News and Press Releases

Zebra mussel (Dreisenna polymorpha) is included in RISC project, funded by Defra.

Funded by Defra, the aims of the RISC project are to encourage interest in invasive non-native species, and to involve the public in recording some of them.

• Useful data on distributions and ecology of the chosen species will be generated.
• This web-based project with online recording launches on 22 March 2010.
• RISC is being run by the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, National Biodiversity Network, Anglia Ruskin University and GB Non-native Species Secretariat.
• Six animal and plant species have been chosen, and RISC will run in association with the national recording schemes for the species. Recorders will be asked to upload a photo of their sighting, and these will be checked and verified by the recording schemes.
• The species were selected based on criteria such as invasiveness, ease of identification and usefulness of data to the recording scheme.