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Henriksen MV, Arlé E, Pili A, Clarke DA, García-Berthou E, Groom Q, Lenzner B, Meyer C, Seebens H, Tingley R, Winter M, McGeoch MA. Global indicators of the environmental impacts of invasive alien species and their information adequacy. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230323. [PMID: 38583467 PMCID: PMC10999262 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0323] [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: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring the extent to which invasive alien species (IAS) negatively impact the environment is crucial for understanding and mitigating biological invasions. Indeed, such information is vital for achieving Target 6 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. However, to-date indicators for tracking the environmental impacts of IAS have been either lacking or insufficient. Capitalizing on advances in data availability and impact assessment protocols, we developed environmental impact indicators to track realized and potential impacts of IAS. We also developed an information status indicator to assess the adequacy of the data underlying the impact indicators. We used data on 75 naturalized amphibians from 82 countries to demonstrate the indicators at a global scale. The information status indicator shows variation in the reliability of the data and highlights areas where absence of impact should be interpreted with caution. Impact indicators show that growth in potential impacts are dominated by predatory species, while potential impacts from both predation and disease transmission are distributed worldwide. Using open access data, the indicators are reproducible and adaptable across scales and taxa and can be used to assess global trends and distributions of IAS, assisting authorities in prioritizing control efforts and identifying areas at risk of future invasions. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ecological novelty and planetary stewardship: biodiversity dynamics in a transforming biosphere'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie V. Henriksen
- Department of Landscape and Biodiversity, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Trondheim 7031, Norway
| | - Eduardo Arlé
- Macroecology & Society, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997712, Israel
| | - Arman Pili
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - David A. Clarke
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | | | | | - Bernd Lenzner
- Division of BioInvasions, Global Change & Macroecology, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Carsten Meyer
- Macroecology & Society, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Geosciences and Geography, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06099 Halle, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hanno Seebens
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre, Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt 6325, Germany
| | - Reid Tingley
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
- EnviroDNA Pty Ltd, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick, Victoria 3056, Australia
| | - Marten Winter
- sDiv, Synthesis Centre, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Melodie A. McGeoch
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
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Kumschick S, Bertolino S, Blackburn TM, Brundu G, Costello KE, de Groot M, Evans T, Gallardo B, Genovesi P, Govender T, Jeschke JM, Lapin K, Measey J, Novoa A, Nunes AL, Probert AF, Pyšek P, Preda C, Rabitsch W, Roy HE, Smith KG, Tricarico E, Vilà M, Vimercati G, Bacher S. Using the IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa to inform decision-making. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14214. [PMID: 38051018 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14214] [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: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) is an important tool for biological invasion policy and management and has been adopted as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) standard to measure the severity of environmental impacts caused by organisms living outside their native ranges. EICAT has already been incorporated into some national and local decision-making procedures, making it a particularly relevant resource for addressing the impact of non-native species. Recently, some of the underlying conceptual principles of EICAT, particularly those related to the use of the precautionary approach, have been challenged. Although still relatively new, guidelines for the application and interpretation of EICAT will be periodically revisited by the IUCN community, based on scientific evidence, to improve the process. Some of the criticisms recently raised are based on subjectively selected assumptions that cannot be generalized and may harm global efforts to manage biological invasions. EICAT adopts a precautionary principle by considering a species' impact history elsewhere because some taxa have traits that can make them inherently more harmful. Furthermore, non-native species are often important drivers of biodiversity loss even in the presence of other pressures. Ignoring the precautionary principle when tackling the impacts of non-native species has led to devastating consequences for human well-being, biodiversity, and ecosystems, as well as poor management outcomes, and thus to significant economic costs. EICAT is a relevant tool because it supports prioritization and management of non-native species and meeting and monitoring progress toward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Target 6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Kumschick
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - 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, London, UK
| | - Giuseppe Brundu
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
| | - Katie E Costello
- Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team, Science and Data Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Thomas Evans
- Ecologie Systématique et Evolution, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | | - Piero Genovesi
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- ISPRA, Rome, Italy
- IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group, Roma, Italy
| | - Tanushri Govender
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Jonathan M Jeschke
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Lapin
- Austrian Research Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape (BFW), Vienna, Austria
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Institute for Biodiversity, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Ana Novoa
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
| | - Ana L Nunes
- Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team, Science and Data Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna F Probert
- Zoology Discipline, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences, Průhonice, Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Cristina Preda
- Department of Natural Sciences, Ovidius University of Constanta, Constanta, Romania
| | | | - Helen E Roy
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, UK
| | - Kevin G Smith
- Biodiversity Assessment and Knowledge Team, Science and Data Centre, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Cambridge, UK
| | - Elena Tricarico
- National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Montserrat Vilà
- Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) and Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Sven Bacher
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Henry M, Leung B, Cuthbert RN, Bodey TW, Ahmed DA, Angulo E, Balzani P, Briski E, Courchamp F, Hulme PE, Kouba A, Kourantidou M, Liu C, Macêdo RL, Oficialdegui FJ, Renault D, Soto I, Tarkan AS, Turbelin AJ, Bradshaw CJA, Haubrock PJ. Unveiling the hidden economic toll of biological invasions in the European Union. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE 2023; 35:43. [PMID: 37325080 PMCID: PMC10249565 DOI: 10.1186/s12302-023-00750-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Biological invasions threaten the functioning of ecosystems, biodiversity, and human well-being by degrading ecosystem services and eliciting massive economic costs. The European Union has historically been a hub for cultural development and global trade, and thus, has extensive opportunities for the introduction and spread of alien species. While reported costs of biological invasions to some member states have been recently assessed, ongoing knowledge gaps in taxonomic and spatio-temporal data suggest that these costs were considerably underestimated. Results We used the latest available cost data in InvaCost (v4.1)-the most comprehensive database on the costs of biological invasions-to assess the magnitude of this underestimation within the European Union via projections of current and future invasion costs. We used macroeconomic scaling and temporal modelling approaches to project available cost information over gaps in taxa, space, and time, thereby producing a more complete estimate for the European Union economy. We identified that only 259 out of 13,331 (~ 1%) known invasive alien species have reported costs in the European Union. Using a conservative subset of highly reliable, observed, country-level cost entries from 49 species (totalling US$4.7 billion; 2017 value), combined with the establishment data of alien species within European Union member states, we projected unreported cost data for all member states. Conclusions Our corrected estimate of observed costs was potentially 501% higher (US$28.0 billion) than currently recorded. Using future projections of current estimates, we also identified a substantial increase in costs and costly species (US$148.2 billion) by 2040. We urge that cost reporting be improved to clarify the economic impacts of greatest concern, concomitant with coordinated international action to prevent and mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species in the European Union and globally. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12302-023-00750-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Henry
