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Pozsgai G, Lhoumeau S, Amorim IR, Boieiro M, Cardoso P, Costa R, Ferreira MT, Leite A, Malumbres-Olarte J, Oyarzabal G, Rigal F, Ros-Prieto A, Santos AMC, Gabriel R, Borges PAV. The BALA project: A pioneering monitoring of Azorean forest invertebrates over two decades (1999-2022). Sci Data 2024; 11:368. [PMID: 38605058 PMCID: PMC11009236 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03174-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, there is a concerning decline in many insect populations, and this trend likely extends to all arthropods, potentially impacting unique island biota. Native non-endemic and endemic species on islands are under threat due to habitat destruction, with the introduction of exotic, and potentially invasive, species, further contributing to this decline. While long-term studies of plants and vertebrate fauna are available, long-term arthropod datasets are limited, hindering comparisons with better-studied taxa. The Biodiversity of Arthropods of the Laurisilva of the Azores (BALA) project has allowed gathering comprehensive data since 1997 in the Azorean Islands (Portugal), using standardised sampling methods across islands. The dataset includes arthropod counts from epigean (pitfall traps) and canopy-dwelling (beating samples) communities, enriched with species information, biogeographic origins, and IUCN categories. Metadata associated with the sample protocol and events, like sample identifier, archive number, sampled tree species, and trap type are also recorded. The database is available in multiple formats, including Darwin Core, which facilitates the ecological analysis of pressing environmental concerns, such as arthropod population declines and biological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor Pozsgai
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal.
| | - Sébastien Lhoumeau
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Isabel R Amorim
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- IUCN SSC Atlantic Islands Invertebrates Specialist Group, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal
| | - Mário Boieiro
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- IUCN SSC Atlantic Islands Invertebrates Specialist Group, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal
| | - Pedro Cardoso
- cE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- LIBRe - Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 17 (Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13), 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ricardo Costa
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- LIBRe - Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 17 (Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13), 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maria Teresa Ferreira
- Regional Secretariat of Environment and Climate Change, Project LIFE BEETLES (LIFE 18NAT/PT/000864), Rua do Galo n118, 9700-040, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal
| | - Abrão Leite
- Rua Fernando Pessoa, n°99 R/C DTO 2765-483, Estoril, Portugal
| | - Jagoba Malumbres-Olarte
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- LIBRe - Laboratory for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, P.O.Box 17 (Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13), 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Guilherme Oyarzabal
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - François Rigal
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- Institut Des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico Chimie pour L'environnement et les Materiaux UMR5254, Comité National de la Recherche Scientifique - University de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour - E2S UPPA, Pau, France
| | - Alejandra Ros-Prieto
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Ana M C Santos
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosalina Gabriel
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Paulo A V Borges
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Environment, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
- IUCN SSC Atlantic Islands Invertebrates Specialist Group, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal
- IUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, Portugal
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Canright VR, Piaggio AJ, Beasley JC. Invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) diets on barrier islands in the southeastern United States. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 38517109 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biological invasions are a leading cause of reductions in global biodiversity. Islands are particularly sensitive to invasions, which often result in cascading impacts throughout island communities. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are globally invasive and pose threats to numerous taxa and ecosystems, particularly for islands where they have contributed to declines of many endemic species. However, the impacts of wild pig diet on the flora and fauna remain understudied in many island systems. RESULTS We used DNA metabarcoding of wild pig fecal samples to quantify the seasonal diet composition of wild pigs on three barrier islands in the southeastern United States. Wild pigs exhibited a diverse diet dominated by plants, but also including marine and terrestrial animals. The diet composition of plants varied seasonally and between islands. Consumption of invertebrates also changed seasonally, with a shift to coastal invertebrates, particularly crabs, in spring and summer. Vertebrates were found in <10% of samples, but spanned broad taxa including amphibians, fish, mammals, and reptiles. Species consumed by wild pigs indicate that wild pigs use a variety of habitats within barrier islands for foraging, including maritime forests, saltmarshes, and beaches. CONCLUSIONS An observed shift to beach foraging during sea turtle nesting season suggests wild pigs have potential to hinder nesting success on islands without established management programs. These findings provide insight into the diverse diets of wild pigs on barrier islands and highlight the need for removal of wild pigs from sensitive island ecosystems because of their potential impacts to native plant and animal communities. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vienna R Canright
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
| | - Antoinette J Piaggio
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
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Borges PAV, Lamelas-López L, Lhoumeau S, Moura NB, Ponte M, Leite A, Parmentier L, Abreu R. Monitoring arthropods under the scope of LIFE-SNAILS project: I - Santa Maria Island baseline data with implementation of the Index of Biotic Integrity. Biodivers Data J 2024; 12:e116829. [PMID: 38434752 PMCID: PMC10907951 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.12.e116829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The database we introduce is a pivotal component of the LIFE SNAILS project (Support and Naturalisation in Areas of Importance for Land Snails). This initiative is dedicated to safeguarding three endangered species of terrestrial molluscs, specifically, two snails (Oxychilusagostinhoi Martins 1981 and Leptaxisminor Backhuys, 1975) and a semi-slug (Plutoniaangulosa (Morelet, 1860)), all of which are single island endemics from Santa Maria Island and face significant threats towards their populations.In this study, we established a comprehensive database derived from a long-term arthropod monitoring campaign utilising SLAM (Sea, Land, Air, Malaise) traps. Although molluscs were not the primary focus, our findings serve as a credible proxy for evaluating the overall habitat quality for endemic invertebrates, with arthropods serving as principal indicators. From September to December of 2022, a total of 11 SLAM traps were installed and monitored monthly in eleven sites of mixed forests of Santa Maria Island. New information Based on the 33 available samples (11 sites x 3 sampling periods), we recorded a total of 118 taxa of arthropods (of which 94 were identified at species or subspecies level), belonging to three classes, 14 orders and 62 families. From the 94 identified taxa, a total of 21 species were endemic, 31 native non-endemic, 32 introduced and 10 indeterminate. We also provide additional information of the habitat quality (Index of Biotic Integrity), including general habitat and dominant species composition.We registered three new records to the Island, the native bug Piezodoruslituratus (Fabricius, 1794) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae), the Azorean endemic beetle Phloeosinusgillerforsi Bright, 1987 (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) and the exotic ant Hypoponerapunctatissima (Roger, 1859) (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) and one new record for the Azores Archipelago, the native beetle Cephenniumvalidum Assing & Meybohm, 2021 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae).This publication not only contributes to the conservation of highly threatened endemic molluscs, through an assessment of habitat quality, based on arthropod communities and habitat description (e.g. native or exotic vegetation), but also provides an updated inventory of arthropods from Santa Maria Island.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo A. V. Borges
- cE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, PortugalcE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042Angra do Heroísmo, AzoresPortugal
- IUCN SSC Atlantic Islands Specialist Group, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, PortugalIUCN SSC Atlantic Islands Specialist Group, 9700-042Angra do Heroísmo, AzoresPortugal
- IUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, PortugalIUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group, 9700-042Angra do Heroísmo, AzoresPortugal
| | - Lucas Lamelas-López
- cE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, PortugalcE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042Angra do Heroísmo, AzoresPortugal
| | - Sébastien Lhoumeau
- cE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, PortugalcE3c- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes/Azorean Biodiversity Group, CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, School of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Rua Capitão João d´Ávila, Pico da Urze, 9700-042Angra do Heroísmo, AzoresPortugal
| | - Nelson B. Moura
- Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas, Project LIFE SNAILS (LIFE20 NAT/PT/001377), Rua Dr. Teófilo Braga nº 10/12/14, 9580 – 535, Vila do Porto, Santa Maria, Azores, PortugalSecretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas, Project LIFE SNAILS (LIFE20 NAT/PT/001377), Rua Dr. Teófilo Braga nº 10/12/14, 9580 – 535Vila do Porto, Santa Maria, AzoresPortugal
| | - Mauro Ponte
- Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas, Project LIFE SNAILS (LIFE20 NAT/PT/001377), Rua do Galo nº 118, 9700-040, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, PortugalSecretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas, Project LIFE SNAILS (LIFE20 NAT/PT/001377), Rua do Galo nº 118, 9700-040Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, AzoresPortugal
| | - Abrão Leite
- Rua Fernando Pessoa, nº99 R/C DTO 2765-483, Estoril, PortugalRua Fernando Pessoa, nº99 R/C DTO 2765-483EstorilPortugal
| | - Laurine Parmentier
- Rua da Oliveira nº8, 9700-136 Sé, Angra do Heroísmo, Azores, PortugalRua da Oliveira nº8, 9700-136 SéAngra do Heroísmo, AzoresPortugal
| | - Ricardo Abreu
- Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas, Project LIFE SNAILS (LIFE20 NAT/PT/001377), Rua do Galo nº 118, 9700-040, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, Azores, PortugalSecretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas, Project LIFE SNAILS (LIFE20 NAT/PT/001377), Rua do Galo nº 118, 9700-040Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira, AzoresPortugal
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Xu X, Wang C, Xu C, Yuan J, Wang G, Wu Y, Huang C, Jing H, Yang P, Xu L, Peng S, Shan F, Xia X, Jin F, Hou F, Wang J, Mi D, Ren Y, Liu Y, Irwin DM, Li X, Chen W, Li G. Genomic evolution of island birds from the view of the Swinhoe's pheasant (Lophura swinhoii). Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13896. [PMID: 37955396 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Island endemic birds account for the majority of extinct vertebrates in the past few centuries. To date, the evolutionary characteristics of island endemic bird's is poorly known. In this research, we de novo assembled a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for the Swinhoe's pheasant, which is a typical endemic island bird. Results of collinearity tests suggest rapid ancient chromosome rearrangement that may have contributed to the initial species radiation within Phasianidae, and a role for the insertions of CR1 transposable elements in rearranging chromosomes in Phasianidae. During the evolution of the Swinhoe's pheasant, natural selection positively selected genes involved in fecundity and body size functions, at both the species and population levels, which reflect genetic variation associated with island adaptation. We further tested for variation in population genomic traits between the Swinhoe's pheasant and its phylogenetically closely related mainland relative the silver pheasant, and found higher levels of genetic drift and inbreeding in the Swinhoe's pheasant genome. Divergent demographic histories of insular and mainland bird species during the last glacial period may reflect the differing impact of insular and continental climates on the evolution of species. Our research interprets the natural history and population genetic characteristics of the insular endemic bird the Swinhoe's pheasant, at a genome-wide scale, provides a broader perspective on insular speciation, and adaptive evolution and contributes to the genetic conservation of island endemic birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen Wang
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Collaborative Innovation Center on Science-Tech of Ecology and Landscape, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunzhong Xu
- Shanghai Wild Animal Park Development Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaqing Yuan
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guiqiang Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yajiang Wu
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Collaborative Innovation Center on Science-Tech of Ecology and Landscape, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Haohao Jing
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lulu Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shiming Peng
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Collaborative Innovation Center on Science-Tech of Ecology and Landscape, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fen Shan
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Collaborative Innovation Center on Science-Tech of Ecology and Landscape, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaochao Xia
- Guangdong Wildlife Monitoring, Rescue and Conservation Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuyuan Jin
- Guangdong Maoming Forest Park Administrative Office, Maoming, China
| | - Fanghui Hou
- Shanghai Wild Animal Park Development Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinhong Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Da Mi
- Xi'an Haorui Genomics Technology Co., Ltd, Xi'an, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yandong Ren
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yang Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - David M Irwin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xuejuan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wu Chen
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Collaborative Innovation Center on Science-Tech of Ecology and Landscape, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
- Guangzhou Zoo, Guangzhou, China
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Lepczyk CA, Fantle-Lepczyk JE, Dunham KD, Bonnaud E, Lindner J, Doherty TS, Woinarski JCZ. A global synthesis and assessment of free-ranging domestic cat diet. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7809. [PMID: 38086838 PMCID: PMC10716121 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42766-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Free-ranging cats (Felis catus) are globally distributed invasive carnivores that markedly impact biodiversity. Here, to evaluate the potential threat of cats, we develop a comprehensive global assessment of species consumed by cats. We identify 2,084 species eaten by cats, of which 347 (16.65%) are of conservation concern. Islands contain threefold more species of conservation concern eaten by cats than continents do. Birds, reptiles, and mammals constitute ~90% of species consumed, with insects and amphibians being less frequent. Approximately 9% of known birds, 6% of known mammals, and 4% of known reptile species are identified in cat diets. 97% of species consumed are <5 kg in adult body mass, though much larger species are also eaten. The species accumulation curves are not asymptotic, indicating that our estimates are conservative. Our results demonstrate that cats are extreme generalist predators, which is critical for understanding their impact on ecological systems and developing management solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A Lepczyk
- College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - Jean E Fantle-Lepczyk
- College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA
| | - Kylee D Dunham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Nunavut Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R3, Canada
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | - Elsa Bonnaud
- Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Tim S Doherty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - John C Z Woinarski
- Research Institute of the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
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McClure CJW, Berkunsky I, Buechley ER, Dunn L, Johnson J, McCabe J, Oppel S, Rolek BW, Sutton LJ, Gumbs R. Conserving the evolutionary history of birds. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14141. [PMID: 37424371 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
In the midst of the sixth mass extinction, limited resources are forcing conservationists to prioritize which species and places will receive conservation action. Evolutionary distinctiveness measures the isolation of a species on its phylogenetic tree. Combining a species' evolutionary distinctiveness with its globally endangered status creates an EDGE score. We use EDGE scores to prioritize the places and species that should be managed to conserve bird evolutionary history. We analyzed all birds in all countries and important bird areas. We examined parrots, raptors, and seabirds in depth because these groups are especially threatened and relatively speciose. The three focal groups had greater median threatened evolutionary history than other taxa, making them important for conserving bird evolutionary history. Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Madagascar, New Zealand, and the Philippines were especially critical countries for bird conservation because they had the most threatened evolutionary history for endemic birds and are important for parrots, raptors, and seabirds. Increased enforcement of international agreements for the conservation of parrots, raptors, and seabirds is needed because these agreements protect hundreds of millions of years of threatened bird evolutionary history. Decisive action is required to conserve the evolutionary history of birds into the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Igor Berkunsky
- Instituto Multidisciplinario sobre Ecosistemas y Desarrollo Sustentable-CICPBA, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Tandil, Argentina
| | | | - Leah Dunn
- The Peregrine Fund, Boise, Idaho, USA
| | - Jeff Johnson
- Wolf Creek Operating Foundation, Wolf, Wyoming, USA
| | | | - Steffen Oppel
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - Rikki Gumbs
- EDGE of Existence Programme, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Berkshire, UK
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7
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Philippe-Lesaffre M, Thibault M, Caut S, Bourgeois K, Berr T, Ravache A, Vidal E, Courchamp F, Bonnaud E. Recovery of insular seabird populations years after rodent eradication. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14042. [PMID: 36661083 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Seabirds have been particularly affected by invasive non-native species, which has led to the implementation of numerous eradication campaigns for the conservation of these keystone and highly vulnerable species. Although the benefits of eradication of invasive non-native species for seabird conservation have been demonstrated, the recovery kinetics of different seabird populations on islands after eradication remains poorly evaluated. We conducted long-term monitoring of the number of breeding pairs of seven seabird species on a small atoll, Surprise Island, New Caledonia (southwestern tropical Pacific). Marine avifauna of the island were surveyed yearly 4 years before to 4 years after rodent eradication (conducted in 2005), and we conducted multiple one-time surveys from ∼10 years before and ∼15 years after eradication. We sought to determine how different seabird species responded to the eradication of invasive rodents in an insular environment. Three species responded positively (two- to 10-fold increase in population size) to eradication with differences in lag time and sensitivity. The number of breeding pairs increased (effect sizes = 0.49-0.95 and 0.35-0.52) for two species over 4 years post-eradication due to immigration. One species had a longer (at least 5 years) response time than all others; breeding pairs increased for over 10 years after eradication. Long-term sampling was necessary to observe the responses of the seabird populations on the island because of the delayed response of a species to eradication not visible in the first years after eradication. Our results confirmed the positive effects of eradication of invasive non-native species on seabirds and emphasize the importance of mid- and long-term pre- and posteradication surveys to decipher the mechanisms of seabird recovery and confirm the benefits of eradication for conservation purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Philippe-Lesaffre
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Gif-sur-Yvette, France., Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Martin Thibault
- IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer, UMR ENTROPIE, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Stephane Caut
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Gif-sur-Yvette, France., Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Karen Bourgeois
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale, Bât. Villemin, Technopôle Arbois-Méditerranée, UMR IMBE, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Tristan Berr
- IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer, UMR ENTROPIE, Nouméa, New Caledonia
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Ecologie marine et continentale, Bât. Villemin, Technopôle Arbois-Méditerranée, UMR IMBE, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Andreas Ravache
- IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer, UMR ENTROPIE, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Eric Vidal
- IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer, UMR ENTROPIE, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Franck Courchamp
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Gif-sur-Yvette, France., Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Elsa Bonnaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Gif-sur-Yvette, France., Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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8
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Marshall AF, Balloux F, Hemmings N, Brekke P. Systematic review of avian hatching failure and implications for conservation. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:807-832. [PMID: 36635252 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Avian hatching failure is a widespread phenomenon, affecting around 10% of all eggs that are laid and not lost to predation, damage, or desertion. Our understanding of hatching failure is limited in terms of both its underpinning mechanisms and its occurrence across different populations. It is widely acknowledged that rates of hatching failure are higher in threatened species and in populations maintained in captivity compared to wild, non-threatened species, but these differences have rarely been quantified and any broader patterns remain unexplored. To examine the associations between threat status, management interventions, and hatching failure across populations we conducted a phylogenetically controlled multilevel meta-analysis across 231 studies and 241 species of birds. Our data set included both threatened (Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable) and non-threatened (Near Threatened and Least Concern) species across wild and captive populations, as well as 'wild managed' ('free-living') populations. We found the mean overall rate of hatching failure across all populations to be 16.79%, with the hatching failure rate of wild, non-threatened species being 12.40%. We found that populations of threatened species experienced significantly higher mean hatching failure than populations of non-threatened species. Different levels of management were also associated with different rates of hatching failure, with wild populations experiencing the lowest rate of hatching failure, followed by wild managed populations, and populations in captivity experiencing the highest rate. Similarly, populations that were subject to the specific management interventions of artificial incubation, supplementary feeding, and artificial nest provision displayed significantly higher rates of hatching failure than populations without these interventions. The driver of this correlation between hatching failure and management remains unclear, but could be an indirect result of threatened species being more likely to have lower hatching success and also being more likely to be subject to management, indicating that conservation efforts are fittingly being focused towards the species potentially most at risk from extinction. This is the most comprehensive comparative analysis of avian hatching failure that has been conducted to date, and the first to quantify explicitly how threat status and management are associated with the rate of hatching failure in a population. We discuss the implications of our results, focusing on their potential applications to conservation. Although we identified several factors clearly associated with variation in hatching failure, a significant amount of heterogeneity was not explained by our meta-analytical model, indicating that other factors influencing hatching failure were not included here. We discuss what these factors might be and suggest avenues for further research. Finally, we discuss the inconsistency in how hatching failure is defined and reported within the literature, and propose a standardised definition to be used in future studies which will enable better comparison across populations and ensure that the most accurate information is used to support management decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashleigh F Marshall
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - François Balloux
- UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nicola Hemmings
- Department of Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Patricia Brekke
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
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9
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The foraging ecology of invasive black rats (Rattus rattus) differs in two nearby islands in a dry tropical archipelago in Brazil. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02975-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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10
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Burt A, Nuno A, Turnbull L, Fleischer‐Dogley F, Bunbury N. An international assessment of the barriers influencing the effectiveness of island ecosystem management. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- April Burt
- Department of Biology Oxford University Oxford UK
- Seychelles Islands Foundation Mahé Seychelles
| | - Ana Nuno
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA), School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH) NOVA University Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Penryn UK
| | | | | | - Nancy Bunbury
- Seychelles Islands Foundation Mahé Seychelles
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Penryn UK
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11
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McElderry RM, Paxton EH, Nguyen AV, Siers SR. Predation thresholds for reintroduction of native avifauna following suppression of invasive Brown Treesnakes on Guam. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2716. [PMID: 36178004 PMCID: PMC10078581 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The brown treesnake (BTS) (Boiga irregularis) invasion on Guåhan (in English, Guam) led to the extirpation of nearly all native forest birds. In recent years, methods have been developed to reduce BTS abundance on a landscape scale. To help assess the prospects for the successful reintroduction of native birds to Guåhan following BTS suppression, we modeled bird population persistence based on their life history characteristics and relative sensitivity to BTS predation. We constructed individual-based models and simulated BTS predation in hypothetical founding populations for each of seven candidate bird species. We represented BTS predation risk in two steps: risk of being encountered and risk of mortality if encountered. We link encounter risk from the bird's perspective to snake contact rates at camera traps with live animal lures, the most direct practical means of estimating BTS predation risk. Our simulations support the well-documented fact that Guåhan's birds cannot persist with an uncontrolled population of BTS but do indicate that bird persistence in Guåhan's forests is possible with suppression short of total eradication. We estimate threshold BTS contact rates would need to be below 0.0002-0.0006 snake contacts per bird per night for these birds to persist on the landscape, which translates to an annual encounter probability of 0.07-0.20. We simulated the effects of snake-proof nest boxes for Sihek (Todiramphus cinnamominus) and Såli (Aplonis opaca), but the benefits were small relative to the overall variation in contact rate thresholds among species. This variation among focal bird species in sustainable predation levels can be used to prioritize species for reintroduction in a BTS-suppressed landscape, but variation among these species is narrow relative to the required reduction from current BTS levels, which may be four orders of magnitude higher (>0.18). Our modeling indicates that the required predation thresholds may need to be lower than have yet been demonstrated with current BTS management. Our predation threshold metric provides an important management tool to help estimate target BTS suppression levels that can be used to determine when bird reintroduction campaigns might begin and serves as a model for other systems to match predator control with reintroduction efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. McElderry
- Research Corporation of the University of GuamMangilaoGuamUSA
- Swiss Federal Institute for ForestSnow and Landscape Research WSLBirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Eben H. Paxton
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research CenterHawaii National ParkHawaiiUSA
| | - Andre V. Nguyen
- U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Island Ecosystems Research CenterHawaii National ParkHawaiiUSA
| | - Shane R. Siers
- U.S. Department of Agriculture APHIS, Wildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research CenterBarrigadaGuamUSA
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12
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Eaten out of house and home: local extinction of Abrolhos painted button-quail Turnix varius scintillans due to invasive mice, herbivores and rainfall decline. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02966-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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13
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Invasive rodent eradication on islands: assessment and mitigation of human exposure to rodenticides. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02940-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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14
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Wiens BJ, Combe FJ, Dickerson B, Divine LM, Padula VM, Sage GK, Talbot SL, Hope AG. Genetic drift drives rapid speciation of an Arctic insular endemic shrew (Sorex pribilofensis). Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5231-5248. [PMID: 35972323 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Episodes of Quaternary environmental change shaped the genomes of extant species, influencing their response to contemporary environments, which are changing rapidly. Island endemics are among the most vulnerable to such change, accounting for a disproportionate number of recent extinctions. To prevent extinctions and conserve island biodiversity it is vital to combine knowledge of species' ecologies with their complex evolutionary histories. The Bering Sea has a history of cyclical island isolation and reconnection, coupled with modern rates of climate change that exceed global averages. The endangered Pribilof Island shrew (Sorex pribilofensis) is endemic to St. Paul Island, Alaska, which was isolated from mainland Beringia ~14,000 years ago by rising sea levels. Using ~11,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms, 17 microsatellites and mitochondrial sequence data, we test predictions about the evolutionary processes driving shrew speciation across Beringia. Our data show considerable differentiation of S. pribilofensis from mainland sibling species, relative to levels of divergence between mainland shrews. We also find a genome-wide loss of diversity and extremely low Ne for S. pribilofensis. We then show that intraspecific genetic diversity is significantly related to interspecific divergence, and that differentiation between S. pribilofensis and other Beringian shrews is highest across loci that are fixed in S. pribilofensis, indicating that strong drift has driven differentiation of this island species. Our findings show that drift as a consequence of Arctic climate cycling can rapidly reshape insular biodiversity. Arctic island species that lack genomic diversity and have evolved in response to past climate may have limited ability to respond to modern environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben J Wiens
