruit boxes from North Africa or the eastern Mediterranean.”
On the whole, experts on invasive species argue that preventive measures – before they spread – are more effective and cheaper than reaction when they are well installed. In fact, the palm beetle, which is the order in the bill to declare it invasive at the national level, has already wreaked havoc in the palm groves of Spain. He is one of the 10 conquerors who have already inflicted the most economic damage on Spain.
Just a year and a half ago in Barcelona, the consortium of the Sierra de Collserola Natural Park decided to empty the Valvidiera Reservoir. Remove all the water until the muddy bottom dries. In June 2020, the swamp was released. Once the seabed hardened, it was a plow.
The plan was to kill him. Paramisgurnus dabryanusThe exotic fish that colonized this part of the water are a vital place for amphibians.
The Paramisgurnus dabryanus He arrived in Valvidiera, like many other invasive fish, because someone released him there. This is the second case of fish colonization in Europe. This is a species used in private aquariums. Upon entering the water, he demonstrated his great ability to colonize: he can breathe oxygen from the air and lives in the mud at the bottom. It not only lives but also survives in extreme conditions because if the water disappears, it can go deeper into the mud as the upper layers dry out. Hence the idea of drying up the reservoir and then treating it to prevent fish from staying there.
The ministry included it in the plan to expand the list of invasions. The Generalitat de Catalunya explains that this species has “an impact on the structure and water characteristics of invertebrate communities” and poses a “potential risk of parasites entering local communities”. It was detected again after filling the reservoir.
While infestations based on insects or muddy fish are visually more prevalent, the reality is that, at least in Spain, the exotic species that generally cause the most headaches are vegetables. Dusty pampas from a cat tail.
Flora does not lack this government review: Myopra or pigeon peas colonize delicate dune ecosystems. It came from Antipodes (Australia and New Zealand) to decorate gardens and medians. Now he invades the beach. More than a decade ago, a file from the Ministry of Environment and Rural and Maritime Affairs described him as an “escape from the gardens” and noted: “It is increasingly represented in dune systems.” He was already a conqueror in Catalonia, the community of Valencia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. The technicians warned how difficult it was to eliminate: “The work has to be repeated in a few years.” They also noted that the best measure to prevent their invasion was “dense and well-formed dune vegetation.” After this warning, there were not-so-good years for the Spanish coastal dunes.
Source: El Diario
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