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Brian Leung
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC Canada
| | - Ross N. Cuthbert
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL UK
| | - Thomas W. Bodey
- School of Biological Sciences, King’s College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX UK
| | - Danish A. Ahmed
- Center for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Hawally, Kuwait
| | - Elena Angulo
- Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Avda. Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Seville, Spain
| | - Paride Balzani
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Elizabeta Briski
- GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Franck Courchamp
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Philip E. Hulme
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, Lincoln University, Lincoln Canterbury, 7647 New Zealand
| | - Antonín Kouba
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Melina Kourantidou
- Department of Sociology, Environmental and Business Economics, University of Southern Denmark, Degnevej 14, 6705 Esbjerg Ø, Denmark
- UMR 6308, AMURE, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, IUEM, rue Dumont d’Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France
- Marine Policy Center, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543 USA
| | - Chunlong Liu
- College of Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072 China
| | - Rafael L. Macêdo
- Graduate Program in Conservation and Ecotourism, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
- Neotropical Limnology Group (NEL), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro State, Av. Pasteur, 458, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 22290-240 Brazil
| | - Francisco J. Oficialdegui
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - David Renault
- University of Rennes, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, Evolution), UMR, 6553 Rennes, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 1 rue Descartes, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Ismael Soto
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Ali Serhan Tarkan
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, 48000 Muğla, Turkey
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bournemouth University, Poole, Dorset UK
| | - Anna J. Turbelin
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, Lincoln University, Lincoln Canterbury, 7647 New Zealand
| | - Corey J. A. Bradshaw
- Global Ecology | Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001 Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (EpicAustralia.org.au), Wollongong, NSW Australia
| | - Phillip J. Haubrock
- Center for Applied Mathematics and Bioinformatics, Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Gulf University for Science and Technology, Hawally, Kuwait
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, South Bohemian Research Centre of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25 Vodňany, Czech Republic
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany
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Gobel N, Laufer G, González-Bergonzoni I, Soutullo Á, Arim M. Invariant and vulnerable food web components after bullfrog invasion. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02956-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
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Bernardo-Madrid R, González-Moreno P, Gallardo B, Bacher S, Vilà M. Consistency in impact assessments of invasive species is generally high and depends on protocols and impact types. NEOBIOTA 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.76.83028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Impact assessments can help prioritising limited resources for invasive species management. However, their usefulness to provide information for decision-making depends on their repeatability, i.e. the consistency of the estimated impact. Previous studies have provided important insights into the consistency of final scores and rankings. However, due to the criteria to summarise protocol responses into one value (e.g. maximum score observed) or to categorise those final scores into prioritisation levels, the real consistency at the answer level remains poorly understood. Here, we fill this gap by quantifying and comparing the consistency in the scores of protocol questions with inter-rater reliability metrics. We provide an overview of impact assessment consistency and the factors altering it, by evaluating 1,742 impact assessments of 60 terrestrial, freshwater and marine vertebrates, invertebrates and plants conducted with seven protocols applied in Europe (EICAT; EPPO; EPPO prioritisation; GABLIS; GB; GISS; and Harmonia+). Assessments include questions about diverse impact types: environment, biodiversity, native species interactions, hybridisation, economic losses and human health. Overall, the great majority of assessments (67%) showed high consistency; only a small minority (13%) presented low consistency. Consistency of responses did not depend on species identity or the amount of information on their impacts, but partly depended on the impact type evaluated and the protocol used, probably due to linguistic uncertainties (pseudo-R2 = 0.11 and 0.10, respectively). Consistency of responses was highest for questions on ecosystem and human health impacts and lowest for questions regarding biological interactions amongst alien and native species. Regarding protocols, consistency was highest with Harmonia+ and GISS and lowest with EPPO. The presence of few, but very low, consistent assessments indicates that there is room for improvement in the repeatability of assessments. As no single factor explained largely the variance in consistency, low values can rely on multiple factors. We thus endorse previous studies calling for diverse and complementary actions, such as improving protocols and guidelines or consensus assessment to increase impact assessment repeatability. Nevertheless, we conclude that impact assessments were generally highly consistent and, therefore, useful in helping to prioritise resources against the continued relentless rise of invasive species.
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Soto I, Cuthbert RN, Kouba A, Capinha C, Turbelin A, Hudgins EJ, Diagne C, Courchamp F, Haubrock PJ. Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10829. [PMID: 35902706 PMCID: PMC9334389 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15079-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological invasions by amphibian and reptile species (i.e. herpetofauna) are numerous and widespread, having caused severe impacts on ecosystems, the economy and human health. However, there remains no synthesised assessment of the economic costs of these invasions. Therefore, using the most comprehensive database on the economic costs of invasive alien species worldwide (InvaCost), we analyse the costs caused by invasive alien herpetofauna according to taxonomic, geographic, sectoral and temporal dimensions, as well as the types of these costs. The cost of invasive herpetofauna totaled at 17.0 billion US$ between 1986 and 2020, divided split into 6.3 billion US$ for amphibians, 10.4 billion US$ for reptiles and 334 million US$ for mixed classes. However, these costs were associated predominantly with only two species (brown tree snake Boiga irregularis and American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus), with 10.3 and 6.0 billion US$ in costs, respectively. Costs for the remaining 19 reported species were relatively minor (< 0.6 billion US$), and they were entirely unavailable for over 94% of known invasive herpetofauna worldwide. Also, costs were positively correlated with research effort, suggesting research biases towards well-known taxa. So far, costs have been dominated by predictions and extrapolations (79%), and thus empirical observations for impact were relatively scarce. The activity sector most affected by amphibians was authorities-stakeholders through management (> 99%), while for reptiles, impacts were reported mostly through damages to mixed sectors (65%). Geographically, Oceania and Pacific Islands recorded 63% of total costs, followed by Europe (35%) and North America (2%). Cost reports have generally increased over time but peaked between 2011 and 2015 for amphibians and 2006 to 2010 for reptiles. A greater effort in studying the costs of invasive herpetofauna is necessary for a more complete understanding of invasion impacts of these species. We emphasise the need for greater control and prevention policies concerning the spread of current and future invasive herpetofauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Soto
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Ross N Cuthbert
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Antonín Kouba
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - César Capinha
- Centro de Estudos Geográficos, Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território-IGOT, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua Branca Edmée Marques, 1600-276, Lisbon, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado Terra, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anna Turbelin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Emma J Hudgins
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Christophe Diagne
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Franck Courchamp
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Phillip J Haubrock
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 25, Vodňany, Czech Republic.
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Gelnhausen, Germany.
