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Gippet JMW, Sherpa Z, Bertelsmeier C. Reliability of social media data in monitoring the global pet trade in ants. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e13994. [PMID: 36424881 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The global pet trade is a major risk to biodiversity and humans and has become increasingly globalized, diversified, digitalized, and extremely difficult to control. With billions of internet users posting online daily, social media could be a powerful surveillance tool. But it is unknown how reliably social media can track the global pet trade. We tested whether Instagram data predicted the geographic distribution of pet stores and the taxonomic composition of traded species in the emerging pet trade in ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). We visited 138 online stores selling ants as pets worldwide and recorded the species traded. We scraped ∼38,000 Instagram posts from ∼6300 users referencing ants as pets and analyzed comments on post and geolocation (available for ∼1800 users). We tested whether the number of Instagram users predicted the number of ant sellers per country and whether the species referenced as pets on Instagram matched the species offered in online stores, with a particular focus on invasive species. The location of Instagram users referencing ants as pets predicted the location of ant sellers across the globe (R2 = 0.87). Instagram data detected 439 of the 631 ant species traded in online stores (70%), including 59 of the 68 invasive species traded (87%). The number of Instagram users referencing a species was a good predictor of the number of sellers offering the species (R2 = 0.77). Overall, Instagram data provided affordable and reliable data for monitoring the emerging pet trade in ants. Easier access to these data would facilitate monitoring of the global pet trade and help implement relevant regulations in a timely manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme M W Gippet
- Department of Ecology and evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zoé Sherpa
- Department of Ecology and evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cleo Bertelsmeier
- Department of Ecology and evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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2
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Senior RA, Oliveira BF, Dale J, Scheffers BR. Wildlife trade targets colorful birds and threatens the aesthetic value of nature. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4299-4305.e4. [PMID: 36113469 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A key component of nature's contribution to people is aesthetic value.1,2 Charismatic species rally public support and bolster conservation efforts.3,4 However, an insidious aspect to humanity's valuation of nature is that high value also drives wildlife trade,5,6 which can spearhead the demise of prized species.7-9 Here, we explore the antagonistic roles of aesthetic value in biodiversity conservation by using novel metrics of color to evaluate the aesthetics of the most speciose radiation of birds: passerines (i.e., the perching birds). We identify global color hotspots for passerines and highlight the breadth of color in the global bird trade. The tropics emerge as an epicentre of color, encompassing 91% and 65% of the world's most diverse and most uniquely colored passerine assemblages, respectively. We show that the pet trade, which currently affects 30% of passerines (1,408/5,266), traverses the avian phylogeny and targets clusters of related species that are uniquely colored. We identify an additional 478 species at risk of future trade based on their coloration and phylogenetic relationship to currently traded species-together totaling 1,886 species traded, a 34% increase. By modeling future extinctions based on species' current threat status, we predict localized losses of color diversity and uniqueness in many avian communities, undermining their aesthetic value and muting nature's color palette. Given the distribution of color and the association of unique colors with threat and trade, proactive regulation of the bird trade is crucial to conserving charismatic biodiversity, alongside recognition and celebration of color hotspots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca A Senior
- Conservation Ecology Group, Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
| | - Brunno F Oliveira
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - James Dale
- School of Natural Sciences, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Brett R Scheffers
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA.
