Daily Current Affairs : 5-September-2023
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) recently published a significant report focusing on invasive alien species (IAS) and their impact on our ecosystems. Invasive alien species refer to animals, plants, and microbes introduced by humans to new regions, and they often wreak havoc on the natural world. This essay delves into the characteristics of these invasive species, provides examples, explores their negative impacts, raises concerns, and suggests a way forward.
Understanding Invasive Alien Species
Invasive alien species exhibit several key characteristics that make them particularly destructive:
- Rapid Reproduction and Growth: They reproduce quickly and multiply at alarming rates.
- High Dispersal Ability: These species can easily spread across different regions.
- Phenotypic Plasticity: They can adapt to new environmental conditions.
- Versatile Diet and Adaptability: Invasive species can thrive in a wide range of environmental conditions and consume various types of food.
Examples of Invasive Alien Species
Two prominent examples of invasive alien species include:
- Mosquito-Borne Diseases: Invasive alien mosquito species like Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegyptii spread diseases such as malaria, Zika, and West Nile Fever.
- Water Hyacinth: The proliferation of water hyacinth in Lake Victoria has negatively impacted the population of tilapia fish, affecting the livelihoods and nutrition of the local population.
Negative Impacts of Invasive Alien Species
The IPBES Assessment Report reveals alarming statistics about the detrimental effects of invasive alien species:
- Out of over 37,000 identified alien species worldwide, 3,500 are invasive.
- They are a significant factor in 60 percent of global animal and plant extinctions.
- At least 218 invasive species have caused more than 1,200 local extinctions.
- In 2019, IAS incurred losses exceeding $423 billion, ranking among the top five drivers of biodiversity loss alongside land and sea-use changes, species exploitation, climate change, and pollution.
Concerns and Current Measures
The report underscores concerns related to the inadequate measures for controlling IAS:
- Insufficient Management: Existing efforts fall short of effectively managing invasive alien species.
- Lack of Investment: Shockingly, 45 percent of countries do not allocate resources for biological invasion management.
- Limited Legal Framework: Although 80 percent of countries incorporate IAS management targets in their biodiversity plans, only 17 percent have specific laws or regulations addressing these issues.
The Way Forward
To mitigate the threat posed by invasive alien species, a comprehensive approach is essential:
- Prevention and Early Response: Prioritize preparedness, early detection, and rapid response to prevent future biological invasions.
- Containment and Control: When eradication is not feasible, focus on containing and controlling invasive species.
- Collaborative Approach: Adopt context-specific integrated strategies, collaborating across sectors such as trade, transportation, health, and economic development to enhance biosecurity.
Important Points:
Characteristics of Invasive Alien Species:
- Rapid reproduction and growth.
- High dispersal ability.
- Phenotypic plasticity (ability to adapt to new conditions).
- Versatile diet and adaptability.
Examples of Invasive Alien Species:
- Mosquito-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, Zika) spread by invasive mosquito species.
- Water hyacinth in Lake Victoria affecting fish populations and local livelihoods.
Negative Impacts of Invasive Alien Species:
- 3,500 out of 37,000 identified alien species are invasive.
- Involved in 60% of global animal and plant extinctions.
- Caused more than 1,200 local extinctions.
- Resulted in over $423 billion in economic losses in 2019.
- Among the top five drivers of biodiversity loss.
Concerns and Current Measures:
- Inadequate management of invasive alien species.
- 45% of countries do not invest in biological invasion management.
- Only 17% of countries have specific laws addressing IAS.
The Way Forward:
- Focus on prevention, early detection, and rapid response.
- Prioritize containment and control when eradication is not feasible.
- Implement a collaborative approach across sectors for effective biosecurity.
Why In News
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) recently published a comprehensive report assessing the global status of invasive alien species (IAS). This groundbreaking study sheds light on the ecological and economic impacts of IAS on ecosystems, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to mitigate their effects and protect biodiversity.
MCQs about Invasive Alien Species
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What are the key characteristics of invasive alien species?
A. Slow growth, low dispersal ability, inflexible physiology, and specialized diet.
B. Rapid reproduction, low dispersal ability, inflexible physiology, and specialized diet.
C. Rapid reproduction, high dispersal ability, phenotypic plasticity, and versatile diet.
D. Slow growth, high dispersal ability, phenotypic plasticity, and versatile diet.
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What is one of the negative impacts of invasive alien species ?
A. Increased biodiversity.
B. Boosted local economies.
C. Economic losses due to damage.
D. Improved ecosystem stability.
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what is the suggested approach to address future biological invasions and invasive alien species?
A. Reactive measures only when a problem arises.
B. International collaboration to ignore the issue.
C. A comprehensive approach including prevention, early detection, and containment.
D. Focusing solely on eradication efforts.
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