According to web sources, Richard Benyon MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment, Water and Rural Affairs has communicated the Government's intention to legislate against the sale of 'blacklisted' non-native invasive species. This follows a lengthy consultation period.
This is the Australian landhopper or woodhopper Arcitalitrus dorrieni (an amphipod crustacean). It is not native to the UK, but has become increasingly established over the last century or so. It lives in deciduous or mixed leaf litter, and can be confused with native springtails. There are no native terrestrial amphipods in Britain; only aquatic species such as Gammarus pulex.
We're engaged in lots of non-marine mollusc work at the moment; some of it relating to professional projects; some of it simply in the name of voluntary biological recording. Winter is a time for compiling all those species records collected throughout the year, and sending them off to the relevant Local Records Centres (LRCs).
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has announced its intention to a carry out a survey of freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera) across Scotland. It is currently seeking tenders from suitably-qualified contractors, to perform the survey in 2013 and 2014.
The Southeast England regional meeting of the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the United Kingdom (ARGUK) held at Marwell Wildlife, Hampshire, on Saturday 17 November 2012 was a great success.
Work by Russia researcher Andrey Reshetnikov has shown that an invasive fish - the rotan, Perccottus glenii - can severely affect European amphibian populations. Rotan effectively deplete amphibian larvae in their breeding ponds, except for the noxious common toad (Bufo bufo).
Australian researchers have shown for the first time that the advanced stages of chytridiomicosis in amphibians can be completely cured using fungicide and electrolyte therapy.
IEEM - the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management - has announced that it is on track to gain the royal seal of approval. The Institute has applied for Royal Charter status which would improve its professional standing, and add weight to the credentials of its members.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has announced a six-year contract to enhance biological recording in the UK.
The following news is taken from the Fera website
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The European Food Safety Authority has recently published an opinion http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2552.htm evaluating a Spanish pest risk analysis on Pomacea insularum, the island apple snail [an invasive South American freshwater snail]. The PRA had been prepared in response to the presence of the snail in the Ebro delta of Spain, where it has been causing damage to rice production and the natural environment. As the snail can currently be imported, bred and traded freely, there is the possibility of release into the environment, either intentionally, or accidentally from outdoor aquaria and breeding sites etc.