Can national occupancy patterns predict landscape-level invasion risk of an invasive species?

Invasive species have impacted biodiversity all around the world. Among various ecosystems, islands are most vulnerable to these impacts due to their high ratio of endemism, highly specialized adaptation, and isolated and unique fauna. As with other subtropical islands, Taiwan faces constant risk of biological invasions and is currently ranked as one of the countries most affected by invasive amphibians and reptiles. In this paper, a comprehensive checklist of all known exotic amphibians and reptiles is provided, including twelve species which have successfully colonized Taiwan and six species with a controversial status. We provide an update on the knowledge of all these species including their distribution, colonization history, threats to native animals, and population trends based on literature records, fauna surveys, and data collected during invasive species eradication and control programs. A list of species with high invasive potentials is also provided. This study reports, for the first time, a comprehensive survey of invasive herpetofauna in Taiwan, which should provide a valuable reference to other regions which might suffer from similar invasion risk.

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Effective removal of the American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) on a landscape level: long term monitoring and removal efforts in Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park

Biological Invasions ◽

10.1007/s10530-019-02116-4 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 617-626 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Colleen Kamoroff ◽

Ninette Daniele ◽

Robert L. Grasso ◽

Rebecca Rising ◽

Travis Espinoza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

National Parks ◽

National Park ◽

Environmental Dna ◽

Freshwater Ecosystems ◽

Yosemite National Park ◽

American Bullfrog ◽

Yosemite Valley ◽

Park Service ◽

Landscape Level

Abstract Invasive alien species are a major threat to freshwater ecosystems, and American bullfrogs are among the world’s 100 most prominent aquatic invasive species causing negative direct and indirect effect on native aquatic fauna worldwide. Bullfrogs were intentionally introduced into Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park in the 1950s where they became well established in the subsequent years. Starting in 2005, the National Park Service (NPS) began bullfrog removal, targeting various life stages using hand, net, and spear techniques. Starting in 2015, the NPS conducted environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys and deployed audio recordings devices to ensure adequate detection of bullfrogs. During the first year of cencerted effort in the Valley in 2005, the NPS removed 86% of all recorded bullfrog. The subsequent decade was spent searching for individuals with lower return on effort. In 2012, the NPS removed the last observed signs of bullfrog breeding, and the last observed bullfrog in 2019. Following removal of the breeding bullfrog population, the NPS began restoration projects for species of special concern. The NPS introduced the federally threatened California red-legged frogs (Rana draytonii) into Yosemite Valley beginning in 2016. This is the first published successful eradication of bullfrogs on a landscape level. National Parks and Monuments often provide refuges for imperiled wildlife and should be managed to remove invasive species. Our work highlights effective bullfrog removal is obtainable and can lead to local recovery of endangered species.

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New records of invasive Parakeet hybrids in Spain. A great opportunity to apply the rapid response mechanism

European Journal of Ecology ◽

10.1515/eje-2016-0013 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 19-22 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jose-Luis Postigo

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Species Distribution Model ◽

New Records ◽

Rapid Response ◽

Distribution Model ◽

Response Mechanism ◽

Invasion Risk ◽

Great Opportunity ◽

Psittacula Krameri ◽

The Rose

Abstract Prevention, early warning and rapid response are the most effective measures in preventing the impacts of invasive species. The Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri, is an invasive species widely spread across Europe, including Spain. The Alexandrine Parakeet Psittacula eupatria is also an invasive species established in Europe, but not in Spain, although a species distribution model classified parts of Spain as ‘highly suitable’ and an invasion risk assessment predicted a ‘high risk of invasion’ in Europe. The first hybrids from these two species were recently detected in Spain. Based on these data, we suggest to capture the hybrids to prevent further invasion and possible interaction with other invasive parakeets in Spain.

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Performance of a Potentially Invasive Species of Ornamental Seaweed Caulerpa sertularioides in Acidifying and Warming Oceans

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering ◽

10.3390/jmse9121368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1368

Author(s):

Eun Ju Kang ◽

Sukyeon Lee ◽

Juhyun Kang ◽

Hanbi Moon ◽

Il-Nam Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

Coastal Ocean ◽

Coastal Environments ◽

Climate Scenarios ◽

Invasion Risk ◽

Benthic Habitats ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

High Co2 ◽

Invasive Seaweed ◽

Geographic Expansion

Caulerpa, a (sub) tropical seaweed, is a notorious taxonomic group and an invasive seaweed worldwide. Similar to several species that have been introduced to benthic habitats through aquariums, Caulerpa sertularioides has also been introduced into Korean aquariums, although it is not native to the region. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate the potential of this species for invading domestic macroalgal habitats. Therefore, an indoor mesocosm experiment was conducted to examine the ecophysiological invasion risk of non-native seaweed C. sertularioides under various climate conditions and exposure to three future climate scenarios: acidification (doubled CO2), warming (5 °C increase from ambient temperature), and greenhouse (GR: combination of acidification and warming); additionally, we compared the invasion risk between future and present climates (control: 20 °C and 470 µatm CO2). High CO2 concentrations and increased temperatures positively affected the photosynthesis and growth of C. sertularioides. Photosynthesis and growth were more synergistically increased under GR conditions than under acidification and warming. Consequently, the performance of this potentially invasive species in the native macroalgal Korean habitat will be higher in the future in coastal environments. Therefore, proper management is required to prevent the geographic expansion of C. sertularioides in the Korean coastal ocean.

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Jatropha integerrima (peregrina).

10.1079/isc.28395.20203483348 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jeanine Vélez-Gavilán

Keyword(s):

Invasive Species ◽

North America ◽

Ecosystem Health ◽

Small Tree ◽

Invasion Risk ◽

Invasive Potential ◽

Disturbed Areas ◽

Ornamental Species

Abstract Jatropha integerrima is a shrub to small tree native to Cuba, which has been introduced into tropical and subtropical areas worldwide as an ornamental species. Although it has become naturalized in some areas, it is not listed as an invasive species. The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health only lists J. integerrima for comparison with other Jatropha species. J. integerrima can occasionally escape from cultivation in disturbed areas in Florida, and sometimes occurs in warmer parts of Australia. The species has little to no invasive potential in North America and a low invasion risk in Hawaii, USA.

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