Native, Visitor or Invader?

The animals and plants of Ireland are mostly either native or introduced species, while visiting species (migrants - mainly birds) add further variety. The globalisation of trade, transport, tourism and economic migration, together with climate change, has seen the arrival of many invading (alien) species - often to the detriment of native plants and animals.

This ‘biotic invasion’ is one of the key drivers of global biodiversity loss. This exhibition explores biodiversity in the context of native, introduced, visiting and invading species, pests, ecology, and genetic pollution. Harmless and detrimental (invasive) alien species, both current and potential, are examined - as are some species that have become household pests across the world.

Photo:

Image caption, American Mink.