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Fraser J Combe
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | | | - Lauren M Divine
- Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Ecosystem Conservation Office, St. Paul, Alaska, USA
| | - Veronica M Padula
- Aleut Community of St. Paul Island, Ecosystem Conservation Office, St. Paul, Alaska, USA
| | - George K Sage
- Far Northwestern Institute of Art and Science, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - Sandra L Talbot
- Far Northwestern Institute of Art and Science, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
| | - Andrew G Hope
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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15
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Harris NC, Murphy A, Green AR, Gámez S, Mwamidi DM, Nunez-Mir GC. Socio-ecological gap analysis to forecast species range contractions for conservation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 120:e2201942119. [PMID: 36165442 PMCID: PMC9962987 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2201942119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation requires both a needs assessment and prioritization scheme for planning and implementation. Range maps are critical for understanding and conserving biodiversity, but current range maps often omit content, negating important metrics of variation in populations and places. Here, we integrate a myriad of conditions that are spatially explicit across distributions of carnivores to identify gaps in capacity necessary for their conservation. Expanding on traditional gap analyses that focus almost exclusively on quantifying discordance in protected area coverage across a species' range, our work aggregates threat layers (e.g., drought, human pressures) with resources layers (e.g., protected areas, cultural diversity) to identify gaps in available conservation capacity (ACC) across ranges for 91 African carnivores. Our model indicated that all species have some portion of their range at risk of contraction, with an average of 15 percentage range loss. We found that the ACC differed based on body size and taxonomy. Results deviated from current perceptions of extinction risks for species with an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat status of Least Concern and yielded insights for species categorized as Data Deficient. Our socio-ecological gap analysis presents a geospatial approach to inform decision-making and resource allocation in conservation. Ultimately, our work advances forecasting dynamics of species' ranges that are increasingly vital in an era of great socio-ecological change to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and promote inclusive carnivore conservation across geographies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nyeema C. Harris
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
| | - Asia Murphy
- Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA95064
| | - Aalayna R. Green
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Siria Gámez
- Applied Wildlife Ecology Lab, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT06511
| | - Daniel M. Mwamidi
- Laboratory for Analysis of Socio-ecological Systems in a Global World, Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gabriela C. Nunez-Mir
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL60607
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16
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Khaleel R, Valsan G, Rangel-Buitrago N, Warrier AK. Hidden problems in geological heritage sites: The microplastic issue on Saint Mary's Island, India, Southeast Arabian Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 182:114043. [PMID: 35985130 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.114043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) have become a dominant constituent of several oceanic islands. This study focuses on the occurrence and distribution of MPs present in the beach sediments of Saint Mary's Island (SMI), a geological heritage site located in the south-eastern part of the Arabian Sea. The average (standard deviation) abundance of MPs on this island was 97.18 (80.49) particles/kg. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy revealed that MPs are composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyamide (PA). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) highlighted the presence of Cr, As, Pb, and Cd (harmful pollutants) on MP surfaces. The MPs in the SMI are largely contributed by the nearby fishing harbour, touristic beaches and estuaries. The results of this study, act as a starting point for continuous environmental monitoring in this unique region of the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizwan Khaleel
- Department of Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Gokul Valsan
- Department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Nelson Rangel-Buitrago
- Programa de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, Colombia; Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Atlántico, Puerto Colombia, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Anish Kumar Warrier
- Department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India; Centre for Climate Studies, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, Karnataka, India.
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17
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Spatz DR, Holmes ND, Will DJ, Hein S, Carter ZT, Fewster RM, Keitt B, Genovesi P, Samaniego A, Croll DA, Tershy BR, Russell JC. The global contribution of invasive vertebrate eradication as a key island restoration tool. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13391. [PMID: 35948555 PMCID: PMC9365850 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14982-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Islands are global hotspots for biodiversity and extinction, representing ~ 5% of Earth's land area alongside 40% of globally threatened vertebrates and 61% of global extinctions since the 1500s. Invasive species are the primary driver of native biodiversity loss on islands, though eradication of invasive species from islands has been effective at halting or reversing these trends. A global compendium of this conservation tool is essential for scaling best-practices and enabling innovations to maximize biodiversity outcomes. Here, we synthesize over 100 years of invasive vertebrate eradications from islands, comprising 1550 eradication attempts on 998 islands, with an 88% success rate. We show a significant growth in eradication activity since the 1980s, primarily driven by rodent eradications. The annual number of eradications on islands peaked in the mid-2000s, but the annual area treated continues to rise dramatically. This trend reflects increases in removal efficacy and project complexity, generating increased conservation gains. Our synthesis demonstrates the collective contribution of national interventions towards global biodiversity outcomes. Further investment in invasive vertebrate eradications from islands will expand biodiversity conservation while strengthening biodiversity resilience to climate change and creating co-benefits for human societies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Stella Hein
- Island Conservation, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.,UC Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Piero Genovesi
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), Rome, Italy.,IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group, Rome, Italy
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18
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Human-induced ecological cascades: Extinction, restoration, and rewilding in the Galápagos highlands. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2203752119. [PMID: 35666867 PMCID: PMC9214511 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2203752119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Galápagos Islands are an iconic evolutionary and ecological setting, recognized to be both species-poor and ecologically sensitive. Here, we show an indirect ecological cascade initiated by whalers harvesting tortoises near the coast in the 1790s, which had lasting impacts on the highland interior of San Cristóbal Island. Our data also reveal how the replacement of endemic herbivores with exotic herbivores, namely, cattle, impacted the local vegetation. We advocate for the restoration of preimpact shrub species and tortoises to promote habitat rewilding, restoration, and especially the socioeconomic value of these highland ecosystems in providing tourist experiences. Oceanic islands support unique biotas but often lack ecological redundancy, so that the removal of a species can have a large effect on the ecosystem. The larger islands of the Galápagos Archipelago once had one or two species of giant tortoise that were the dominant herbivore. Using paleoecological techniques, we investigate the ecological cascade on highland ecosystems that resulted from whalers removing many thousands of tortoises from the lowlands. We hypothesize that the seasonal migration of a now-extinct tortoise species to the highlands was curtailed by decreased intraspecific competition. We find the trajectory of plant community dynamics changed within a decade of the first whaling vessels visiting the islands. Novel communities established, with a previously uncommon shrub, Miconia, replacing other shrubs of the genera Alternanthera and Acalypha. It was, however, the introduction of cattle and horses that caused the local extirpation of plant species, with the most extreme impacts being evident after c. 1930. This modified ecology is considered the natural state of the islands and has shaped subsequent conservation policy and practice. Restoration of El Junco Crater should emphasize exclusion of livestock, rewilding with tortoises, and expanding the ongoing plantings of Miconia to also include Acalypha and Alternanthera.
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19
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Investigation on the Relationship between Biodiversity and Linguistic Diversity in China and Its Formation Mechanism. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095538. [PMID: 35564933 PMCID: PMC9103816 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated that countries, biodiversity hotspots, wildness areas, and islands with high biodiversity also have high linguistic diversity, while the regional correlation between phonetic, lexical, and grammatical diversity within a particular kind of language and biodiversity has not been verified. Based on the methods of GIS visualization and Spearman correlation coefficient, the regional differences and correlations between linguistic diversity and biodiversity in China are investigated in this paper using the numbers of plant species, animal species, Chinese dialects, and the data of phonetic, lexical, and grammatical diversity of Chinese dialects. The results reveal the positive regional correlations between the diversity of Chinese dialects, as well as the phonetic, lexical, and grammatical diversity of Chinese dialects and biodiversity. In addition, the regional correlation between linguistic diversity and plant diversity is stronger than that between linguistic diversity and animal diversity. The diversity of Chinese dialects is being weakened by the industrialization and urbanization. Furthermore, some countermeasures to protect linguistic diversity are proposed, such as protecting biodiversity and small communities, as well as promoting national language resource protection projects.
