Introduction
Over the last three centuries, Globalization has brought a worldwide dispersal of human communities. The process has benefitted human communities throughout the world because it has allowed an easy way of moving people, goods and services. However, it has brought adverse biological impacts. For instance, there has been both intentional and unintentional transfer of organisms and genes among the ecosystems that were previously separated from each other. Europe is one of the areas that have faced ecological problems due to invasion by foreign plants introduced during the European invasion and colonialism of foreign lands. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth but brief report on invasive species in Europe, with a special reference to the problems brought by the invasion and possible solutions.
Ecological nature of the problem
According to Pyšek, Lambdon, Arianoutsou, Kühn and Pino, (2009), almost 67% of the established plants in continental Europe were brought from foreign ecosystems with an aim of boosting horticultural, ornamental or agricultural products. Over 30% of the established plants were introduced unintentionally by through movement of people, vectors or contaminants. Fungi and lower plants are some of the most important invasive plants in Europe (Keller, zu-Ermgassen & Aldridge, 2009). The also have the most adverse effect on the ecosystem, including crop and livestock diseases. For instance, Phytophthora Infestans is an invasive fungus that has been causing potato blight in Europe after it was first introduced from North American colonies in the 19th century (Bourke, 2010).
Most of the plants introduced from foreign continents have become invasive weeds with the capacity to affect agricultural and horticultural production. Others normally hybridize with closely related species, which leads to the loss of distinctive genotypes. Moreover, invasive species such as Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) and Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) are highly invasive. In Europe, they have become a nuisance because they always occupy large tracts of land, including invasion on roads and along rail lines. Others are more dangerous because they cause health problems to both humans and animals. For example, Herracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed) has been found to have an adverse effect on human skin due to its high content of allergic compounds. In fact, studies have shown that this plant causes massive skin lesions, which cost countries like Germany more than 30 million Euros every year. In addition, Carpobrotus species of terrestrial plants are highly invasive plants that cause economic loses to countries like Spain because they are difficult to eradicate and control.
Possible solutions
Establishment of ecological management Policies is one of the major initiatives that are effective in controlling the spread of invasive species. For instance, it is necessary to ensure that rapid eradication of new populations is applied in cases where a new species have been identified. Secondly, coordinated jurisdictions and policy development is necessary as it allows countries to adopt similar efforts to eradicate and management invasive plant species (Perrings, Burgiel, Lonsdale & Mooney, 2010). Thirdly, control of trade and movement of goods and people should be enacted in order to minimize invasion. For instance, large marine vessels are loaded with sand or water to increase their weighs. Such materials are collected from any port in the world, may come with new species. To control this behaviour, policies should be enacted to ensure that ship owners and operators use standard methods of operation that will not introduce new species. Finally, control of immigration in and out of Europe is necessary. There must be coordinated policies to ensure that foreigners who come to Europe or Europeans who return from international trips are subjected to vigorous checks to reduce the rate of invasion of new species.
References
Bourke, P. (2010). Emergence of potato blight, 1843-46. London, UK: Springer
Keller, R. P., zu-Ermgassen, P. E., & Aldridge, D. (2009). Vectors and timing of nonindignenous freshwater species establishment in Great Britain. Conserv Biol, 23, 1526-1534
Perrings, C., Burgiel, S., Lonsdale, W. M, & Mooney, H. (2010). International cooperation in the solution to trade-related invasive species risks. Ann NY Acad Sci, 1195, 198-212
Pyšek, P., Lambdon, P. W., Arianoutsou, M., Kühn, I., & Pino, J. (2009). Alien vascular plants of Europe. In Handbook of Alien Species in Europe. Dordrecht: Springer.