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3
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Naimi B, Capinha C, Ribeiro J, Rahbek C, Strubbe D, Reino L, Araújo MB. Potential for invasion of traded birds under climate and land-cover change. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:5654-5666. [PMID: 35849042 PMCID: PMC9539888 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Humans have moved species away from their native ranges since the Neolithic, but globalization accelerated the rate at which species are being moved. We fitted more than half million distribution models for 610 traded bird species on the CITES list to examine the separate and joint effects of global climate and land-cover change on their potential end-of-century distributions. We found that climate-induced suitability for modelled invasive species increases with latitude, because traded birds are mainly of tropical origin and much of the temperate region is 'tropicalizing.' Conversely, the tropics are becoming more arid, thus limiting the potential from cross-continental invasion by tropical species. This trend is compounded by forest loss around the tropics since most traded birds are forest dwellers. In contrast, net gains in forest area across the temperate region could compound climate change effects and increase the potential for colonization of low-latitude birds. Climate change has always led to regional redistributions of species, but the combination of human transportation, climate, and land-cover changes will likely accelerate the redistribution of species globally, increasing chances of alien species successfully invading non-native lands. Such process of biodiversity homogenization can lead to emergence of non-analogue communities with unknown environmental and socioeconomic consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babak Naimi
- ‘Rui Nabeiro’ Biodiversity Chair, CHANGE‐MED InstituteUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
| | - César Capinha
- Centro de Estudos Geográficos e Laboratório Associado TERRAInstituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território – IGOT, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua Branca Edmée MarquesLisbonPortugal
| | - Joana Ribeiro
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de VairãoUniversidade do PortoVairãoPortugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoInstituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairãoPortugal
| | - Carsten Rahbek
- Center for Global Mountain Biodiversity, GLOBE InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE InstituteUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
- Institute of Ecology, Peking UniversityBeijingChina
- Danish Institute for Advanced StudyUniversity of Southern DenmarkOdense MDenmark
| | - Diederik Strubbe
- Department of Biology, Terrestrial Ecology Unit (TEREC)Ghent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Luís Reino
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Campus de VairãoUniversidade do PortoVairãoPortugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório AssociadoInstituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land PlanningCIBIO, Campus de VairãoVairãoPortugal
| | - Miguel B. Araújo
- ‘Rui Nabeiro’ Biodiversity Chair, CHANGE‐MED InstituteUniversity of ÉvoraÉvoraPortugal
- Department of Biogeography and Global Change, National Museum of Natural SciencesCSICMadridSpain
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4
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The link between wildlife trade and the global donkey skin product network. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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5
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Toomes A, García‐Díaz P, Stringham OC, Ross JV, Mitchell L, Cassey P. Drivers of the Australian native pet trade: the role of species traits, socioeconomic attributes and regulatory systems. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam Toomes
- Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Pablo García‐Díaz
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - Oliver C. Stringham
- Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Joshua V. Ross
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Lewis Mitchell
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- Invasion Science and Wildlife Ecology Group The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
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Su S, Vall‐llosera M, Cassey P, Blackburn TM, Carrete M, Tella JL. Drivers of alien species composition in bird markets across the world. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8397. [PMID: 35127001 PMCID: PMC8794708 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The global pet trade is a major pathway for the introduction of invasive alien species. The composition of species selected for transport is driven by market demands, which may be influenced by a combination of both historical and cultural factors. We compared Eastern (Taiwan) and Western (Australia and the Iberian Peninsula) bird markets to explore factors associated with the species composition and geographic origin of the birds for sale. We used a bespoke randomization test to compare species composition, geographic origins, and species overlap at different taxonomic levels among bird markets across countries. Alien species identified in the study accounted for more than 10% of the world's bird species. Parrots and songbirds were the most common alien bird taxa traded across all markets. In both Iberian and Australian markets, there was a strong bias toward parrots, waxbills, gamebirds, and finches. In Taiwan, species traded more than expected were parrots, waxbills, starlings, and leafbirds. Neotropical species were the most traded group in the three markets. Afrotropical species were also traded more than expected in Iberian and Australian markets, while the Taiwanese traded more alien species from neighboring Asian regions. The bird trade focuses on the same few bird groups worldwide. The composition and origin of species preferred in the Western markets may be influenced by colonial histories, cultural similarity, and strict regulations on wildlife importation, while species preferences in Eastern markets are strongly influenced by regional culture and proximity. Propagule pressure is a dominant factor influencing the success of biological invasions; it is important to recognize differences in the composition of bird markets among regions because they can translate into different invasion risks, among other factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Su