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20
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Molecular Evidence Reveals the Sympatric Distribution of Cervus nippon yakushimae and Cervus nippon taiouanus on Jeju Island, South Korea. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12080998. [PMID: 35454244 PMCID: PMC9029077 DOI: 10.3390/ani12080998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-native species threaten native ecosystems and species, particularly on islands where rates of endemism and vulnerability to threats are high. Understanding species invasion will aid in providing insights into ecological and evolutionary processes. To identify the non-native sika deer (Cervus nippon) population in Jeju, South Korea, and their phylogenetic affinities, we collected tissue samples from roadkill and the World Natural Heritage Headquarters in Jeju. Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B (CytB) gene sequences were analyzed to determine two distinct CytB haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis using maximum likelihood tree revealed two haplotypes of CytB clustered into two different groups representing two subspecies: C. n. yakushimae, native to Japan, and C. n. taiouanus, native to Taiwan. The tentative divergence time between the two subspecies was estimated at 1.81 million years. Our study confirmed that the two subspecies of sika deer are sympatric in the natural ecosystem of Jeju Island. This study provides valuable information to help government and conservation agencies understand alien species and determine control policies for conserving native biodiversity in South Korea.
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21
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Ferreira DF, Gibb R, López-Baucells A, Nunes NJ, Jones KE, Rocha R. Species-specific responses to land-use change in island insectivorous bats. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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22
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Marino C, Leclerc C, Bellard C. Profiling insular vertebrates prone to biological invasions: What makes them vulnerable? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:1077-1090. [PMID: 34783130 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Invasive alien species (IAS) are a major threat to insular vertebrates, although the ecological characteristics that make insular communities vulnerable to IAS are poorly understood. After describing the ecological strategies of 6015 insular amphibians, birds, lizards, and mammals, we assessed the functional and ecological features of vertebrates exposed to IAS. We found that at least 50% of insular amphibian functional richness was hosted by IAS-threatened amphibians and up to 29% for birds. Moreover, all IAS-threatened groups except birds harbored a higher functional richness than species groups threatened by other threats. Disentangling the ecological strategies threatened by IAS, compared to those associated with other threats, we showed that birds, lizards, and mammals were more likely to be terrestrial foragers and amphibians to have larval development. By contrast, large-bodied species and habitat specialists were universally threatened. By considering the functional aspect of threatened insular diversity, our work improves our understanding of global IAS impacts. This new dimension proves essential for undertaking relevant and effective conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Marino
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Orsay, France
| | - Camille Leclerc
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Orsay, France
| | - Céline Bellard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Orsay, France
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23
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Global predictors of language endangerment and the future of linguistic diversity. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 6:163-173. [PMID: 34916621 PMCID: PMC8825282 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01604-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Language diversity is under threat. While each language is subject to specific social, demographic and political pressures, there may also be common threatening processes. We use an analysis of 6,511 spoken languages with 51 predictor variables spanning aspects of population, documentation, legal recognition, education policy, socioeconomic indicators and environmental features to show that, counter to common perception, contact with other languages per se is not a driver of language loss. However, greater road density, which may encourage population movement, is associated with increased endangerment. Higher average years of schooling is also associated with greater endangerment, evidence that formal education can contribute to loss of language diversity. Without intervention, language loss could triple within 40 years, with at least one language lost per month. To avoid the loss of over 1,500 languages by the end of the century, urgent investment is needed in language documentation, bilingual education programmes and other community-based programmes.
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Do Invasive Mammal Eradications from Islands Support Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation? CLIMATE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cli9120172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate change represents a planetary emergency that is exacerbating the loss of native biodiversity. In response, efforts promoting climate change adaptation strategies that improve ecosystem resilience and/or mitigate climate impacts are paramount. Invasive Alien Species are a key threat to islands globally, where strategies such as preventing establishment (biosecurity), and eradication, especially invasive mammals, have proven effective for reducing native biodiversity loss and can also advance ecosystem resilience and create refugia for native species at risk from climate change. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that successful eradications may also contribute to mitigating climate change. Given the cross-sector potential for eradications to reduce climate impacts alongside native biodiversity conservation, we sought to understand when conservation managers and funders explicitly sought to use or fund the eradication of invasive mammals from islands to achieve positive climate outcomes. To provide context, we first summarized available literature of the synergistic relationship between invasive species and climate change, including case studies where invasive mammal eradications served to meet climate adaptation or mitigation solutions. Second, we conducted a systematic review of the literature and eradication-related conference proceedings to identify when these synergistic effects of climate and invasive species were explicitly addressed through eradication practices. Third, we reviewed projects from four large funding entities known to support climate change solutions and/or native biodiversity conservation efforts and identified when eradications were funded in a climate change context. The combined results of our case study summary paired with systematic reviews found that, although eradicating invasive mammals from islands is an effective climate adaptation strategy, island eradications are poorly represented within the climate change adaptation and mitigation funding framework. We believe this is a lost opportunity and encourage eradication practitioners and funders of climate change adaptation to leverage this extremely effective nature-based tool into positive conservation and climate resilience solutions.
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Burt AJ, Nuno A, Bunbury N. Defining and bridging the barriers to more effective conservation of island ecosystems: A practitioner's perspective. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- April J. Burt
- Department of Plant Sciences Oxford University Oxford UK
- Seychelles Islands Foundation Mahé Seychelles
| | - Ana Nuno
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Penryn UK
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA) School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH), NOVA University Lisbon Lisbon Portugal
| | - Nancy Bunbury
- Seychelles Islands Foundation Mahé Seychelles
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Penryn UK
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Fernández-Palacios JM, Kreft H, Irl SDH, Norder S, Ah-Peng C, Borges PAV, Burns KC, de Nascimento L, Meyer JY, Montes E, Drake DR. Scientists' warning - The outstanding biodiversity of islands is in peril. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021; 31:e01847. [PMID: 34761079 PMCID: PMC8556160 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite islands contributing only 6.7% of land surface area, they harbor ~20% of the Earth’s biodiversity, but unfortunately also ~50% of the threatened species and 75% of the known extinctions since the European expansion around the globe. Due to their geological and geographic history and characteristics, islands act simultaneously as cradles of evolutionary diversity and museums of formerly widespread lineages—elements that permit islands to achieve an outstanding endemicity. Nevertheless, the majority of these endemic species are inherently vulnerable due to genetic and demographic factors linked with the way islands are colonized. Here, we stress the great variation of islands in their physical geography (area, isolation, altitude, latitude) and history (age, human colonization, human density). We provide examples of some of the most species rich and iconic insular radiations. Next, we analyze the natural vulnerability of the insular biota, linked to genetic and demographic factors as a result of founder events as well as the typically small population sizes of many island species. We note that, whereas evolution toward island syndromes (including size shifts, derived insular woodiness, altered dispersal ability, loss of defense traits, reduction in clutch size) might have improved the ability of species to thrive under natural conditions on islands, it has simultaneously made island biota disproportionately vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures such as habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, and climate change. This has led to the documented extinction of at least 800 insular species in the past 500 years, in addition to the many that had already gone extinct following the arrival of first human colonists on islands in prehistoric times. Finally, we summarize current scientific knowledge on the ongoing biodiversity loss on islands worldwide and express our serious concern that the current trajectory will continue to decimate the unique and irreplaceable natural heritage of the world’s islands. We conclude that drastic actions are urgently needed to bend the curve of the alarming rates of island biodiversity loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- José María Fernández-Palacios
