
Overview
The UK Overseas Territories are an eclectic mix of islands strewn around the world's oceans - and they harbour an enormous diversity of species ranging from parrots to penguins, inhabiting diverse habitats from coral reefs to glaciated mountains. From volcanic desert to lush tropical rainforest.
However, much of the stunning biodiversity on the UK Overseas Territories is still little studied, in fact, there may still be many species which have not been formally described by scientists. Many of the species are threatened because human visitors brought non-native mammals with them, such as cats, rats, mice and others that prey on or compete with many of the native species.
The UK Overseas Territories therefore hold not only most of the UK's globally important biodiversity, but also the species at greatest risk of going extinct.
Our research provides strategic overviews over the number of species present and threatened, and much needed ecological detail to understand the potential causes of species declines and to develop effective solutions to save the unique biodiversity of the UK Overseas Territories.
However, much of the stunning biodiversity on the UK Overseas Territories is still little studied, in fact, there may still be many species which have not been formally described by scientists. Many of the species are threatened because human visitors brought non-native mammals with them, such as cats, rats, mice and others that prey on or compete with many of the native species.
The UK Overseas Territories therefore hold not only most of the UK's globally important biodiversity, but also the species at greatest risk of going extinct.
Our research provides strategic overviews over the number of species present and threatened, and much needed ecological detail to understand the potential causes of species declines and to develop effective solutions to save the unique biodiversity of the UK Overseas Territories.