- The Wildlife Conservation Research UnitDepartment of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Miquel Vall‐llosera
- School of Biological Sciences and the Environment InstituteUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- School of Biological Sciences and the Environment InstituteUniversity of AdelaideAdelaideSAAustralia
| | - Tim M. Blackburn
- Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Institute of ZoologyZoological Society of LondonLondonUK
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Conservation BiologyEstación Biológica de Donana (CSIC)SevillaSpain
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation BiologyEstación Biológica de Donana (CSIC)SevillaSpain
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7
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The use of Passeriformes in the eastern Amazonia of Brazil: culture encourages hunting and profit encourages trade. ORYX 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/s0030605320000551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
This study characterized the ethnoornithological knowledge of passerine bird keepers, known locally as criadores or passarinheiros, who capture, train, breed and sell wild species in the eastern Amazonia of Brazil. The data were collected from 62 bird keepers through informal, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. The family Thraupidae was the most captured group, with 23 species used, predominantly of the genus Sporophila. Sporophila angolensis had the highest use value and price. Our findings suggest that conservation strategies should be a priority for Sporophila maximiliani, S. angolenses and Saltator maximus. The Passeriformes are obtained by capturing them from the wild, by captive breeding or in trade. They are trapped and sold locally, in nearby municipalities, and also in more distant locations as far as the border with Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana. On the international market, sale prices can reach USD 5,400 per individual bird. Species with both significant economic value and regional cultural significance are of the greatest importance to the bird keepers. To mitigate the negative effects of this activity, we recommend implementation of environmental education programmes for bird keepers, to improve their capacity to raise awareness about wildlife, and to inform them of the legal processes for bird keeping and for breeding birds in captivity for legal trade. Long-term strategies for bird conservation should also be considered, such as the implementation of ecotourism in protected areas to encourage the practice of birdwatching.
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8
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Fiennes S, Zhang M, Sun F, Lee TM. Understanding retail dynamics of a regionally important domestic bird market in Guangzhou, China. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sicily Fiennes
- Schools of Life Sciences and Ecology and State Key Laboratory of Biological Control Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent, Canterbury Kent UK
| | - Mingxia Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology Guangxi Normal University Guilin Guangxi China
| | - Fuping Sun
- Chengdu Zhucai Science and Technology Company Limited Chengdu China
| | - Tien Ming Lee
- Schools of Life Sciences and Ecology and State Key Laboratory of Biological Control Sun Yat‐sen University Guangzhou Guangdong China
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9
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Bird singing contests: Looking back on thirty years of research on a global conservation concern. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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10
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Wang Q, Shi J, Shen X, Zhao T. Characteristics and patterns of international trade in CITES-listed live birds in China from 2010 to 2019. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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11
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Invasiveness is linked to greater commercial success in the global pet trade. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2016337118. [PMID: 33753557 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2016337118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The pet trade has become a multibillion-dollar global business, with tens of millions of animals traded annually. Pets are sometimes released by their owners or escape, and can become introduced outside of their native range, threatening biodiversity, agriculture, and health. So far, a comprehensive analysis of invasive species traded as pets is lacking. Here, using a unique dataset of 7,522 traded vertebrate species, we show that invasive species are strongly overrepresented in trade across mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. However, it is unclear whether this occurs because, over time, pet species had more opportunities to become invasive, or because invasive species have a greater commercial success. To test this, we focused on the emergent pet trade in ants, which is too recent to be responsible for any invasions so far. Nevertheless, invasive ants were similarly overrepresented, demonstrating that the pet trade specifically favors invasive species. We show that ant species with the greatest commercial success tend to have larger spatial distributions and more generalist habitat requirements, both of which are also associated with invasiveness. Our findings call for an increased risk awareness regarding the international trade of wildlife species as pets.