- Island Ecology and Biogeography Group, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Holger Kreft
- Biodiversity, Macroecology & Biogeography, University of Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Severin D H Irl
- Biogeography and Biodiversity Lab, Institute of Physical Geography, Goethe-University, 60438 Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sietze Norder
- Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, 2300 RA Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Claudine Ah-Peng
- UMR PVBMT, Université de La Réunion, 97410 Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France
| | - Paulo A V Borges
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c)/Azorean Biodiversity Group and Universidade dos Açores, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, 9700-042 Angra do Heroísmo, Açores, Portugal
| | - Kevin C Burns
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, 6140 Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Lea de Nascimento
- Island Ecology and Biogeography Group, Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias (IUETSPC), Universidad de La Laguna (ULL), 38200 La Laguna, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Jean-Yves Meyer
- Délégation à la Recherche, Government of French Polynesia, 98713 Papeete, French Polynesia
| | - Elba Montes
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain
| | - Donald R Drake
- School of Life Sciences, University of Hawai]i, 96822 Honolulu, Hawai]i, USA
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Sayol F, Cooke RSC, Pigot AL, Blackburn TM, Tobias JA, Steinbauer MJ, Antonelli A, Faurby S. Loss of functional diversity through anthropogenic extinctions of island birds is not offset by biotic invasions. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj5790. [PMID: 34757780 PMCID: PMC8580305 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj5790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Human impacts reshape ecological communities through the extinction and introduction of species. The combined impact of these factors depends on whether non-native species fill the functional roles of extinct species, thus buffering the loss of functional diversity. This question has been difficult to address, because comprehensive information about past extinctions and their traits is generally lacking. We combine detailed information about extinct, extant, and established alien birds to quantify historical changes in functional diversity across nine oceanic archipelagos. We found that alien species often equal or exceed the number of anthropogenic extinctions yet apparently perform a narrower set of functional roles as current island assemblages have undergone a substantial and ubiquitous net loss in functional diversity and increased functional similarity among assemblages. Our results reveal that the introduction of alien species has not prevented anthropogenic extinctions from reducing and homogenizing the functional diversity of native bird assemblages on oceanic archipelagos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferran Sayol
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Robert S. C. Cooke
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Alex L. Pigot
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tim M. Blackburn
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, UK
| | - Joseph A. Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London Silwood Park, Ascot, UK
| | - Manuel J. Steinbauer
- University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research and Sport Ecology, Department of Sport Science, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Alexandre Antonelli
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, UK
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Søren Faurby
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Gothenburg Global Biodiversity Centre, Gothenburg, Sweden
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28
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Cotoras DD, Elgueta M, Vilches MJ, Hagen E, Pott M. Terrestrial invertebrates surviving San Ambrosio island’s ecological catastrophe reinforce biogeographic affinities between the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas Islands. J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2021.1954710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Darko D. Cotoras
- Entomology Department, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Island Conservation, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mario Elgueta
- Área de Entomología, Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Parque Quinta Normal, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
| | | | - Erin Hagen
- Department of Conservation, Island Conservation, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Madeleine Pott
- Department of Conservation, Island Conservation, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Jones JS, Porter A, Muñoz-Pérez JP, Alarcón-Ruales D, Galloway TS, Godley BJ, Santillo D, Vagg J, Lewis C. Plastic contamination of a Galapagos Island (Ecuador) and the relative risks to native marine species. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 789:147704. [PMID: 34049146 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ecuador's Galapagos Islands and their unique biodiversity are a global conservation priority. We explored the presence, composition and environmental drivers of plastic contamination across the marine ecosystem at an island scale, investigated uptake in marine invertebrates and designed a systematic priority scoring analysis to identify the most vulnerable vertebrate species. Beach contamination varied by site (macroplastic 0-0.66 items·m-2, microplastics 0-448.8 particles·m-2 or 0-74.6 particles·kg-1), with high plastic accumulation on east-facing beaches that are influenced by the Humboldt Current. Local littering and waste management leakages accounted for just 2% of macroplastic. Microplastics (including anthropogenic cellulosics) were ubiquitous but in low concentrations in benthic sediments (6.7-86.7 particles·kg-1) and surface seawater (0.04-0.89 particles·m-3), with elevated concentrations in the harbour suggesting some local input. Microplastics were present in all seven marine invertebrate species examined, found in 52% of individuals (n = 123) confirming uptake of microplastics in the Galapagos marine food web. Priority scoring analysis combining species distribution information, IUCN Red List conservation status and literature evidence of harm from entanglement and ingestion of plastics in similar species identified 27 marine vertebrates in need of urgent, targeted monitoring and mitigation including pinnipeds, seabirds, turtles and sharks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jen S Jones
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK; Galapagos Conservation Trust, 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR, UK
| | - Adam Porter
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador; School of Science and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay, QLD, Australia
| | - Daniela Alarcón-Ruales
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) & UNC-Chapel Hill Galápagos Science Center (GSC), Av. Alsacio Northia, Isla San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador
| | - Tamara S Galloway
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Brendan J Godley
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - David Santillo
- Greenpeace Research Laboratories, School of Biosciences, Innovation Centre Phase 2, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Vagg
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Ceri Lewis
- Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
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Roesch MA, Hansen DM, Cole NC. Understanding demographic limiting factors to species recovery: Nest-site suitability and breeding ecology of Phelsuma guentheri on Round Island, Mauritius. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Barbraud C, Delord K, Le Bouard F, Harivel R, Demay J, Chaigne A, Micol T. Seabird population changes following mammal eradication at oceanic Saint-Paul Island, Indian Ocean. J Nat Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Burgess BT, Irvine RL, Howald GR, Russello MA. The Promise of Genetics and Genomics for Improving Invasive Mammal Management on Islands. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.704809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species are major contributors to global biodiversity decline. Invasive mammalian species (IMS), in particular, have profound negative effects in island systems that contain disproportionally high levels of species richness and endemism. The eradication and control of IMS have become important conservation tools for managing species invasions on islands, yet these management operations are often subject to failure due to knowledge gaps surrounding species- and system-specific characteristics, including invasion pathways and contemporary migration patterns. Here, we synthesize the literature on ways in which genetic and genomic tools have effectively informed IMS management on islands, specifically associated with the development and modification of biosecurity protocols, and the design and implementation of eradication and control programs. In spite of their demonstrated utility, we then explore the challenges that are preventing genetics and genomics from being implemented more frequently in IMS management operations from both academic and non-academic perspectives, and suggest possible solutions for breaking down these barriers. Finally, we discuss the potential application of genome editing to the future management of invasive species on islands, including the current state of the field and why islands may be effective targets for this emerging technology.