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Bitani N, Shivambu TC, Shivambu N, Downs CT. An impact assessment of alien invasive plants in South Africa generally dispersed by native avian species. NEOBIOTA 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.74.83342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Invasive alien plant species have been identified as a major threat to biodiversity and the relationship with native avian dispersers may increase their invasion potential. The impact of invasive plant species needs to be quantified using comparable assessment tools across different habitats and species to allocate limited resources to high-priority species. Here, we used the Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS) to assess the impacts of 16 fleshy-fruited alien invasive plant species in South Africa generally dispersed by native avian species. The results showed that fleshy-fruited invasive species have both environmental and socio-economic impacts. The cumulated impact scores for lantana (Lantana camara) and the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) were the highest, with scores of 42 and 32, respectively. Some species, such as white mulberry (Morus alba), camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora), American bramble (Rubus cuneifolius) and Brazilian pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius), had low overall impact scores of 8, 18, 14 and 16, respectively, but scored the maximum impact of 5 for certain mechanisms. Environmental impacts of fleshy-fruited invasive plant species had a high impact magnitude through effects on the ecosystem and vegetation. Socio-economic impacts were mainly through effects on forest production, agriculture and human health. Species with large crop sizes, small seeds and fruit sizes had higher environmental and socio-economic impact magnitude. The information generated in this study is important for guiding resource allocation and preventing the uncontrolled introduction of invasive species in South Africa. The impact of the fleshy-fruited invasive species transcended sectors and, therefore, effective management of invasive species will require the collaboration of multiple and inter-sectoral stakeholders in South Africa.
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Forgione L, Bacher S, Vimercati G. Are species more harmful in their native, neonative or alien range? Insights from a global analysis of bark beetles. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13585] [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)
- Laura Forgione
- Department of Biology University of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Sven Bacher
- Department of Biology University of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland
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Gruber MAM, Santoro D, Cooling M, Lester PJ, Hoffmann BD, Boser C, Lach L. A global review of socioeconomic and environmental impacts of ants reveals new insights for risk assessment. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2577. [PMID: 35191120 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2577] [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: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Risk assessments are fundamental to invasive species management and are underpinned by comprehensive characterization of invasive species impacts. Our understanding of the impacts of invasive species is growing constantly, and several recently developed frameworks offer the opportunity to systematically categorize environmental and socioeconomic impacts of invasive species. Invasive ants are among the most widespread and damaging invaders. Although a handful of species receives most of the policy attention, nearly 200 species have established outside their native range. Here, we provide a global, comprehensive assessment of the impacts of ants and propose a priority list of risk species. We used the Socioeconomic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT), Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS) to analyze 642 unique sources for 100 named species. Different methodologies provided generally consistent results. The most frequently identified socioeconomic impacts were to human health. Environmental impacts were primarily on animal and plant populations, with the most common mechanisms being predation and competition. Species recognized as harmful nearly 20 years ago featured prominently, including Wasmannia auropunctata (little fire ant, electric ant), Solenopsis invicta (red imported fire ant), Anoplolepis gracilipes (yellow crazy ant), and Pheidole megacephala (African big-headed ant). All these species except W. auropunctata have been implicated in local extinctions of native species. Although our assessments affirmed that the most serious impacts have been driven by a small number of species, our results also highlighted a substantial number of less well publicized species that have had major environmental impacts and may currently be overlooked when prioritizing prevention efforts. Several of these species were ranked as high or higher than some of the previously recognized "usual suspects," most notably Nylanderia fulva (tawny crazy ant). We compared and combined our assessments with trait-based profiles and other lists to propose a consensus set of 31 priority species. Ever-increasing global trade contributes to growing rates of species introductions. The integrated approaches we used can contribute to robust, holistic risk assessments for many taxa entrained in these pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica A M Gruber
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pacific Biosecurity, Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Davide Santoro
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pacific Biosecurity, Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Meghan Cooling
- Pacific Biosecurity, Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Philip J Lester
- Centre for Biodiversity and Restoration Ecology, School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
- Pacific Biosecurity, Wellington UniVentures, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Benjamin D Hoffmann
- CSIRO, Health & Biosecurity, Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre, Winnellie, Northwest Territories, Australia
| | | | - Lori Lach
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
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10
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Allmert T, Jeschke JM, Evans T. An assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of alien rabbits and hares. AMBIO 2022; 51:1314-1329. [PMID: 34709588 PMCID: PMC8931149 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01642-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Directly comparable data on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of alien species informs the effective prioritisation of their management. We used two frameworks, the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and Socio-Economic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT), to create a unified dataset on the severity and type of impacts caused by alien leporids (rabbits and hares). Literature was reviewed to collate impact data, which was categorised following EICAT and SEICAT guidelines. We aimed to use these data to identify: (1) alien leporid species with severe impacts, (2) their impact mechanisms, (3) the native species and local communities vulnerable to impacts and (4) knowledge gaps. Native species from a range of taxonomic groups were affected by environmental impacts which tended to be more damaging than socio-economic impacts. Indirect environmental impacts were particularly damaging and underreported. No impact data were found for several alien leporid species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Allmert
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Present Address: Department of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Invalidenstr. 42, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonathan M. Jeschke
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Evans
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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11
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Mokotjomela TM, Nemurangoni T, Mundalamo T, Jaca TP, Kuhudzai AG. The value of dump sites for monitoring biological invasions in South Africa. Biol Invasions 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02683-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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12
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Designing the Next Generation of Condition Tracking and Early Warning Systems for Shellfish Aquaculture. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse9101084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Early detection of environmental disturbances affecting shellfish stock condition is highly desirable for aquaculture activities. In this article, a new biophysical model-based early warning system (EWS) is described, that assesses bivalve stock condition by diagnosing signs of persistent physiological dysfunctioning. The biophysical model represents valve gape dynamics, controlled by active contractions of the adductor muscle countering the passive action of the hinge ligament; the dynamics combine continuous convergence to a steady-state interspersed with discrete closing events. A null simulation was introduced to describe undisturbed conditions. The diagnostic compares valve gape measurements and simulations. Indicators are inferred from the model parameters, and disturbances are assessed when their estimates deviate from their null distribution. Instead of focusing only on discrete events, our EWS exploits the complete observed dynamics within successive time intervals defined by the variation scales. When applied to a valvometry data series, collected in controlled conditions from scallops (Pecten maximus), the EWS indicated that one among four individuals exhibited signs its physiological condition was degrading. This was detected neither during experiments nor during the initial data analysis, suggesting the utility of an approach that quantifies physiological mechanisms underlying functional responses. Practical implementations of biological-EWS at farming sites are then discussed.
