Damaging Food Webs

What’s the Connection?

 Teacher Notes:
Use this activity to introduce a lesson on the damaging effects of introducing new / foreign
species into a food web.
Further information is given about each species on slide 5 – 10 to enable further student/class
discussion if desired.

Information about invasive species can be found on:

www.introduced-species.co.uk/
What is meant by
insecticide.?
What is DDT?

What was DDT used for?

Why was DDT dangerous?

 What is meant by persistent?

Explain the effect of DDT on environment?

What is the difference between accumulation and biomagnification?

 What’s the Connection?
What do each of these organisms have in common?

A B C

D F
E

Photo courtesy of Harka Akos - granted under creative commons licence

What’s the Connection?

They are all invasive species that have been

introduced to the UK from other countries and
are damaging our native wildlife.
 American Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus
leniusculus)

The American Signal Crayfish was first imported in the 1960s to Sweden and
Finland to allow recreational and commercial fishing. It is now the most
widespread alien crayfish in Europe, occurring in 25 countries. A voracious
predator, it will eat almost anything it finds including plants, invertebrates,
snails, small fish and fish eggs. When these crayfish move into a new stretch of
river, it is virtually a death warrant for other species already there.
GO
BACK
 Giant Hogweed
(Heracleum mantegazzianum)

The Giant Hogweed was first brought to the UK in the 19th century from
Russia, as an ornamental plant for gardens. However, in the last 20 years it has
spread to UK riverbanks, roadsides, pathways and parks.
It is a huge plant that grows to 20ft tall and has toxic sap, which can cause
blistering and burning if it comes into contact with skin.
GO
BACK
 American Mink
(Neovison vison)

The American Mink was first imported to Great Britain in 1929 for fur farming,
but a series of escapes and releases had led to the establishment of a self-
sufficient feral population in Devon by the late 1950s. The species is now
widespread in mainland Great Britain and Ireland and its impact on other
wildlife species – notably, water voles - has proved the greatest cause of
concern.
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 Japanese Knotweed
(Fallopia Japonica)

The Japanese Knotweed was originally brought to Europe from Japan in the
mid-19th century by the German-born botanist Phillipp von Siebold, who found
it growing on the sides of volcanoes. By 1854, the plant was being sold
commercially by nurseries. It has no natural predators and so it can grow
unabated, swamping other plants, preventing them from getting any light and
causing them to die.
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 Topmouth Gudgeon Fish
(Pseudorasbora parva)

Originally from Asia, the Topmouth Gudgeon Fish was introduced to the UK in
1984. Following introduction, the species spread through fish farm movements
and the ornamental fish trade, invading still water sites across England and
Wales. Its diet is broad, enabling it to outcompete native species, and it preys
on native fish eggs. GO
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 Himalayan Balsam
(Impatiens glandulifera)

Introduced to the UK in 1839, Himalayan Balsam is now found on riverbanks

and in waste places, where it has become a problem weed. It tolerates low light
levels and also shades out other vegetation, so gradually impoverishing habitats
by killing off other plants. GO
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