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Carr P, Trevail A, Bárrios S, Clubbe C, Freeman R, Koldewey HJ, Votier SC, Wilkinson T, Nicoll MAC. Potential benefits to breeding seabirds of converting abandoned coconut plantations to native habitats after invasive predator eradication. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Carr
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park London NW1 4RY U.K
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter, Penryn Campus Cornwall TR10 9EZ U.K
| | - Alice Trevail
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter, Penryn Campus Cornwall TR10 9EZ U.K
| | - Sara Bárrios
- Conservation Science Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew London TW9 3AE U.K
| | - Colin Clubbe
- Conservation Science Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew London TW9 3AE U.K
| | - Robin Freeman
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park London NW1 4RY U.K
| | - Heather J. Koldewey
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park London NW1 4RY U.K
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter, Penryn Campus Cornwall TR10 9EZ U.K
| | - Stephen C. Votier
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter, Penryn Campus Cornwall TR10 9EZ U.K
- School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society Heriot‐Watt University Edinburgh EH14 4AS U.K
| | - Tim Wilkinson
- Conservation Science Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew London TW9 3AE U.K
| | - Malcolm A. C. Nicoll
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park London NW1 4RY U.K
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Benkwitt CE, Gunn RL, Le Corre M, Carr P, Graham NAJ. Rat eradication restores nutrient subsidies from seabirds across terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Curr Biol 2021; 31:2704-2711.e4. [PMID: 33887185 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.03.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Biological invasions pose a threat to nearly every ecosystem worldwide.1,2 Although eradication programs can successfully eliminate invasive species and enhance native biodiversity, especially on islands,3 the effects of eradication on cross-ecosystem processes are unknown. On islands where rats were never introduced, seabirds transfer nutrients from pelagic to terrestrial and nearshore marine habitats, which in turn enhance the productivity, biomass, and functioning of recipient ecosystems.4-6 Here, we test whether rat eradication restores seabird populations, their nutrient subsidies, and some of their associated benefits for ecosystem function to tropical islands and adjacent coral reefs. By comparing islands with different rat invasion histories, we found a clear hierarchy whereby seabird biomass, seabird-driven nitrogen inputs, and the incorporation of seabird-derived nutrients into terrestrial and marine food chains were highest on islands where rats were never introduced, intermediate on islands where rats were eradicated 4-16 years earlier, and lowest on islands with invasive rats still present. Seabird-derived nutrients diminished from land to sea and with increasing distance to rat-eradicated islands, but extended at least 300 m from shore. Although rat eradication enhanced seabird-derived nutrients in soil, leaves, marine algae, and herbivorous reef fish, reef fish growth was similar around rat-eradicated and rat-infested islands. Given that the loss of nutrient subsidies is of global concern,7 that removal of invasive species restores previously lost nutrient pathways over relatively short timescales is promising. However, the full return of cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies and all of their associated demographic benefits may take multiple decades.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel L Gunn
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - Matthieu Le Corre
- UMR ENTROPIE, Université de La Réunion, IRD, CNRS, IFREMER, Université de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Avenue René Cassin, 97490 Sainte Clotilde, La Réunion
| | - Peter Carr
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK; Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall TR10 9EZ, UK
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Nunes SF, Mota-Ferreira M, Sampaio M, Andrade J, Oliveira N, Rebelo R, Rocha R. Trophic niche changes associated with the eradication of invasive mammals in an insular lizard: an assessment using isotopes. Curr Zool 2021; 68:211-219. [PMID: 35355946 PMCID: PMC8962685 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Invasive species are a major threat to island biodiversity, and their eradications have substantially contributed to the conservation of island endemics. However, the consequences of eradications on the trophic ecology of native taxa are largely unexplored. Here, we used the eradication of invasive black rats Rattus rattus and European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus from the Berlenga Island, in the western coast of Portugal, as a whole-ecosystem experiment to investigate the effects of the eradication of invasive mammals on the trophic niche and body dimensions of the island-restricted Berlenga wall lizard Podarcis carbonelli berlengensis over a 2-year period. Our results suggest an expansion of the isotopic niche and an intensification of the sexual dimorphism of the lizard following mammal eradication. Additionally, we found considerable variability in isotopic niche across the island and detected evidence of sex-specific and season-modulated nutritional requirements of this threatened reptile. Our findings support that the eradication of 2 of the planet’s most problematic invasive vertebrates led to changes in the lizard trophic niche and sexual dimorphism in just 2 years. This suggests that the ecological pressures—for example, prey availability and habitat structure—to which lizards are exposed have substantially changed post-eradication. Our study emphasizes the scientific value of island eradications as experiments to address a wide range of ecological questions and adds to the increasing body of evidence supporting substantial conservation gains associated with these restoration interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara F Nunes
- Faculty of Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, 1749-016, Portugal
| | - Mário Mota-Ferreira
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, 1349-017, Portugal
| | - Marta Sampaio
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
| | - Joana Andrade
- Sociedade Portuguesa Para o Estudo das Aves, Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, 87, 3° Andar, Lisboa, 1070-062, Portugal
| | - Nuno Oliveira
- Sociedade Portuguesa Para o Estudo das Aves, Av. Columbano Bordalo Pinheiro, 87, 3° Andar, Lisboa, 1070-062, Portugal
| | - Rui Rebelo
- Faculty of Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, 1749-016, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Rocha
- Faculty of Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, 1749-016, Portugal
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Vairão, 4485-661, Portugal
- CIBIO-InBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, 1349-017, Portugal
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Segal RD, Massaro M, Carlile N, Whitsed R. Small‐scale species distribution model identifies restricted breeding habitat for an endemic island bird. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. D. Segal
- School of Environmental Sciences Charles Sturt University Albury NSW Australia
- Institute for Land, Water and Society Charles Sturt University Albury NSW Australia
| | - M. Massaro
- School of Environmental Sciences Charles Sturt University Albury NSW Australia
- Institute for Land, Water and Society Charles Sturt University Albury NSW Australia
| | - N. Carlile
- Department of Planning, Industry and Environment NSW Parramatta NSW Australia
| | - R. Whitsed
- School of Environmental Sciences Charles Sturt University Albury NSW Australia
- Institute for Land, Water and Society Charles Sturt University Albury NSW Australia
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Bombaci SP, Innes J, Kelly D, Flaherty V, Pejchar L. Excluding mammalian predators increases bird densities and seed dispersal in fenced ecosanctuaries. Ecology 2021; 102:e03340. [PMID: 33709447 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Islands are epicenters of animal extinctions and population declines. These losses exacerbate biodiversity loss and disrupt ecological services in areas of high endemism. Island defaunation is primarily driven by invasive mammalian predators, and mammal eradications are reversing population declines for some island species. Invasive mammal eradications may also have the capacity to restore ecological interactions, along with the recovery of island fauna. Here we show that invasive mammal eradication in fenced ecosanctuaries results in higher rates of bird foraging on fruit, and higher bird-mediated seed dispersal, than in similar forests without mammal eradication. We further show that higher foraging and seed dispersal is related to higher densities of native bird species, after accounting for natural variation in fruit availability. For the many other systems globally that are under threat from invasive mammals, New Zealand's fenced ecosanctuary model offers a promising tool for restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara P Bombaci
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
| | - John Innes
- Manaaki Whenua, Landcare Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Dave Kelly
- Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
| | - Victoria Flaherty
- College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Liba Pejchar
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
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Dispersal history of a globally introduced carnivore, the small Indian mongoose Urva auropunctata, with an emphasis on the Caribbean region. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02523-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Kurle CM, Zilliacus KM, Sparks J, Curl J, Bock M, Buckelew S, Williams JC, Wolf CA, Holmes ND, Plissner J, Howald GR, Tershy BR, Croll DA. Indirect effects of invasive rat removal result in recovery of island rocky intertidal community structure. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5395. [PMID: 33686134 PMCID: PMC7940711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84342-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Eleven years after invasive Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) were eradicated from Hawadax Island, in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, the predicted three-level trophic cascade in the rocky intertidal, with native shorebirds as the apex predator, returned, leading to a community resembling those on rat-free islands with significant decreases in invertebrate species abundances and increases in fleshy algal cover. Rats had indirectly structured the intertidal community via their role as the apex predator in a four-level trophic cascade. Our results are an excellent example of an achievable and relatively short-term community-level recovery following removal of invasive animals. These conservation successes are especially important for islands as their disproportionately high levels of native biodiversity are excessively threatened by invasive mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn M Kurle
- Division of Biological Sciences, Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution Section, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92023, USA.
| | - Kelly M Zilliacus
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Jenna Sparks
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge, PO Box 2570, Santa Cruz, CA, 95063, USA
| | - Jen Curl
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation, 1300 College Rd, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, USA
| | - Mila Bock
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,Great Basin Institute, 16750 Mt. Rose Highway, Reno, NV, 89511, USA
| | - Stacey Buckelew
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,Axiom Data Science, 1016 W 6th Ave, Ste. 105, Anchorage, AK, 99501, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Williams
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, 95 Sterling Highway, Suite 1, Homer, AK, 99603, USA
| | - Coral A Wolf
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Nick D Holmes
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,The Nature Conservancy, 201 Mission Street #4, San Francisco, CA, 94105, USA
| | - Jonathan Plissner
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Gregg R Howald
- Island Conservation, 2100 Delaware Ave, Suite 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.,FreshWater Life, Telluride, CO, USA
| | - Bernie R Tershy
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA
| | - Donald A Croll
- Conservation Action Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA.
