biology

Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates

Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates rather than just read about it. In short: Invasive species are a significant threat to native species of the United Arab Emirates, bringing about environmental and agricultural damage. Although the country is considered to be extremely arid and hard for foreign species to settle in, as of 2019, 242 invasive species had been found within the country.

Key takeaways

Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
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Reference excerpt

Invasive species are a significant threat to native species of the United Arab Emirates, bringing about environmental and agricultural damage. Although the country is considered to be extremely arid and hard for foreign species to settle in, as of 2019, 242 invasive species had been found within the country. Invasive species typically endanger endemic species through predation and competition. Of the major taxonomic groups, birds have the most invasive species, with 49%.

History The United Arab Emirates defines an invasive species as a non-native species of living organism whose introduction threatens local biodiversity. The invasion of foreign species is considered a threat to native ecosystems within the country. Although deserts are one of the least-invaded ecosystems in the world, the United Arab Emirates has a significant amount of invasive species in the country. As of 2019, there were 272 invasive species in the country. Invasive species within the United Arab Emirates are noted as having detrimental effects on endemic species by diminishing biodiversity. For instance, a study for the Plant Ecology journal found that sites containing the invasive species Neltuma juliflora had lower biodiversity and indigenous species were displaced. The plant was originally introduced in Abu Dhabi in the 1970s to combat desertification, and seeds were eventually spread through livestock and reached other Emirates. The United Arab Emirates is noted for its harsh, arid climate, which makes the establishment and survival of invasive species hard. A 2015 study by the Journal of Threatened Taxa found that of a total of 146 invasive species, the highest percentage in the major taxonomic groups were birds (49%), followed by invertebrates (34%), plants, reptiles and amphibians (5% each), mammals (4%), and freshwater fish (3%).

Notable invasive species

Birds Of the then 146 invasive species in 2015, 49% were birds. The main vectors of entry were recorded as accidental introduction (41%) and escape from captivity (34%). The most common invasive bird species are Acridotheres tristis and Corvus splendens.

Fish From the 146 recorded invasive species in 2015, only 3% were recorded as fish invasive. All freshwater invasive species have been recorded as accidental introductions. They are limited to wadis and dams that collect water.

Invertebrates In 2015, 34% of invasive species were invertebrates. 32% of those invasive species were recorded as "accidental introductions", while 68% had unknown vectors. The majority of invasive vertebrates have become naturalized in their environments. For instance, fire ant Solenopsis geminata, endemic to Central America, has an adverse impact on local ecology through predation and competition.

Mammals Mammals constituted 4% of all invasive species in 2015. The main pathways for the introduction of invasive mammals are through accidental introduction (50%) and escape from captivity (50%). The most common mammalian invasive species are Felis domesticus, Canis familiaris, Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus. All of the above species are disease vectors and considered extremely dangerous to native mammalian species.

Plants Plants were 5% of all invasive species in the country as of 2015. Of the invasive species of plants in the country, 50% had an undetermined pathway into the country, and 25% each were determined to be accidental introductions and escapes from cultivation.

Reptiles Of the 146 invasive species in 2015, 5% of them were reptiles. Many of those are the result of human abandoning of animals. In one instance, a Stigmochelys pardalis was found on the Bul Sayeef Island in Abu Dhabi during a routine biodiversity check, with researchers noting it was most likely an abandoned pet.

References

Citations

Sources Soorae, Pritpal; Javed, Salim; Alzaabi, Rashed; Al Dhaheri, Shaikha; Mehairbi, Al; Khan, Shahid; Omari, Al; Saji, S; Kabshawi, R; Ahmed, K (May 2018). A Guide to the Alien Species of the UAE — Their Pathways, Means of Introduction & Control Methods. Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. ISBN 978-9948-10-165-9. The UAE National Invasive Species Strategy & Action Plan 2022-2026 (PDF) (Report). United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change & Environment. Retrieved 12 February 2025. El-Keblawy, Ali; Al-Rawai, Awatif (2007). "Impacts of the Invasive Exotic Prosopis Juliflora (Sw.) D. C. on the Native Flora and Soils of the UAE". Plant Ecology. 190 (1). Springer: 23–35. Bibcode:2007PlEco.190...23E. doi:10.1007/s11258-006-9188-2. ISSN 1385-0237. JSTOR 40212896. Retrieved 12 February 2025. Asem, Alireza; Schuster, Rolf; Eimanifar, Amin; Lu, Hao; Liu, Chunwei; Wu, Xiaofang; Yao, Liping; Meng, Xinyu; Li, Weidong; Wang, Peizheng (2021). "Impact of Colonization of an Invasive Species on Genetic Differentiation in New Environments: A Study on American Artemia franciscana (Crustacea: Anostraca) in the United Arab Emirates". Journal of Ocean University of China. 20 (4): 911–920. Bibcode:2021JOUC...20..911A. doi:10.1007/s11802-021-4675-6. ISSN 1672-5182. Howari, Fares M.; Sharma, Manish; Nazzal, Yousef; El-Keblawy, Ali; Mir, Shajrat; Xavier, Cijo M.; Salem, Imen Ben; Al-Taani, Ahmed A.; Alaydaroos, Fatima (2 March 2022). "Changes in the Invasion Rate of Prosopis juliflora and Its Impact on Depletion of Groundwater in the Northern Part of the United Arab Emirates". Plants. 11 (5): 682. Bibcode:2022Plnts..11..682H. doi:10.3390/plants11050682. ISSN 2223-7747. PMC 8912357. PMID 35270152. Soorae, Pritpal; Javed, Salim; Dhaheri, Shaikha Al; Qassimi, Majid Al; Kabshawi, Maher; Saji, Anitha; Khan, Shahid; Sakkir, Sabitha; Zaabi, Rashed Al; Ahmed, Shakeel; Shah, Junid N.; Ali, Ahmed (26 October 2015). "Alien species recorded in the United Arab Emirates: an initial list of terrestrial and freshwater species". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (12): 7910–7921. doi:10.11609/JoTT.o4352.7910-21. THE STATE OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES BIODIVERSITY FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (Report). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 12 February 2025.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates

In research: Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Agriculture in the United Arab Emirates, Biota of the United Arab Emirates, Invasive species in Asia, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates in simple terms?

Why does Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Invasive species in the United Arab Emirates.