• Question: what is the best plant alean you found?

    Asked by shannon to Zarah on 16 Nov 2016.
    • Photo: Zarah Pattison

      Zarah Pattison answered on 16 Nov 2016:

      Hi Shannon,

      Invasive alien species are plants, animals and other organisms that are non-native (alien) to an ecosystem, and which may cause environmental harm or affect human health. An example is Himalaya balsam from India that was brought to the UK and has spread like wildfire!

      Technically I am an invasion ecologist. My job is to find out where alien (non-native) plants are and how they are spreading across the UK. I also want to know how they are affecting the native plants – are they out-competing them like Kudzu vine which can take over an entire forest like a blanket.

      Z

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