Globalisation in the animal kingdom

Stowaways and abandoned farmed fish

The black-mouthed goby probably migrated in the brackish water of ships from the Black, Caspian, and Azov Seas and their tributaries to the Baltic Sea.

Our former fish curator in Hamburg, Prof. Dr. Ralf Thiel, was the first to detect them on site in the Elbe. Its rapid reproduction cycle makes this adaptable fish a competitor for space and food for native species. Invasive fish species can even change entire ecosystems in tropical habitats. One of our research teams is investigating the spread of fish introduced into large lakes in Indonesia. The aggressive flowerhorn cichlid is a hybrid of several species, originally bred as an ornamental fish and eventually released into lakes such as Lake Matano. Upon arrival, it started to reproduce explosively, eating endemic species, and unbalancing the lake’s ecosystem. Similar consequences have been documented for African cichlids introduced into nearby Lake Poso, where they have grown to reach large numbers. Our researchers are investigating endemic and invasive species and visualising changes beneath the surface of the water, raising awareness in people for the potential issues of releasing supposedly harmless alien fish species into the wild.

Climate change favours the spread of exotic species

Favoured by climate change and mild winters, warmth-loving species increasingly manage to settle in our country. The Asian hornet, originating from South-East Asia, reached Europe via France and eventually arrived in northern Germany in 2005. Since it displaces and threatens the population of native wasps and bees, i.e., local pollinators, it causes the diversity of our ecosystems to decline. The consequences for our habitats are devastating since species diversity in ecosystems plays a decisive factor in making them resilient to changing environmental conditions. Conservation of habitats equals conservation of species. Non-native species such as the agate snail obviously find it easier to colonise if we destroy the natural habitat of native snails. On top of changed land use, climate change itself speeds up the spread of many snail species introduced to the Mediterranean region, such as the large East African agate snail, which is now found in coastal Mediterranean regions as well as in Asia, North and South America. Our scientists are involved in monitoring and in overarching studies on the distribution areas of such invasive species.

Global wildlife trade threatens protected species

The global illegal trade in wild animals and wildlife products has grown to become the fourth largest core businesses of organised crime and is threatening about 6,000 protected species and their populations. While it is known to affect large animals such as rhinos and elephants in Africa and Asia, even some native reptiles and songbirds such as the goldfinch in our country are hunted and traded illegally. We try to counter this with our expertise, offering the public reference database FOGS* to authorities and nature conservation organisations as a basis for identifying confiscated evidence to initiate criminal investigations. The database with its large number of stored molecular genetic markers permits rapid and precise identification of species, their geographical origins, and the populations they originate from. We work closely with customs and other authorities and train employees in recognising trafficked animal products in addition to providing this tool.