''There are more and more cases of species that cause serious ecological and economic problems, due to human activity''.

Enrique Baquero. PHOTO: Manuel Castells

In the opinion of Enrique Baquero, professor and researcher of the School of Sciences of the University of Navarra, there are more and more animal species that cause serious ecological and economic problems due to human activity itself: "This is the case of invasive species such as the zebra mussel or the apple snail, which has come to light this summer because of all the damage it is causing in the Ebro Delta, and that have their origin, in part, in an inadequate management of maritime traffic".

This was stated by the expert on the occasion of the summer course "Biodiversity: the importance of animals for man", which will be held at the Palacio del Condestable in Pamplona from August 16 to 18. During the course, the specialist will talk about the most important groups of animals in the sea and on land, their interaction with man, the mishaps and benefits they cause, the related socioeconomic activities, such as Ecotourism, etc. Likewise, the director of the Master's Degree in Biodiversity, Landscapes and Sustainable management will analyze the problem of pests, animals that transmit diseases to plants, other animals and man himself, or those that serve as biological control for others.

In this regard, Enrique Baquero recalls that for many years biologists and ecologists have been studying the biology of the animals that surround us before introducing non-native species, "since some can be very beneficial and others terribly harmful. In any case, most of them play an important role, even if it is not spectacular," he points out.

More jellyfish and less tuna
In fact, the decline in some populations, such as tuna, may partly explain the increase in jellyfish issue in the oceans: "Not so their appearance on our coasts. This is a very old phenomenon governed by their biology, which pushes them to seek warmer waters. These currents bring them closer to our coasts, and this does not necessarily have to do with climate change".

In the case of Navarre's forests and those of other regions, one of the most visible pests is the processionary caterpillar, "a caterpillar that arrived with the replanted pines from other areas and therefore does not have many natural enemies here. The usual way to fight it is through chemical treatments, as the Government of Navarre does with fumigations every five years. For some time now, other possibilities have been tested, such as the toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis - a soil bacterium - or moving the red ant nests", emphasizes the expert from the University of Navarra.

Javier Oscoz, professor at department of Zoology and Ecology of the academic center, and specialist in the zebra mussel, confirms that its presence has not yet been recorded in the Navarra Canal, "although this does not mean that it is not there, since in recent years it has continued to expand, as has another exotic bivalve, the Asian clam". Regarding the possibility of this pest reaching high mountain rivers such as the Irati, Javier Oscoz does not rule out the possibility: "There is a risk of carrying the mussel larvae in material used in infested waters, if it is not properly disinfected. In any case, it is unlikely that there will be an explosive growth of the species in these waters, as it depends on the environmental conditions, although these are not as demanding as we might think. It survives between 0-32 ºC, grows from 10-25 ºC and needs at least 12 ºC to reproduce".

The course, within the program of the Summer Courses of the Universities of Navarre, is open to all subject of public and has an eminently informative purpose.