(JP)100 most damaging foreign species identified

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http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20021012c5.htm

 

100 most damaging foreign species identified

 

The Ecological Society of Japan has compiled a list of

2,200 foreign species in a new handbook, identifying

100 as the " most aggressive " for the damage they have

wrought on Japan's indigenous flora and fauna.

 

Among the foreign species on the " worst 100 " list are

black bass (Micropterus salmoides) and bluegill

sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus), both introduced in

Japanese rivers and lakes for sports fishing.

 

The common raccoon (Procyon lotor) was in the worst

marauding mammals category. The species is infamous

for the damage it causes to farmers' crops in Hokkaido

and other regions of northern Japan.

 

A popular pet, American crawfish, was described as

" the world's most infamous crawfish. " Known by its

scientific name Cambarus clarkii, this bright red

creature eats small aquatic animals and water plants.

 

The handbook warns of the hybridization of the common

dandelion (Taraxacus officinale weber) with indigenous

species, as well as the damage to plants caused by the

Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis).

 

The ecological impact of foreign species has also

attracted the attention of the Environment Ministry,

which has created a database and printed brochures to

raise public awareness.

 

Izumi Washitani, a professor at the University of

Tokyo who supervised the editing of the Ecological

Society's foreign species handbook, said he hopes the

book serves as a wake-up call to people who want to

import animals that are alien to Japan's ecology.

 

" I want people to know how the once rich Japanese

habitat has been ravaged by foreign species, " he said.

 

Washitani urged pet owners to look after their pets

and make sure they are not released into the wild.

 

The handbook, priced at 4,000 yen, is published by

Chijin Shokan.

 

The Japan Times: Oct. 12, 2002

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