Study: Non-Native Species to Rise Sharply by 2050
2020-10-27
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1Researchers are predicting that the number of non-native species will rise by about 36 percent worldwide by 2050.
2Non-native, or alien species, are plants or animals that humans have moved around the world to places where they are not naturally found.
3Sometimes the introduction of an alien species to an area is accidental.
4Sometimes, it is done on purpose.
5Research shows the movement of plants and animals rose across the planet over the last century as human trade and travel opened up new worldwide pathways.
6A new study predicts such movements are likely to continue, with the largest increases expected to be big insects, birds and small creatures such as mollusks and crustaceans.
7Researchers are calling for more rules and better observation methods to help reduce the spread of alien species.
8The findings were recently reported in the publication Global Change Biology.
9Scientists involved in the study say more than 35,000 alien species had been identified in the most recent report on the subject in 2005.
10Some of the species can go on to become invasive, meaning they spread quickly in undesirable and harmful ways.
11The study suggests alien species introductions will increase on every world continent.
12But the largest increases are predicted to be in Europe.
13The researchers estimate such species will increase 64 percent across Europe by around 2050.
14Hanno Seebens is an ecologist at Germany's Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre.
15He was the lead writer of the study.
16"Together with climate change and land use change, invasive alien species are posing one of the greatest threats to biodiversity," Seebens said.
17He added that a species can only arrive in a new area when human activity connects different areas.
18"When we extended our trade networks, we connected more and more (areas), which allowed more and more species to come."
19The researchers developed a mathematical model to predict alien species introductions for each continent between 2005 and 2050.
20The model was based on past records of alien species introductions, as well as estimates of species that could end up becoming invasive if current movements continue.
21Cascade Sorte is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California Irvine.
22She was not part of the research.
23"We know that a certain proportion of alien species will be problematic, so the more of them that there are, the higher the likelihood that we'll have problems," she said.
24Sorte described the latest predictions as "shocking" because even with the past rises in alien species, "there's even a possibility that things can get worse."
25However, Hanno Seebens said it is possible the number of species could fall in the future based on continued rising movements.
26"We may just run out of species to be transported, because at some point, all species may have been transported already," he said.
27I'm Bryan Lynn.
1Researchers are predicting that the number of non-native species will rise by about 36 percent worldwide by 2050. 2Non-native, or alien species, are plants or animals that humans have moved around the world to places where they are not naturally found. Sometimes the introduction of an alien species to an area is accidental. Sometimes, it is done on purpose. 3Research shows the movement of plants and animals rose across the planet over the last century as human trade and travel opened up new worldwide pathways. 4A new study predicts such movements are likely to continue, with the largest increases expected to be big insects, birds and small creatures such as mollusks and crustaceans. 5Researchers are calling for more rules and better observation methods to help reduce the spread of alien species. 6The findings were recently reported in the publication Global Change Biology. 7Scientists involved in the study say more than 35,000 alien species had been identified in the most recent report on the subject in 2005. Some of the species can go on to become invasive, meaning they spread quickly in undesirable and harmful ways. 8The study suggests alien species introductions will increase on every world continent. But the largest increases are predicted to be in Europe. The researchers estimate such species will increase 64 percent across Europe by around 2050. 9Hanno Seebens is an ecologist at Germany's Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre. He was the lead writer of the study. "Together with climate change and land use change, invasive alien species are posing one of the greatest threats to biodiversity," Seebens said. 10He added that a species can only arrive in a new area when human activity connects different areas. "When we extended our trade networks, we connected more and more (areas), which allowed more and more species to come." 11The researchers developed a mathematical model to predict alien species introductions for each continent between 2005 and 2050. The model was based on past records of alien species introductions, as well as estimates of species that could end up becoming invasive if current movements continue. 12Cascade Sorte is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California Irvine. She was not part of the research. "We know that a certain proportion of alien species will be problematic, so the more of them that there are, the higher the likelihood that we'll have problems," she said. 13Sorte described the latest predictions as "shocking" because even with the past rises in alien species, "there's even a possibility that things can get worse." 14However, Hanno Seebens said it is possible the number of species could fall in the future based on continued rising movements. "We may just run out of species to be transported, because at some point, all species may have been transported already," he said. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16Asher Jones wrote this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for Learning English, with additional information from University College London. Caty Weaver was the editor. 17We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 18__________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20species - n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants 21pose - v. to cause a problem 22biodiversity - n. the existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment 23allow - v. to permit 24evolution - n. a gradual process of change and development 25proportion - adj. a part of a total number or amount