Exotic pests 'the joker in the climate change pack'

ABC News (Australia): Researchers attending a national pest conference in Darwin are warning that climate change will demand greater surveillance for exotic pests. Andreas Glanznig from the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre says global warming could favour the black striped mussel, climbing perch, walking catfish and black spined toad.

The warning comes as the federal Department of Agriculture reviews Australia's national quarantine and biosecurity arrangements. Mr Glanznig says the centre is calling for the review board to fast track development of national pest surveillance and alert lists.

"Pest animals are really going to be the joker in the climate change pack. And when you are thinking about the impact of climate change in increased cyclones and storm activity, flood damage, there's a whole suite of invasive animals that can really take advantage of that disturbance across the landscape. The invasive fish species that would really benefit by flooding."…

Flyswatter, image by "Heron," Wikimedia Commons, under the GNU Free Documentation License