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12
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Pipek P, Blackburn TM, Delean S, Cassey P, Şekercioğlu ÇH, Pyšek P. Lasting the distance: The survival of alien birds shipped to New Zealand in the 19th century. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:3944-3953. [PMID: 32489622 PMCID: PMC7244811 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive alien species are a major threat to biodiversity and human activities, providing a strong incentive to understand the processes by which alien invasion occurs. While it is important to understand the determinants of success at each of several invasion stages-transport, introduction, establishment, and spread-few studies have explored the first of these stages. Here, we quantify and analyze variation in the success of individual animals in surviving the transport stage, based on shipping records of European passerines destined for New Zealand. We mined the original documents of Acclimatisation Societies, established in New Zealand for the purpose of introducing supposedly beneficial alien species, in combination with recently digitized newspaper archives, to produce a unique dataset of 122 ships that carried passerines from Europe to New Zealand between 1850 and 1885. For 37 of these shipments, data on the survival of individual species were available. Using generalized linear mixed models, we explored how survival was related to characteristics of the shipments and the species. We show that species differed greatly in their survival, but none of the tested traits accounted for these differences. Yet, survival increased over time, which mirrors the switch from early haphazard shipments to larger organized shipments. Our results imply that it was the quality of care received by the birds that most affected success at this stage of the invasion process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Pipek
- Department of Invasion Ecology Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany Průhonice Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
| | - Tim M Blackburn
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research University College London London UK
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UK
| | - Steven Delean
- Centre for Applied Conservation Science School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- Centre for Applied Conservation Science School of Biological Sciences The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA Australia
| | - Çağan H Şekercioğlu
- Department of Biology University of Utah Salt Lake City UT USA
- College of Sciences Koç University Istanbul Turkey
- Conservation Science Group Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
| | - Petr Pyšek
- Department of Invasion Ecology Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Botany Průhonice Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic
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13
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Reino L, Figueira R, Beja P, Araújo MB, Capinha C, Strubbe D. Networks of global bird invasion altered by regional trade ban. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2017; 3:e1700783. [PMID: 29181443 PMCID: PMC5699901 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1700783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife trade is a major pathway for introduction of invasive species worldwide. However, how exactly wildlife trade influences invasion risk, beyond the transportation of individuals to novel areas, remains unknown. We analyze the global trade network of wild-caught birds from 1995 to 2011 as reported by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). We found that before the European Union ban on imports of wild-caught birds, declared in 2005, invasion risk was closely associated with numbers of imported birds, diversity of import sources, and degree of network centrality of importer countries. After the ban, fluxes of global bird trade declined sharply. However, new trade routes emerged, primarily toward the Nearctic, Afrotropical, and Indo-Malay regions. Although regional bans can curtail invasion risk globally, to be fully effective and prevent rerouting of trade flows, bans should be global.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Reino
- CIBIO/InBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, n°9, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- CIBIO/InBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
- CEABN/InBIO-Centro de Estudos Ambientais ‘Prof. Baeta Neves’, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rui Figueira
- CIBIO/InBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, n°9, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- CEABN/InBIO-Centro de Estudos Ambientais ‘Prof. Baeta Neves’, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
- LEAF-Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Beja
- CIBIO/InBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, n°9, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- CEABN/InBIO-Centro de Estudos Ambientais ‘Prof. Baeta Neves’, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel B. Araújo
- CIBIO/InBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade de Évora, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, Calle José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - César Capinha
- CIBIO/InBIO-Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, n°9, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Museumsmeile Bonn, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany
| | - Diederik Strubbe
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Terrestrial Ecology Unit, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 32, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, University of Antwerp, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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14