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13
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Clarke DA, Palmer DJ, McGrannachan C, Burgess TI, Chown SL, Clarke RH, Kumschick S, Lach L, Liebhold AM, Roy HE, Saunders ME, Yeates DK, Zalucki MP, McGeoch MA. Options for reducing uncertainty in impact classification for alien species. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David A. Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria3800Australia
| | - David J. Palmer
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria3800Australia
| | - Chris McGrannachan
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria3800Australia
| | - Treena I. Burgess
- Centre for Climate Impacted Terrestrial Ecosystems Harry Butler Institute Murdoch University 90 South Street Murdoch6150Australia
| | - Steven L. Chown
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria3800Australia
| | - Rohan H. Clarke
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria3800Australia
| | - Sabrina Kumschick
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- Cape Town Office South African National Biodiversity Institute Claremont South Africa
| | - Lori Lach
- College of Science and Engineering James Cook University PO Box 6811 Cairns Queensland4870Australia
| | - Andrew M. Liebhold
- USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station Morgantown West Virginia26505USA
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Praha 6 ‐ Suchdol CZ165 21Czech Republic
| | - Helen E. Roy
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology WallingfordOX10 8BBUK
| | - Manu E. Saunders
- School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale New South Wales2351Australia
- UNE Business School University of New England Armidale New South Wales2351Australia
| | - David K. Yeates
- CSIRO Australian National Insect Collection PO Box 1700 Canberra Australian Capital Territory2601Australia
| | - Myron P. Zalucki
- School of Biological Sciences University of Queensland Brisbane Queensland4072Australia
| | - Melodie A. McGeoch
- School of Biological Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria3800Australia
- Department of Ecology Environment and Evolution La Trobe University Bundoora, Melbourne Victoria30186Australia
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14
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Borzée A, Kielgast J, Wren S, Angulo A, Chen S, Magellan K, Messenger KR, Hansen-Hendrikx CM, Baker A, Santos MMD, Kusrini M, Jiang J, Maslova IV, Das I, Park D, Bickford D, Murphy RW, Che J, Van Do T, Nguyen TQ, Chuang MF, Bishop PJ. Using the 2020 global pandemic as a springboard to highlight the need for amphibian conservation in eastern Asia. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2021; 255:108973. [PMID: 35125500 PMCID: PMC8798316 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.108973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases are on the rise in many different taxa, including, among others, the amphibian batrachochytrids, the snake fungal disease and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, responsible for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in mammals. Following the onset of the pandemic linked to COVID-19, eastern Asia has shown strong leadership, taking actions to regulate the trade of potential vector species in several regions. These actions were taken in response to an increase in public awareness, and the need for a quick reaction to mitigate against further pandemics. However, trade restrictions rarely affect amphibians, despite the risk of pathogen transmission, directly, or indirectly through habitat destruction and the loss of vector consumption. Thus, species that help alleviate the risk of zoonoses or provide biological control are not protected. Hence, in view of the global amphibian decline and the risk of zoonoses, we support the current wildlife trade regulations and support measures to safeguard wildlife from overexploitation. The current period of regulation overhaul should be used as a springboard for amphibian conservation. To mitigate risks, we suggest the following stipulations specifically for amphibians. I) Restrictions to amphibian farming in eastern Asia, in relation to pathogen transmission and the establishment of invasive species. II) Regulation of the amphibian pet trade, with a focus on potential vector species. III) Expansion of the wildlife trade ban, to limit the wildlife-human-pet interface. The resulting actions will benefit both human and wildlife populations, as they will lead to a decrease in the risk of zoonoses and better protection of the environment. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT There is an increasing number of emerging infectious diseases impacting all species, including amphibians, reptiles and mammals. The latest threat to humans is the virus responsible for COVID-19, and the resulting pandemic. Countries in eastern Asia have taken steps to regulate wildlife trade and prevent further zoonoses thereby decreasing the risk of pathogens arising from wild species. However, as amphibians are generally excluded from regulations we support specific trade restrictions: I) Restrictions to amphibian farming; II) regulation of the amphibian pet trade; III) expansion of the wildlife trade ban. These restrictions will benefit both human and wildlife populations by decreasing the risks of zoonoses and better protecting the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaël Borzée
- Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
| | - Jos Kielgast
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
- Section for Freshwater Biology, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 4, DK-2100, Denmark
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken, 15, DK-2100, Denmark
| | - Sally Wren
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Ariadne Angulo
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
| | - Shu Chen
- Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | | | - Kevin R Messenger
- Herpetology and Applied Conservation Laboratory, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | | | - Anne Baker
- Amphibian Ark, Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Apple Valley, USA
| | - Marcileida M Dos Santos
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Mirza Kusrini
- Department of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecotourism, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Jianping Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, People's Republic of China
| | - Irina V Maslova
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity Far Eastern Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690022, Russia
| | - Indraneil Das
- Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan 94300, Malaysia
| | - Daesik Park
- Division of Science Education, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Kangwon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Robert W Murphy
- Centre for Biodiversity, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jing Che
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, People's Republic of China
- Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, People's Republic of China
| | - Tu Van Do
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Truong Quang Nguyen
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
- Graduate University of Science and Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay, Hanoi, Viet Nam
| | - Ming-Feng Chuang
- Department of Life Sciences and Research Center for Global Change Biology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Phillip J Bishop
- IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 3701 Lake Shore Blvd W, P.O. Box 48586, Toronto, Ontario M8W 1P5, Canada
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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15
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Ginal P, Moreira FD, Marques R, Rebelo R, Rödder D. Predicting terrestrial dispersal corridors of the invasive African clawed frog Xenopus laevis in Portugal. NEOBIOTA 2021. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.64.60004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Invasive species, such as the mainly aquatic African clawed frog Xenopus laevis, are a main threat to global biodiversity. The identification of dispersal corridors is necessary to restrict further expansion of these species and help to elaborate management plans for their control and eradication. Here we use remote sensing derived resistance surfaces, based on the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) and the normalised difference water index (NDWI) accounting for behavioural and physiological dispersal limitations of the species, in combination with elevation layers, to determine fine scale dispersal patterns of invasive populations of X. laevis in Portugal, where the frog had established populations in two rivers. We reconstruct past dispersal routes between these two invaded rivers and highlight high risk areas for future expansion. Our models suggest terrestrial dispersal corridors that connect both invaded rivers and identify artificial water bodies as stepping stones for overland movement of X. laevis. Additionally, we found several potential stepping stones into novel areas and provide concrete information for invasive species management.
