conservation.arizona.edu - Invasive Species

Unraveling parasite identification in invasive and endangered squirrel species: potential for parasite spillover

aburnett93 — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 21:53:59 +0000

Authors

Deandra Jones

Patricia S. Stock

Emilie Lefoulon

Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto

W. Eugene Hall

David L. Bergman

John L. Koprowski

Additional Information

Biological Invasions

Date of publication:

2023

Topics

parasites

Research Categories

Invasive Species Threatened and Endangered Species

Editorial: Ecology, impact, and management of squirrel invasions

aburnett93 — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 17:36:58 +0000

Authors

Valentina La Morgia

Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto

Tim Adriaens

Additional Information

Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution

Date of publication:

2023

Topics

population management

Research Categories

Behavioral Ecology Invasive Species

Exotic Pet Trade as a Cause of Biological Invasions: The Case of Tree Squirrels of the Genus Callosciurus

aburnett93 — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 21:53:17 +0000

Authors

Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto

Lucas Wauters

John Koprowski

The pet industry is a growing global multibillion dollar market. The increase of exotic and non-domesticated animal ownership has led to an increase in the number of non-native pets released that create invasive alien species (IAS) populations in the wild. IAS negatively impact the biodiversity, human health and countries’ economies. We use tree squirrels of the genus Callosciurus as a well-documented case study of pets that become IAS. We review the pathways and range of introduction and the challenge and legal importance of species identification. Next, we document how they negatively affect native plants and animals, their parasitic infections that can threat native wildlife and human health and their impact on human activities and productive systems. We discuss the diverse biological, social, political and economic reasons that make control/eradication of these charismatic species difficult in most countries. However, we also highlight the successful management of the IAS in two countries where the early detection and engagement of stakeholders were key to successful eradication. We conclude that efforts to educate and involve the broader public by actively engaging a diversity of stakeholders are more likely to build a consensus toward IAS management and should be a priority for each country.

Additional Information

Biology

Date of publication:

2021

Topics

small mammal

Research Categories

Human Wildlife Conflict Invasive Species

Experimental removals reveal dietary niche partitioning facilitates coexistence between native and introduced species

mmerrick — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 18:49:10 +0000

Authors

Jonathan J. Derbridge

John L. Koprowski

1. Niche overlap between native species and ecologically similar invaders can lead to
competitive exclusion of threatened native species, but if two such species also
co‐occur naturally elsewhere, interactions between native and introduced populations
may mirror coevolved niche partitioning that reduces competition and promotes
coexistence.
2. A single, insular population of Fremont’s squirrel (Tamiasciurus fremonti) the Mount
Graham red squirrel (MGRS; T. f. grahamensis) in the Pinaleño Mountains, Arizona,
USA, is critically endangered and resource competition with introduced Abert’s
squirrels (Sciurus aberti) may threaten its long‐term persistence. The species are
naturally synoptic in other mountain sites, and both consume diets comprised primarily
of conifer seeds and fungi.
3. We conducted experimental removals of introduced Abert’s squirrels and used
stable isotope analysis of diets before and after removals, and of diets in naturally
syntopic populations to test the hypothesis that dietary niche partitioning can
facilitate coexistence between native and introduced species. We also developed
a novel approach to determine the influence of fluctuating food availability on
carbon enrichment in consumers.
4. Mount Graham red squirrels and introduced Abert’s squirrels partitioned the dietary
niche similarly to naturally syntopic populations. Removals had no apparent
effect. Diet of MGRS was more closely linked to availability of resources than to
presence of Abert’s squirrels.
5. Flexible dietary niche of introduced Abert’s squirrels may have allowed them to
exploit a resource opportunity in syntopy with MGRS. Variable food production of
MGRS habitat may intensify competition in poor years, and territorial defense
against non‐native Abert’s squirrels likely imposes fitness costs on individual
MGRS. Similarity in our model species’ diets may make MGRS more vulnerable to
competition if climate change eliminates the advantages of larder‐hoarding.
Where introduced populations of ecologically similar species are better adapted

Additional Information

Ecology and Evolution

Date of publication:

2019

Topics

coexistence

diet

introduced species

niche

wildlife ecology

Research Categories

Behavioral Ecology Invasive Species Sky Islands Threatened and Endangered Species

History and current status of invasive nutria and common muskrat in Korea

thackerk1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:16:30 +0000

Authors

Yeong-Seok Jo

Jonathan J. Debridge

John T. Baccus

Nutria, or coypu (Myocastor coypus), were introduced to South Korea in 1985 and became an invasive species in the late 1990s. Despite being limited to the Nacdong River system, the nutria population is well established there. The common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) invaded North Korea via the Russian and Chinese borders during the 1960s, but the species is still confined to the extreme northeastern portion. In South Korea, muskrats were introduced in 2005. Although muskrat farms are not commercially viable, they have increased. Since 2009, local and federal governments have tried to remove nutria using trappers and bounty hunting. From 2011 to 2015, 11,258 nutrias were removed but a sustainable population still exists. Although complete nutria removal has been achieved in other countries, the eradication campaign in South Korea has not been strictly modeled on these successes. Despite the concern about muskrats, prevention against their possible release has never been implemented. We present the history of nutria and muskrat in Korea and examine the current eradication projects. We propose that unified science- based eradication strategies would be the most likely to succeed, and urge the South Korean government to initiate management designed to avert potentially harmful ecosystem effects of invasive muskrats.

Additional Information

Wetlands DOI 10.1007/s13157-016-0867-z.

Date of publication:

2016

Topics

invasive species

Korea

muskrat

Nutria

eradication

Research Categories

Invasive Species Natural History