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Liang SH, Walther BA, Shieh BS. Contrasting determinants for the introduction and establishment success of exotic birds in Taiwan using decision trees models. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3092. [PMID: 28316893 PMCID: PMC5354111 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Biological invasions have become a major threat to biodiversity, and identifying determinants underlying success at different stages of the invasion process is essential for both prevention management and testing ecological theories. To investigate variables associated with different stages of the invasion process in a local region such as Taiwan, potential problems using traditional parametric analyses include too many variables of different data types (nominal, ordinal, and interval) and a relatively small data set with too many missing values. Methods We therefore used five decision tree models instead and compared their performance. Our dataset contains 283 exotic bird species which were transported to Taiwan; of these 283 species, 95 species escaped to the field successfully (introduction success); of these 95 introduced species, 36 species reproduced in the field of Taiwan successfully (establishment success). For each species, we collected 22 variables associated with human selectivity and species traits which may determine success during the introduction stage and establishment stage. For each decision tree model, we performed three variable treatments: (I) including all 22 variables, (II) excluding nominal variables, and (III) excluding nominal variables and replacing ordinal values with binary ones. Five performance measures were used to compare models, namely, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), specificity, precision, recall, and accuracy. Results The gradient boosting models performed best overall among the five decision tree models for both introduction and establishment success and across variable treatments. The most important variables for predicting introduction success were the bird family, the number of invaded countries, and variables associated with environmental adaptation, whereas the most important variables for predicting establishment success were the number of invaded countries and variables associated with reproduction. Discussion Our final optimal models achieved relatively high performance values, and we discuss differences in performance with regard to sample size and variable treatments. Our results showed that, for both the establishment model and introduction model, the number of invaded countries was the most important or second most important determinant, respectively. Therefore, we suggest that future success for introduction and establishment of exotic birds may be gauged by simply looking at previous success in invading other countries. Finally, we found that species traits related to reproduction were more important in establishment models than in introduction models; importantly, these determinants were not averaged but either minimum or maximum values of species traits. Therefore, we suggest that in addition to averaged values, reproductive potential represented by minimum and maximum values of species traits should be considered in invasion studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Hsiung Liang
- Department of Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Normal University , Kaohsiung , Taiwan
| | - Bruno Andreas Walther
- Master Program in Global Health and Development, College of Public Health, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan
| | - Bao-Sen Shieh
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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15
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Vall-llosera M, Cassey P. Leaky doors: Private captivity as a prominent source of bird introductions in Australia. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172851. [PMID: 28235000 PMCID: PMC5325556 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The international pet trade is a major source of emerging invasive vertebrate species. We used online resources as a novel source of information for accidental bird escapes, and we investigated the factors that influence the frequency and distribution of bird escapes at a continental scale. We collected information on over 5,000 pet birds reported to be missing on animal websites during the last 15 years in Australia. We investigated whether variables linked to pet ownership successfully predicted bird escapes, and we assessed the potential distribution of these escapes. Most of the reported birds were parrots (> 90%), thus, we analysed factors associated with the frequency of parrot escapes. We found that bird escapes in Australia are much more frequent than previously acknowledged. Bird escapes were reported more frequently within, or around, large Australian capital cities. Socio-economic factors, such as the average personal income level of the community, and the level of human modification to the environment were the best predictors of bird escapes. Cheaper parrot species, Australian natives, and parrot species regarded as peaceful or playful were the most frequently reported escapees. Accidental introductions have been overlooked as an important source of animal incursions. Information on bird escapes is available online in many higher income countries and, in Australia, this is particularly apparent for parrot species. We believe that online resources may provide useful tools for passive surveillance for non-native pet species. Online surveillance will be particularly relevant for species that are highly reported, such as parrots, and species that are either valuable or highly commensal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Vall-llosera
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Conservation Science and Technology (CCoST), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Conservation Science and Technology (CCoST), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Dyer EE, Cassey P, Redding DW, Collen B, Franks V, Gaston KJ, Jones KE, Kark S, Orme CDL, Blackburn TM. The Global Distribution and Drivers of Alien Bird Species Richness. PLoS Biol 2017; 15:e2000942. [PMID: 28081142 PMCID: PMC5230740 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2000942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alien species are a major component of human-induced environmental change. Variation in the numbers of alien species found in different areas is likely to depend on a combination of anthropogenic and environmental factors, with anthropogenic factors affecting the number of species introduced to new locations, and when, and environmental factors influencing how many species are able to persist there. However, global spatial and temporal variation in the drivers of alien introduction and species richness remain poorly understood. Here, we analyse an extensive new database of alien birds to explore what determines the global distribution of alien species richness for an entire taxonomic class. We demonstrate that the locations of origin and introduction of alien birds, and their identities, were initially driven largely by European (mainly British) colonialism. However, recent introductions are a wider phenomenon, involving more species and countries, and driven in part by increasing economic activity. We find that, globally, alien bird species richness is currently highest at midlatitudes and is strongly determined by anthropogenic