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16
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Volery L, Jatavallabhula D, Scillitani L, Bertolino S, Bacher S. Ranking alien species based on their risks of causing environmental impacts: a global assessment of alien ungulates. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2020; 27:1003-1016. [PMID: 33289257 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
For an efficient allocation of the limited resources to alien species management, the most damaging species should be prioritized. Comparing alien species based on their impacts is not straightforward, as the same species can cause different types and magnitudes of impacts when introduced to different contexts, making it difficult to summarize its overall impact. The Environmental Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (EICAT) systematically summarizes and compares detrimental impacts caused by alien populations to native biota and has been adopted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). For each alien species, all reported impacts to native populations within the introduced range are classified into five levels of severity, from negligible impact to irreversible local extinction. Currently, EICAT only compares alien species based on their highest impact, thereby ignoring variation in impact magnitudes. Here, we used information on the variation in impact magnitudes of alien species to estimate their risks to cause high impacts if introduced to a novel environment. We demonstrate the usefulness of this approach by classifying the global impacts of alien ungulates. We found impact reports for 27 of the 66 alien ungulate species established worldwide, highlighting substantial knowledge gaps in invasion science. We classified a total of 441 impacts to native fauna and flora caused by these 27 species. Twenty-six of the species were found to cause harmful impacts (native population declines or local extinctions). Mouflon (Ovis orientalis, Gmelin, 1774) and dromedary (Camelus dromedarius, Linnaeus, 1758) had a higher risk of causing local extinctions if introduced to a novel environment than sika deer (Cervus nippon, Temminck, 1838) and goats (Capra hircus, Linnaeus, 1758). Including risk of high impacts allows to discriminate among species with the same EICAT classification and improves alien species prioritization for management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Volery
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Divija Jatavallabhula
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Laura Scillitani
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Via Accademia Albertina 13, 10123, Torino, Italy
| | - Sven Bacher
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 10, CH-1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
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17
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Baxter‐Gilbert J, Florens FBV, Baider C, Perianen YD, Citta DS, Appadoo C, Measey J. Toad‐kill: Prey diversity and preference of invasive guttural toads (
Sclerophrys gutturalis
) in Mauritius. Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Baxter‐Gilbert
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - F. B. Vincent Florens
- Tropical Island Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Pole of Research Faculty of Science University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
- Department of Biosciences University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
| | - Cláudia Baider
- The Mauritius Herbarium Agricultural Services Ministry of Agro‐Industry and Food Security Réduit Mauritius
| | - Yuvna Devi Perianen
- Department of Biosciences University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
- Ocean College Zhejiang University Zhoushan China
| | - Denzel Shane Citta
- Tropical Island Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Pole of Research Faculty of Science University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
- Department of Biosciences University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
| | - Chandani Appadoo
- Tropical Island Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation Pole of Research Faculty of Science University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
- Department of Biosciences University of Mauritius Réduit Mauritius
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
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18
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Kumschick S, Wilson JRU, Foxcroft LC. A framework to support alien species regulation: the Risk Analysis for Alien Taxa (RAAT). NEOBIOTA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.62.51031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Human livelihoods and well-being in almost all regions of the world depend on taxa which are alien. Such taxa also, however, threaten human health, sustainable development, and biodiversity. Since it is not feasible or desirable to control all alien taxa, decision-makers increasingly rely on risk analyses to formalise the best available evidence of the threats posed and whether and how they can be managed. There are a variety of schemes available that consider the risks of alien taxa, but we argue a new framework is needed: 1) given major recent developments in international frameworks dealing with biological invasions (including the scoring of impacts); 2) so that decisions can be made consistently across taxa, regions and realms; 3) to explicitly set out uncertainties; and 4) to provide decision-makers with information both on the risks posed and on what can be done to mitigate or prevent impacts. Any such scheme must also be flexible enough to deal with constraints in capacity and information. Here we present a framework to address these points – the Risk Analysis for Alien Taxa (RAAT). It outlines a series of questions related to an alien taxon’s likelihood of invasion, realised and potential impacts, and options for management. The framework provides a structure for collating relevant data from the published literature to support a robust, transparent process to list alien taxa under legislative and regulatory requirements, with the aim that it can be completed by a trained science graduate within a few days. The framework also provides a defensible process for developing recommendations for the management of assessed taxa. We trialled the framework in South Africa and outline the process followed and some of the taxa assessed to date.
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19
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Volery L, Blackburn TM, Bertolino S, Evans T, Genovesi P, Kumschick S, Roy HE, Smith KG, Bacher S. Improving the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT): a summary of revisions to the framework and guidelines. NEOBIOTA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.62.52723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) classifies the impacts caused by alien species in their introduced range in standardised terms across taxa and recipient environments. Impacts are classified into one of five levels of severity, from Minimal Concern to Massive, via one of 12 impact mechanisms. Here, we explain revisions based on an IUCN-wide consultation process to the previously-published EICAT framework and guidelines, to clarify why these changes were necessary. These changes mainly concern: the distinction between the two highest levels of impact severity (Major and Massive impacts), the scenarios of the five levels of severity for the hybridisation and disease transmission mechanisms, the broadening of existing impact mechanisms to capture overlooked mechanisms, the Current (Maximum) Impact, and the way uncertainty of individual impact assessments is evaluated. Our aim in explaining this revision process is to ensure consistency of EICAT assessments, by improving the understanding of the framework.
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20
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Measey J, Wagener C, Mohanty NP, Baxter-Gilbert J, Pienaar EF. The cost and complexity of assessing impact. NEOBIOTA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.62.52261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The environmental and socio-economic impacts of invasive species have long been recognised to be unequal, with some species being benign while others are disastrous. Until recently there was no recognised standard impact scoring framework with which to compare impacts of species from very different taxa. The advent of the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and Socio‐Economic Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (SEICAT) schemes allows for the possibility of assessing impact through a standard approach. However, both these schemes are still in their infancy and the associated costs of the research that informs them is unknown. We aimed to determine the study costs and complexity associated with assessing invasive species’ socio-economic and environmental impacts. We used amphibians as a model group to investigate papers from which EICAT and SEICAT scores could be drawn up to 2019. Our analysis shows that studies that resulted in higher impact scores were more costly. Furthermore, the costs of studies were best predicted by their complexity and the time taken to complete them. If impact scores from EICAT and SEICAT are allowed to inform policy, then we need to carefully consider whether species with low scores represent true impact, or require more research investment and time. Policy makers needing accurate assessments will need to finance larger, more complex, and rigorous studies. Assessing impacts in low and middle income countries may need investment using international research collaborations and capacity building with scientists from high income areas.
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21
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Reproductive characteristics of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) in their invasive range of the Pacific Northwest, USA. Sci Rep 2020; 10:16271. [PMID: 33004879 PMCID: PMC7529884 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-73206-w] [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: 01/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive species pose a major threat to global biodiversity. The effects of invasive species can be strongly influenced and potentially mediated by their reproductive characteristics, such as fecundity, egg production, and duration and number of reproductive events. Selection for smaller body size at first reproduction can also play a role in their establishment, facilitating colonization and spread. The American bullfrog, native to the eastern U.S. (Lithobates catesbeianus), is a species that has invaded more than 40 countries across 4 continents. This species has become especially prevalent in the western United States since its introduction in the early 1900s. This study characterized reproductive characteristics of bullfrogs with emphasis on the minimum size at which males and females reach sexual maturity in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA invasion range. We collected and dissected 121 individuals in 2013 and 2017, quantifying characteristics of sexual maturity including snout-vent length, total length, sex, tympanum diameter, presence of distended oviducts or eggs for females, and testes length and sperm activity in males. Our results showed that the minimum reproductive size of both males and females was smaller relative to bullfrogs in their native range as well as in populations across their invasive range. Reduction in size at reproductive maturity is likely impacting the invasive success of American bullfrogs and this study gives us insight on management actions to control the invasion. Applying this insight, managers can adjust their definition of reproductively active adults, increasing the target population of culling and other control methods.