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40
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Butt N, Wenger AS, Lohr C, Woodberry O, Morris K, Pressey RL. Predicting and managing plant invasions on offshore islands. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Butt
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Saint Lucia Queensland Australia
| | - Amelia S. Wenger
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland Australia
| | - Cheryl Lohr
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, Animal Science Program Woodvale Western Australia Australia
| | - Owen Woodberry
- Bayesian Intelligence Pty Ltd Monash University Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Keith Morris
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, Animal Science Program Woodvale Western Australia Australia
| | - Robert L. Pressey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
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41
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Binny RN, Innes J, Fitzgerald N, Pech R, James A, Price R, Gillies C, Byrom AE. Long‐term biodiversity trajectories for pest‐managed ecological restorations: eradication vs. suppression. ECOL MONOGR 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecm.1439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle N. Binny
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Lincoln New Zealand
- Te Pūnaha Matatini New Zealand
| | - John Innes
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Hamilton New Zealand
| | | | - Roger Pech
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Lincoln New Zealand
| | - Alex James
- Te Pūnaha Matatini New Zealand
- School of Mathematics and Statistics University of Canterbury Christchurch New Zealand
| | - Robbie Price
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Hamilton New Zealand
| | - Craig Gillies
- Department of Conservation, Biodiversity Group Hamilton New Zealand
| | - Andrea E. Byrom
- Manaaki Whenua‐Landcare Research Lincoln New Zealand
- NZ Biological Heritage National Science Challenge New Zealand
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42
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Travers T, Lea M, Alderman R, Terauds A, Shaw J. Bottom‐up effect of eradications: The unintended consequences for top‐order predators when eradicating invasive prey. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Toby Travers
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tas Australia
| | - Mary‐Anne Lea
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies University of Tasmania Hobart Tas Australia
| | - Rachael Alderman
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment Hobart Tas Australia
| | - Aleks Terauds
- Australian Antarctic Division Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Kingston Tas Australia
| | - Justine Shaw
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
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43
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Ringler D, Guillerault N, Baumann M, Cagnato M, Russell JC. Rodenticide baiting black rats (Rattus rattus) in mangrove habitats. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/wr20178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
ContextMangroves and intertidal habitats have been identified as particularly challenging environments for bait application within both tropical and temperate environments, because bait applied to areas that are tidally inundated could degrade rapidly or become inaccessible to rats.
AimsTo determine rat density, ranging behaviour and probability of detection using different monitoring devices; additionally, to determine the availability (persistence, durability and uptake) of rodenticide baits within tidally inundated mangrove habitats.
MethodsThe population biology of black rats (Rattus rattus) was studied in two contrasting mangrove habitats on Europa Island, and spatially explicit mark–recapture studies were performed to estimate densities and activity of rats. A series of bait availability trials was conducted to determine the durability of rodenticide baits on the ground and uptake in the canopy (‘bait bolas’).
Key resultsBlack rats were found to be abundant in mangrove, and despite daily tidal inundation, still maintained ranging behaviour consistent with rats in adjacent terrestrial habitats. Larger rodenticide bait blocks remained within tidally inundated habitat throughout tidal cycles and were available and remained palatable to rats for at least three consecutive nights, although strong bait competition occurred with crabs. Bait bolas were available in mangrove canopy exclusively to rats and consumption commenced on the first night.
ConclusionsThe results provide evidence that mangrove habitats are an important habitat for rats, but the biology of rats in these habitats does not meaningfully differ from adjacent terrestrial habitats. With the use of larger rodenticide blocks, tidal inundation does not affect bait availability, but crabs remain a major competitor for these baits. Alternatively, the present study revealed that bait bolas limit bait access to rats alone. Development as an aerial eradication technology should be also recommended.
ImplicationsThese results provide a proof of concept that eradication of rats from tidally inundated habitats such as mangrove should be possible with only small modifications to current best practice.
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Louppe V, Herrel A, Pisanu B, Grouard S, Veron G. Assessing occupancy and activity of two invasive carnivores in two Caribbean islands: implications for insular ecosystems. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V. Louppe
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB) Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS Sorbonne Université EPHE Université des Antilles Paris France
| | - A. Herrel
- Mécanismes Adaptatifs et Evolution (MECADEV) Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS Paris France
| | - B. Pisanu
- UMS Patrimoine Naturel Office Français pour la Biodiversité Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS Paris France
| | - S. Grouard
- Archéozoologie, Archéobotanique Sociétés, Pratiques, Environnement (AASPE) Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle – CNRS Paris France
| | - G. Veron
- Institut de Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB) Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS Sorbonne Université EPHE Université des Antilles Paris France
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45
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Population structure of a nest parasite of Darwin’s finches within its native and invasive ranges. CONSERV GENET 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-020-01315-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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46
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Miller‐ter Kuile A, Orr D, Bui A, Dirzo R, Klope M, McCauley D, Motta C, Young H. Impacts of rodent eradication on seed predation and plant community biomass on a tropical atoll. Biotropica 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Miller‐ter Kuile
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Devyn Orr
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - An Bui
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Rodolfo Dirzo
- Department of Biology Stanford University Stanford CA USA
| | - Maggie Klope
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Douglas McCauley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Carina Motta
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Hillary Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
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47
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Smart AS, Tingley R, Phillips BL. Estimating the benefit of quarantine: eradicating invasive cane toads from islands. NEOBIOTA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.60.34941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Islands are increasingly used to protect endangered populations from the negative impacts of invasive species. Quarantine efforts on islands are likely to be undervalued in circumstances in which a failure incurs non-economic costs. One approach to ascribe monetary value to such efforts is by modeling the expense of restoring a system to its former state. Using field-based removal experiments on two different islands off northern Australia separated by > 400 km, we estimate cane toad densities, detection probabilities, and the resulting effort needed to eradicate toads from an island. We use these estimates to conservatively evaluate the financial benefit of cane toad quarantine across offshore islands prioritized for conservation management by the Australian federal government. We calculate density as animals per km of freshwater shoreline, and find striking concordance of density estimates across our two island study sites: a mean density of 352 [289, 466] adult toads per kilometre on one island, and a density of 341 [298, 390] on the second. Detection probability differed between our two study islands (Horan Island: 0.1 [0.07, 0.13]; Indian Island: 0.27 [0.22, 0.33]). Using a removal model and the financial costs incurred during toad removal, we estimate that eradicating cane toads would, on average, cost between $22 487 [$14 691, $34 480] (based on Horan Island) and $39 724 [$22 069, $64 001] AUD (Indian Island) per km of available freshwater shoreline. We estimate the remaining value of toad quarantine across islands that have been prioritized for conservation benefit within the toads’ predicted range, and find the net value of quarantine efforts to be $43.4 [28.4–66.6] – $76.7 [42.6–123.6] M depending on which island dataset is used to calibrate the model. We conservatively estimate the potential value of a mainland cane toad containment strategy – to prevent the spread of toads into the Pilbara Bioregion – to be $80 [52.6–123.4] – $142 [79.0–229.0] M. We present a modeling framework that can be used to estimate the value of preventative management, via estimating the length and cost of an eradication program. Our analyses suggest that there is substantial economic value in cane toad quarantine efforts across Australian offshore islands and in a proposed mainland containment strategy.
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48
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Baker CM, Bode M. Recent advances of quantitative modeling to support invasive species eradication on islands. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Baker
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Data Science, The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis The University of Melbourne Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Michael Bode
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Queensland Australia
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49
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Taillie PJ, Jolly SR, Bobay LR, Sneckenberger S, McCleery RA. Habitat use across multiple scales suggests resilience to rising seas for endangered island endemic compared to sympatric invasive species. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. J. Taillie
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - S. R. Jolly
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - L. R. Bobay
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - S. Sneckenberger
- South Florida Ecological Services Office United States Fish & Wildlife Service Vero Beach FL USA
| | - R. A. McCleery
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
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50
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Global correlates of terrestrial and marine coverage by protected areas on islands. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4438. [PMID: 32895381 PMCID: PMC7477099 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18293-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Many islands are biodiversity hotspots but also extinction epicenters. In addition to strong cultural connections to nature, islanders derive a significant part of their economy and broader wellbeing from this biodiversity. Islands are thus considered as the socio-ecosystems most vulnerable to species and habitat loss. Yet, the extent and key correlates of protected area coverage on islands is still unknown. Here we assess the relative influence of climate, geography, habitat diversity, culture, resource capacity, and human footprint on terrestrial and marine protected area coverage across 2323 inhabited islands globally. We show that, on average, 22% of terrestrial and 13% of marine island areas are under protection status, but that half of all islands have no protected areas. Climate, diversity of languages, human population density and development are strongly associated with differences observed in protected area coverage among islands. Our study suggests that economic development and population growth may critically limit the amount of protection on islands. Islands have disproportionate importance for biodiversity conservation, yet they may be underrepresented in protected areas. Here the authors assess how climate, geography, habitat diversity, and socio-economic conditions explain terrestrial and marine protected area coverage on inhabited islands and in the surrounding seas globally.
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