effects, most notably the number of species introduced (i.e., “colonisation pressure”). Nevertheless, environmental drivers are also important, with native and alien species richness being strongly and consistently positively associated. Our results demonstrate that colonisation pressure is key to understanding alien species richness, show that areas of high native species richness are not resistant to colonisation by alien species at the global scale, and emphasise the likely ongoing threats to global environments from introductions of species. The introduction of alien species is one of the primary ways in which human actions are changing the environment. Alien species have been responsible for numerous global and local extinctions and are eroding the uniqueness of many natural environments. There is thus a basic need to understand which areas end up with more alien species. Here, we use a major new global database on the distribution of alien birds to show, first, how patterns in the number of species introduced to a location (colonisation pressure) have changed over time. We show that historical introductions were driven largely by European, and especially British, colonialism. However, the rate of bird introductions is increasing, with shifts in the locations of origin and introduction of species probably driven by the cage bird trade. We then combine information on where bird species have been introduced with a global map of alien bird species richness to identify the main drivers of richness. We show that colonisation pressure is the strongest predictor of alien bird species richness, but that there are other anthropogenic and environmental drivers. Most notably, once colonisation pressure has been accounted for, alien bird species richness is higher in areas where native bird species richness is higher.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie E. Dyer
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip Cassey
- Centre for Conservation Science and Technology, and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - David W. Redding
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ben Collen
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Franks
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin J. Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Kate E. Jones
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
| | - Salit Kark
- The Biodiversity Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and NESP Threatened Species hub, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - C. David L. Orme
- Division of Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Tim M. Blackburn
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom
- Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, South Africa
- * E-mail:
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17
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Zhang L, Jiang Z. Unveiling the status of alien animals in the arid zone of Asia. PeerJ 2016; 4:e1545. [PMID: 26793423 PMCID: PMC4715455 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.1545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological invasion is one of the most threatening factors for biodiversity conservation. Lacking information on alien species in certain regions of the world hampers a balanced understanding of invasion processes and efficient data exchange among stakeholders. Current knowledge gaps are in need of urgent concern. We therefore conducted a review on alien animals in Xinjiang, an unknown region of invasion ecology. Xinjiang lies in the heartland of the Asian continent, covering an area of 1,664,900 km2. In the past 64 years, 128 alien animal species were recorded in this region, 39% of which became invasive and led to loss of native biodiversity. Most of these species were introduced through diversification of local agriculture and aquaculture. This process was aggravated by improving transportation and flourishing trade. Multiple linear regression models and correlation analysis were run for explaining influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on status of alien animals: economically developed areas with abundant water resource, oases in particular, were prone to be hotspots of alien animal species in this arid and semi-arid region. This study also revealed that taxonomically biased and lagged research were critical problems that impeded studies on biological invasions in Xinjiang, and proposed feasible solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyubing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; College of Resources and Environment Science, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Zhigang Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Abellán P, Carrete M, Anadón JD, Cardador L, Tella JL. Non-random patterns and temporal trends (1912-2012) in the transport, introduction and establishment of exotic birds in Spain and Portugal. DIVERS DISTRIB 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Abellán
- Department of Biology; Queens College; City University of New York; 65-30 Kissena Blvd Flushing New York NY 11367 USA
| | - Martina Carrete
- Universidad Pablo de Olavide; Ctra Utrera km 1 E-41013 Sevilla Spain
- Department of Conservation Biology; Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC); Américo Vespucio s/n E-41092 Sevilla Spain
| | - Jose D. Anadón
- Department of Biology; Queens College; City University of New York; 65-30 Kissena Blvd Flushing New York NY 11367 USA
| | - Laura Cardador
- Department of Conservation Biology; Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC); Américo Vespucio s/n E-41092 Sevilla Spain
| | - José L. Tella
- Department of Conservation Biology; Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC); Américo Vespucio s/n E-41092 Sevilla Spain
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Daut EF, Brightsmith DJ, Mendoza AP, Puhakka L, Peterson MJ. Illegal domestic bird trade and the role of export quotas in Peru. J Nat Conserv 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2015.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Essl F, Bacher S, Blackburn TM, Booy O, Brundu G, Brunel S, Cardoso AC, Eschen R, Gallardo B, Galil B, García-Berthou E, Genovesi P, Groom Q, Harrower C, Hulme PE, Katsanevakis S, Kenis M, Kühn I, Kumschick S, Martinou AF, Nentwig W, O'Flynn C, Pagad S, Pergl J, Pyšek P, Rabitsch W, Richardson DM, Roques A, Roy HE, Scalera R, Schindler S, Seebens H, Vanderhoeven S, Vilà M, Wilson JRU, Zenetos A, Jeschke JM. Crossing Frontiers in Tackling Pathways of Biological Invasions. Bioscience 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biv082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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