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22
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Mohanty NP, Crottini A, Garcia RA, Measey J. Non-native populations and global invasion potential of the Indian bullfrog Hoplobatrachus tigerinus: a synthesis for risk-analysis. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02356-9] [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]
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23
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Pyšek P, Hulme PE, Simberloff D, Bacher S, Blackburn TM, Carlton JT, Dawson W, Essl F, Foxcroft LC, Genovesi P, Jeschke JM, Kühn I, Liebhold AM, Mandrak NE, Meyerson LA, Pauchard A, Pergl J, Roy HE, Seebens H, van Kleunen M, Vilà M, Wingfield MJ, Richardson DM. Scientists' warning on invasive alien species. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1511-1534. [PMID: 32588508 PMCID: PMC7687187 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 470] [Impact Index Per Article: 117.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biological invasions are a global consequence of an increasingly connected world and the rise in human population size. The numbers of invasive alien species – the subset of alien species that spread widely in areas where they are not native, affecting the environment or human livelihoods – are increasing. Synergies with other global changes are exacerbating current invasions and facilitating new ones, thereby escalating the extent and impacts of invaders. Invasions have complex and often immense long‐term direct and indirect impacts. In many cases, such impacts become apparent or problematic only when invaders are well established and have large ranges. Invasive alien species break down biogeographic realms, affect native species richness and abundance, increase the risk of native species extinction, affect the genetic composition of native populations, change native animal behaviour, alter phylogenetic diversity across communities, and modify trophic networks. Many invasive alien species also change ecosystem functioning and the delivery of ecosystem services by altering nutrient and contaminant cycling, hydrology, habitat structure, and disturbance regimes. These biodiversity and ecosystem impacts are accelerating and will increase further in the future. Scientific evidence has identified policy strategies to reduce future invasions, but these strategies are often insufficiently implemented. For some nations, notably Australia and New Zealand, biosecurity has become a national priority. There have been long‐term successes, such as eradication of rats and cats on increasingly large islands and biological control of weeds across continental areas. However, in many countries, invasions receive little attention. Improved international cooperation is crucial to reduce the impacts of invasive alien species on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods. Countries can strengthen their biosecurity regulations to implement and enforce more effective management strategies that should also address other global changes that interact with invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petr Pyšek
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, Průhonice, CZ-252 43, Czech Republic.,Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague, CZ-128 44, Czech Republic.,Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Philip E Hulme
- Bio-Protection Research Centre, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Dan Simberloff
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, U.S.A
| | - Sven Bacher
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Tim M Blackburn
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.,Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, U.K.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, U.K
| | - James T Carlton
- Maritime Studies Program, Williams College - Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville, Mystic, CT, 06355, U.S.A
| | - Wayne Dawson
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, U.K
| | - Franz Essl
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.,Division of Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Llewellyn C Foxcroft
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.,Conservation Services, South African National Parks, Private Bag X402, Skukuza, 1350, South Africa
| | - Piero Genovesi
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.,ISPRA, Institute for Environmental Protection and Research and Chair IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group, Rome, Italy
| | - Jonathan M Jeschke
- Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 310, Berlin, 12587, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Str. 1-3, Berlin, 14195, Germany.,Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Königin-Luise-Str. 2-4, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Ingolf Kühn
- Department Community Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, Halle, 06120, Germany.,Geobotany & Botanical Garden, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, Halle, 06108, Germany.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Andrew M Liebhold
- US Forest Service Northern Research Station, 180 Canfield St., Morgantown, West Virginia, U.S.A.,Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, CZ-165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Nicholas E Mandrak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Laura A Meyerson
- Department of Natural Resources Science, The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, 02881, U.S.A
| | - Aníbal Pauchard
- Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jan Pergl
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Botany, Department of Invasion Ecology, Průhonice, CZ-252 43, Czech Republic
| | - Helen E Roy
- U.K. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, OX10 8BB, U.K
| | - Hanno Seebens
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Senckenberganlage 25, Frankfurt am Main, 60325, Germany
| | - Mark van Kleunen
- Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, Constance, 78457, Germany.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation, Taizhou University, Taizhou, 318000, China
| | - Montserrat Vilà
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Avd. Américo Vespucio 26, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, 41092, Spain.,Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Michael J Wingfield
- Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - David M Richardson
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
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24
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Supporting proactive management in the context of climate change: prioritizing range-shifting invasive plants based on impact. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02261-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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25
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Occurrence and extent of hybridisation between the invasive Mallard Duck and native Yellow-billed Duck in South Africa. Biol Invasions 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-019-02122-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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26
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Measey J, Basson A, Rebelo AD, Nunes AL, Vimercati G, Louw M, Mohanty NP. Why Have a Pet Amphibian? Insights From YouTube. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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27
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Courant J, Vollette E, Secondi J, Herrel A. Changes in the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities throughout the expanding range of an invasive anuran. FOOD WEBS 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fooweb.2018.e00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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28
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van Wilgen NJ, Gillespie MS, Richardson DM, Measey J. A taxonomically and geographically constrained information base limits non-native reptile and amphibian risk assessment: a systematic review. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5850. [PMID: 30425887 PMCID: PMC6230440 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
For many taxa, new records of non-native introductions globally occur at a near exponential rate. We undertook a systematic review of peer-reviewed publications on non-native herpetofauna, to assess the information base available for assessing risks of future invasions, resulting in 836 relevant papers. The taxonomic and geographic scope of the literature was also compared to a published database of all known invasions globally. We found 1,116 species of herpetofauna, 95% of which were present in fewer than 12 studies. Nearly all literature on the invasion ecology of herpetofauna has appeared since 2000, with a strong focus on frogs (58%), particularly cane toads (Rhinella marina) and their impacts in Australia. While fewer papers have been published on turtles and snakes, proportionately more species from both these groups have been studied than for frogs. Within each herpetofaunal group, there are a handful of well-studied species: R. marina, Lithobates catesbeianus, Xenopus laevis, Trachemys scripta, Boiga irregularis and Anolis sagrei. Most research (416 papers; 50%) has addressed impacts, with far fewer studies on aspects like trade (2%). Besides Australia (213 studies), most countries have little location-specific peer-reviewed literature on non-native herpetofauna (on average 1.1 papers per established species). Other exceptions were Guam, the UK, China, California and France, but even their publication coverage across established species was not even. New methods for assessing and prioritizing invasive species such as the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa provide useful frameworks for risk assessment, but require robust species-level studies. Global initiatives, similar to the Global Amphibian Assessment, using the species and taxonomic groups identified here, are needed to derive the level of information across broad geographic ranges required to apply these frameworks. Expansive studies on model species can be used to indicate productive research foci for understudied taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J van Wilgen
