Revealed: The 'alien' species most likely to wreak havoc in Scotland over the next decade

From highland cows to puffins, Scotland is known for its stunning wildlife.

But a caller study has warned that these type could look a caller threat complete nan adjacent decade – an influx of 'alien' species.

Researchers from by nan UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and NatureScot person revealed nan type astir apt to wreak havoc successful Scotland.

Raccoons, muntjac deer, and mussels that clog up h2o pipes are among nan 171 problem species.

Stan Whitaker, NatureScot's invasive, non-native type specialist, said: 'Invasive non-native type are a superior threat to Scotland's nature, damaging our environment, nan system and our health, and costing Scotland astatine slightest £499 cardinal a year.'

Scotland is already location to much than 1,000 invasive species, including nan grey squirrel, Japanese knotweed, and mink.

In their caller study, nan squad group retired to foretell nan 'alien' type astir apt to invade nan state next.

In total, nan researchers flagged 171 imaginable caller arrivals.

However, they opportunity that 10 type should beryllium prioritised – pheasant's-tail, Asian clam, Zebra mussel, Quagga mussel, Australian flatworm, Southampton flatworm, Brown Kontikia flatworm, Obama flatworm, Floating pennywort, Reeve's muntjac, Parrot's feather, raccoon, Highbush blueberry and nan Crepidula fornicata mollusc (note that flatworms are grouped together arsenic are nan 2 mussels). 

You whitethorn announcement that respective of these type unrecorded successful freshwaters.

'Scotland is considered to beryllium peculiarly susceptible because stream and reservoir ecosystems already look different pressures specified arsenic ambiance change, overexploitation, sewage, nutrient contamination and recreation activities which tin exacerbate nan impacts of invasive non-native species,' nan researchers explained.

They item nan non-native ruffe arsenic an example, which was introduced successful Scottish waters arsenic unrecorded bait by anglers successful nan early 1980s.

Its organization quickly exploded, resulting successful nan accelerated diminution of nan powan – a autochthonal type upon which it fed.

With nan caller promotion of tourism successful bluish Scotland, nan researchers pass location are accrued pathways for invasive type to beryllium brought successful via vehicles, boats, instrumentality and clothing.

On land, nan database pinpoints muntjac cervid and raccoons arsenic imaginable problems.

Muntjac cervid tin now beryllium recovered crossed southeast England, and could harm trees and shrubs, should they task further north, nan researchers say.

Meanwhile, if raccoons flight from zoos aliases backstage collections, they could prey connected autochthonal species, and dispersed perchance fatal diseases - including rabies.

'The threat is expanding pinch nan maturation successful world waste and acquisition and travel,' Mr Whitaker added.

'But we tin each do thing to thief forestall these type from spreading by being works wise and composting invasive pond plants, for illustration floating pennywort and parrot's feather successful our gardens, pinch care—or by reporting sightings of mammals for illustration muntjac deer.'

Helen Roy, an ecologist pinch nan UKCEH, agreed that prevention is nan champion measurement policy.

'Everyone tin make a quality successful preventing nan preamble and dispersed of invasive non-native species,' she added.