Invasive Species Northern Ireland

Water fern

Azolla filiculoides

Status:

Established

Habitat:

Freshwater

Threats:

Reduction of surface light reaching the benthos.

Water soldier

Stratiotes aloides

Status:

Established

Habitat:

Freshwater

Threats:

Spreads vegatively. Grows quickly and forms large mats.

Winter heliotrope

Petasites pyrenaicus

Status:

Established

Habitat:

Terrestrial

Threats:

Forms a dense carpet of leaves, outcompeting native species

Wireweed

Sargassum muticum

Status:

Established

Habitat:

Marine

Threats:

Competition with native species.

Zebra mussel

Dreissena polymorpha

Status:

Established

Habitat:

Freshwater

Threats:

Fouling, negative impacts on native species and local extinction of unionids.