- Cape Research Centre, South African National Parks, Steenberg, Western Cape, South Africa.,Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Micaela S Gillespie
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - David M Richardson
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
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29
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Kesner D, Kumschick S. Gastropods alien to South Africa cause severe environmental harm in their global alien ranges across habitats. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:8273-8285. [PMID: 30250702 PMCID: PMC6144998 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alien gastropods have caused extensive harm to biodiversity and socioeconomic systems like agriculture and horticulture worldwide. For conservation and management purposes, information on impacts needs to be easily interpretable and comparable, and the factors that determine impacts understood. This study aimed to assess gastropods alien to South Africa to compare impact severity between species and understand how they vary between habitats and mechanisms. Furthermore, we explore the relationship between environmental and socioeconomic impacts, and both impact measures with life-history traits. We used the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) and Socio-Economic Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (SEICAT) to assess impacts of 34 gastropods alien to South Africa including evidence of impact from their entire alien range. We tested for correlations between environmental and socioeconomic impacts per species, and with fecundity and native latitude range using Kendall's tau tests. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare impact magnitude among mechanisms and habitats, respectively. This study presents the first application of EICAT and SEICAT for invertebrates. There was no correlation between environmental impacts and socioeconomic impacts. Habitats did not differ regarding the severity of impacts recorded, but impacts via disease transmission were lower than other mechanisms. Neither fecundity nor native range latitude was correlated with impact magnitude. Despite gastropods being agricultural and horticultural pests globally, resilience of socioeconomic systems makes high impacts uncommon. Environmental systems may be vulnerable to gastropod impacts across habitats, having experienced multiple local extinctions of wetland island snail fauna. South Africa stands out as the only continental country that follows this trend. The knowledge gained on severity and nature of gastropod impacts is useful in risk assessment, which can aid conservation management. To make impact assessments more realistic, we suggest alternative ways of reporting impacts classified under EICAT and SEICAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kesner
- Department of Botany & ZoologyCentre for Invasion BiologyStellenbosch UniversityMatielandSouth Africa
| | - Sabrina Kumschick
- Department of Botany & ZoologyCentre for Invasion BiologyStellenbosch UniversityMatielandSouth Africa
- Invasive Species ProgrammeSouth African National Biodiversity InstituteKirstenbosch National Botanical GardensClaremontSouth Africa
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30
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Yazlık A, Pergl J, Pyšek P. Impact of alien plants in Turkey assessed by the Generic Impact Scoring System. NEOBIOTA 2018. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.39.23598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, we present the impact categorizations of 51 alien plant species in Turkey, which were determined using the Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS). The evidence on environmental and socioeconomic impacts of these alien species was searched in literature. Impacts were classified into 12 categories (six for environmental and six for socioeconomic) and, within each category, the impact was assessed on a six degree scale. Environmental impacts were recorded for 80% of the species and mostly concern ecosystem processes (changes in nutrient or water availability and disturbance regimes), while socioeconomic impacts, identified for 78% of the species assessed, are typically associated with agricultural production or human health. Summed scores of individual species across categories of environmental and socioeconomic impacts were not significantly correlated. By taking into account the actual distribution of the assessed species, we evaluated the regional distribution of (potential) impacts in Turkey. The Black Sea region harbours the highest number of species with impacts (34 species, i.e. 67% of the total assessed for the whole country), 28 species were recorded in the Marmara, 21 in the Mediterranean, 17 in the Aegean and 12 in each of the South East Anatolia, Central Anatolia and East Anatolia regions. The species that have negative impact on forestry are only found in three regions. Altogether 21 species are agricultural weeds, but we only found evidence of a minor socioeconomic impact for some of them. Determining the impacts based on specific criteria (i) provides basis for objective risk assessment of plant invasions in Turkey, (ii) can be taken as early warning to combat these plants and (iii) contributes to the growing body of evidence of the impacts of alien plant species.
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31
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Bacher S, Blackburn TM, Essl F, Genovesi P, Heikkilä J, Jeschke JM, Jones G, Keller R, Kenis M, Kueffer C, Martinou AF, Nentwig W, Pergl J, Pyšek P, Rabitsch W, Richardson DM, Roy HE, Saul W, Scalera R, Vilà M, Wilson JRU, Kumschick S. Socio‐economic impact classification of alien taxa (
SEICAT
). Methods Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sven Bacher
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Fribourg Fribourg Switzerland
- Centre for Invasion BiologyDepartment of Botany & ZoologyStellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Tim M. Blackburn
- Department of Genetics, Evolution & EnvironmentCentre for Biodiversity and Environment ResearchUCL London UK
- Institute of ZoologyZoological Society of LondonRegent's Park London UK
- School of Biological Sciences and the Environment InstituteUniversity of Adelaide North Terrace SA Australia
| | - Franz Essl
- Division of Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape EcologyFaculty Centre of BiodiversityUniversity of Vienna Vienna Austria
| | - Piero Genovesi
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Researchand Chair IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group Rome Italy
| | - Jaakko Heikkilä
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)Economics and Society Helsinki Finland
| | - Jonathan M. Jeschke
- Leibniz‐Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) Berlin Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, PharmacyInstitute of BiologyFreie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
| | - Glyn Jones
- The Food and Environment Research Agency Sand Hutton UK
| | - Reuben Keller
- Institute of Environmental SustainabilityLoyola University Chicago Chicago IL USA
| | | | - Christoph Kueffer
- Centre for Invasion BiologyDepartment of Botany & ZoologyStellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- Institute of Integrative BiologyETH Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | | | - Wolfgang Nentwig
- Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Jan Pergl
- Department of Invasion EcologyInstitute of BotanyThe Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Department of Invasion EcologyInstitute of BotanyThe Czech Academy of Sciences Průhonice Czech Republic
- Department of EcologyFaculty of ScienceCharles University Prague Czech Republic
| | | | - David M. Richardson
- Centre for Invasion BiologyDepartment of Botany & ZoologyStellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Helen E. Roy
- Centre for Ecology & HydrologyBenson Lane Wallingford UK
| | - Wolf‐Christian Saul
- Leibniz‐Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) Berlin Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, PharmacyInstitute of BiologyFreie Universität Berlin Berlin Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB) Berlin Germany
| | | | | | - John R. U. Wilson
- Centre for Invasion BiologyDepartment of Botany & ZoologyStellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- South African National Biodiversity Institute Cape Town office, Claremont South Africa
| | - Sabrina Kumschick
- Centre for Invasion BiologyDepartment of Botany & ZoologyStellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
- South African National Biodiversity Institute Cape Town office, Claremont South Africa
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32
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Integrating age structured and landscape resistance models to disentangle invasion dynamics of a pond-breeding anuran. Ecol Modell 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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33
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Courant J, Vogt S, Marques R, Measey J, Secondi J, Rebelo R, De Villiers A, Ihlow F, De Busschere C, Backeljau T, Rödder D, Herrel A. Are invasive populations characterized by a broader diet than native populations? PeerJ 2017; 5:e3250. [PMID: 28533950 PMCID: PMC5436557 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Invasive species are among the most significant threats to biodiversity. The diet of invasive animal populations is a crucial factor that must be considered in the context of biological invasions. A broad dietary spectrum is a frequently cited characteristic of invasive species, allowing them to thrive in a wide range of environments. Therefore, empirical studies comparing diet in invasive and native populations are necessary to understand dietary requirements, dietary flexibility, and the associated impacts of invasive species. Methods In this study, we compared the diet of populations of the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis in its native range, with several areas where it has become invasive. Each prey category detected in stomach contents was assigned to an ecological category, allowing a comparison of the diversity of ecological traits among the prey items in the diet of native and introduced populations. The comparison of diets was also performed using evenness as a niche breadth index on all sampled populations, and electivity as a prey selection index for three out of the six sampled populations. Results Our results showed that diet breadth could be either narrow or broad in invasive populations. According to diet and prey availability, zooplankton was strongly preferred in most cases. In lotic environments, zooplankton was replaced by benthic preys, such as ephemeropteran larvae. Discussion The relative proportions of prey with different ecological traits, and dietary variability within and between areas of occurrence, suggest that X. laevis is a generalist predator in both native and invasive populations. Shifts in the realized trophic niche are observed, and appear related to resource availability. Xenopus laevis may strongly impact aquatic ecosystems because of its near complete aquatic lifestyle and its significant consumption of key taxa for the trophic relationships in ponds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Courant
