NEWS

A tiny snail with a golden-yellow shell found in the Edappally canal in Kochi has been flagged as an invasive species

DETAILS

• Spotted by researchers of the Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CuUSAT)
• Identified as the acute bladder snail PHYSELLA ACUTA
• Globally branded as highly invasive.
• First time reported in Kerala
• HOW IS IT INVASIVE
  • Plays host to worms that can cause food-borne diseases and skin itches in humans
  • It has rapid growth rate, air-breathing capability
  • Tolerance to pollution makes it a potential competitor to native fauna.

MAHITI FOR PRELIMS

INVASIVE SPECIES

• Species that is not native to a specific location (an introduced species)
• Has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health.
• Species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived there by human activity, either deliberate or accidental.
• Appear to have specific traits or specific combinations of traits that allow them to outcompete native species.
• Common invasive species traits include the following:
  • Fast growth
  • Rapid reproduction
  • High dispersal ability
  • Phenotype plasticity (the ability to alter growth form to suit current conditions)
  • Tolerance of a wide range of environmental conditions (Ecological competence)
  • Ability to live off of a wide range of food types
  • Association with humans
  • Prior successful invasions