- UMR 7179, Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France
| | - Solveig Vogt
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany.,Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Raquel Marques
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Jean Secondi
- UMR5023 Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, ENTPE, CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France.,UMR 6554 LETG -LEESA, Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Rui Rebelo
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - André De Villiers
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Flora Ihlow
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Thierry Backeljau
- Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium.,Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Dennis Rödder
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany
| | - Anthony Herrel
- UMR 7179, Département d'Ecologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France.,Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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34
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Vogt S, de Villiers FA, Ihlow F, Rödder D, Measey J. Competition and feeding ecology in two sympatric Xenopus species (Anura: Pipidae). PeerJ 2017; 5:e3130. [PMID: 28439453 PMCID: PMC5399871 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The widespread African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) occurs in sympatry with the IUCN Endangered Cape platanna (Xenopus gilli) throughout its entire range in the south-western Cape, South Africa. In order to investigate aspects of the interspecific competition between populations of X. laevis and X. gilli, an assessment of their niche differentiation was conducted through a comprehensive study on food composition and trophic niche structure at two study sites: the Cape of Good Hope (CoGH) and Kleinmond. A total of 399 stomach contents of X. laevis (n = 183) and X. gilli (n = 216) were obtained together with samples of available prey to determine food preferences using the Electivity index (E*), the Simpson’s index of diversity (1 − D), the Shannon index (H′), and the Pianka index (Ojk). Xenopus gilli diet was more diverse than X. laevis, particularly in Kleimond where the Shannon index was nearly double. Both species were found to consume large amounts of tadpoles belonging to different amphibian species, including congeners, with an overall higher incidence of anurophagy than previously recorded. However, X. laevis also feeds on adult X. gilli, thus representing a direct threat for the latter. While trophic niche overlap was 0.5 for the CoGH, it was almost 1 in Kleinmond, suggesting both species utilise highly congruent trophic niches. Further, subdividing the dataset into three size classes revealed overlap to be higher in small frogs in both study sites. Our study underlines the importance of actively controlling X. laevis at sites with X. gilli in order to limit competition and predation, which is vital for conservation of the south-western Cape endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solveig Vogt
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.,Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK), Bonn, Germany
| | - F André de Villiers
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Flora Ihlow
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK), Bonn, Germany
| | - Dennis Rödder
- Herpetology Section, Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK), Bonn, Germany
| | - John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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35
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Measey J, Davies SJ, Vimercati G, Rebelo A, Schmidt W, Turner A. Invasive amphibians in southern Africa: A review of invasion pathways. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.4102/abc.v47i2.2117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Background: Globally, invasive amphibians are known for their environmental and social impacts that range from poisoning of local fauna and human populations to direct predation on other amphibians. Although several countries on most continents have had multiple introductions of many species, southern Africa appears to have escaped allochthonous introductions. Instead, it has a small number of domestic exotic species that have rapidly expanded their ranges and established invasive populations within South Africa. Objectives methods: We used the literature to provide a historical overview of dispersal by some of the world’s major invasive amphibians, give examples of species that are commonly moved as stowaways and discuss historical and current amphibian trade in the region. In addition, we give an overview of new South African legislation and how this is applied to amphibian invasions, as well as providing updates on the introduced populations of three domestic exotics: Hyperolius marmoratus, Sclerophrys gutturalis and Xenopus laevis. Results: We show that frogs are mainly moved around southern Africa through ‘jump’ dispersal, although there are a number of records of ‘cultivation’, ‘leading-edge’ and ‘extreme long-distance’ dispersal types. Important pathways include trade in fruit and vegetables, horticultural products and shipping containers. Conclusion: We suggest that southern Africa is becoming more vulnerable to amphibian invasions because of an increase in trade, agricultural and domestic impoundments as well as global climate change. Increasing propagule pressure suggests that preventing new introductions will become a key challenge for the future. Currently, trade in amphibians in the region is practically non-existent, suggesting potential for best practice to prevent importation of species with high invasion potential and to stop the spread of disease.
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36
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Kumschick S, Measey GJ, Vimercati G, de Villiers FA, Mokhatla MM, Davies SJ, Thorp CJ, Rebelo AD, Blackburn TM, Kraus F. How repeatable is the Environmental Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (EICAT)? Comparing independent global impact assessments of amphibians. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:2661-2670. [PMID: 28428857 PMCID: PMC5395449 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The magnitude of impacts some alien species cause to native environments makes them targets for regulation and management. However, which species to target is not always clear, and comparisons of a wide variety of impacts are necessary. Impact scoring systems can aid management prioritization of alien species. For such tools to be objective, they need to be robust to assessor bias. Here, we assess the newly proposed Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT) used for amphibians and test how outcomes differ between assessors. Two independent assessments were made by Kraus (Annual Review of Ecology Evolution and Systematics, 46, 2015, 75‐97) and Kumschick et al. (Neobiota, 33, 2017, 53‐66), including independent literature searches for impact records. Most of the differences between these two classifications can be attributed to different literature search strategies used with only one‐third of the combined number of references shared between both studies. For the commonly assessed species, the classification of maximum impacts for most species is similar between assessors, but there are differences in the more detailed assessments. We clarify one specific issue resulting from different interpretations of EICAT, namely the practical interpretation and assigning of disease impacts in the absence of direct evidence of transmission from alien to native species. The differences between assessments outlined here cannot be attributed to features of the scheme. Reporting bias should be avoided by assessing all alien species rather than only the seemingly high‐impacting ones, which also improves the utility of the data for management and prioritization for future research. Furthermore, assessments of the same taxon by various assessors and a structured review process for assessments, as proposed by Hawkins et al. (Diversity and Distributions, 21, 2015, 1360), can ensure that biases can be avoided and all important literature is included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Kumschick
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa.,Invasive Species Programme South African National Biodiversity Institute Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens Claremont South Africa
| | - G John Measey
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Giovanni Vimercati
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - F Andre de Villiers
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Mohlamatsane M Mokhatla
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Sarah J Davies
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Corey J Thorp
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Alexander D Rebelo
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa
| | - Tim M Blackburn
- Centre for Invasion Biology Department of Botany & Zoology, Stellenbosch University Matieland South Africa.,Department of Genetics, Evolution & Environment Centre for Biodiversity & Environment Research University College London London UK.,Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY UK
| | - Fred Kraus
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Michigan Ann Arbor MI USA
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