1
|
Panisi M, Pereira AR, Neto BC, de Sousa PJ, Oquiongo G, Palmeirim JM, de Lima RF, Nuno A. Trade and socioeconomic importance of an invasive giant snail in the endemic-rich island of São Tomé, Central Africa. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14357. [PMID: 39248756 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14357] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Managing invasive species is crucial to mitigate their negative impacts on ecosystems, yet conflicts may arise when their social benefits are disregarded. Human pressure on the endemic-rich forests of São Tomé has been high since the island was discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th century, and numerous species have been introduced. These include the invasive West African giant land snail (Archachatina marginata), which was introduced in the mid-20th century, is now widespread on the island, and is a potential threat to native flora and fauna. We assessed the frequency of consumption of this species and its socioeconomic importance to people across the island with household questionnaires, focus group discussions, and semistructured interviews. We explored the prevalence and potential drivers of use (e.g., wealth, household composition, and diversity of occupations) and characterized the commodity chain to identify demographic groups linked to the snail trade. We interviewed 672 people (1 person per household), conducted 6 focus groups, and interviewed 80 key actors belonging to 5 subcategories. The snail was the most widely consumed bushmeat and an important source of income, particularly for women and unemployed youth. Insecure and scarce livelihood alternatives, mostly in rural areas, were reported as drivers for trade involvement. Snail harvesting was more frequent in poorer households with low occupational diversity. Selling tended to occur in households that were well-established in the community and had a higher proportion of children. Both were stimulated by the proximity of communities to the native forest. Buying snails was common in all demographic groups, but it was linked to wealth and occupational diversity. Interventions to manage the impact of this introduced species on the valuable ecosystems of the island should involve multiple sectors of society to ensure societal support. This requires robust consideration of the welfare of vulnerable demographic groups that benefit from the species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martina Panisi
- cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- DBA, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- CHANGE, Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos da Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Alisei Onlus NGO, Rua Barrão de Água Izé, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
| | - Ana R Pereira
- cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- DBA, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- CHANGE, Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Bruzinay C Neto
- Alisei Onlus NGO, Rua Barrão de Água Izé, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
| | - Paulo J de Sousa
- Alisei Onlus NGO, Rua Barrão de Água Izé, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
| | - Gabriel Oquiongo
- Associação Monte Pico, Monte Café, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
| | - Jorge M Palmeirim
- cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- DBA, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- CHANGE, Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ricardo F de Lima
- cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- DBA, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- CHANGE, Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Associação Monte Pico, Monte Café, São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
| | - Ana Nuno
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences (CICS.NOVA), School of Social Sciences and Humanities (NOVA FCSH), NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter Cornwall Campus, Penryn, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Soares MO, Pereira PHC, Feitosa CV, Maggioni R, Rocha RS, Bezerra LEA, Duarte OS, Paiva SV, Noleto-Filho E, Silva MQM, Csapo-Thomaz M, Garcia TM, Arruda Júnior JPV, Cottens KF, Vinicius B, Araújo R, Eirado CBD, Santos LPS, Guimarães TCS, Targino CH, Amorim-Reis Filho J, Santos WCRD, Klautau AGCDM, Gurjão LMD, Machado DAN, Maia RC, Santos ES, Sabry R, Asp N, Carneiro PBM, Rabelo EF, Tavares TCL, Lima GVD, Sampaio CLS, Rocha LA, Ferreira CEL, Giarrizzo T. Lessons from the invasion front: Integration of research and management of the lionfish invasion in Brazil. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 340:117954. [PMID: 37119623 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
After successful invasions in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, lionfish (Pterois spp.) have recently invaded another important biogeographical region -the Brazilian Province. In this article, we discuss this new invasion, focusing on a roadmap for urgent mitigation of the problem, as well as focused research and management strategies. The invasion in Brazil is already in the consolidation stage, with 352 individuals recorded so far (2020-2023) along 2766 km of coastline. This includes both juveniles and adults, including egg-bearing females, ranging in length from 9.1 to 38.5 cm. Until now, most of the records in the Brazilian coast occurred in the equatorial southwestern Atlantic (99%), mainly on the Amazon mesophotic reefs (15% of the records), northeastern coast of Brazil (45%), and the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (41%; an UNESCO World Heritage Site with high endemism rate). These records cover a broad depth range (1-110 m depth), twelve protected areas, eight Brazilian states (Amapá, Pará, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, and Pernambuco) and multiple habitats (i.e., mangrove estuaries, shallow-water and mesophotic reefs, seagrass beds, artificial reefs, and sandbanks), indicating a rapid and successful invasion process in Brazilian waters. In addition, the lack of local knowledge of rare and/or cryptic native species that are potentially vulnerable to lionfish predation raises concerns regarding the potential overlooked ecological impacts. Thus, we call for an urgent integrated approach with multiple stakeholders and solution-based ecological research, real-time inventories, update of environmental and fishery legislation, participatory monitoring supported by citizen science, and a national and unified plan aimed at decreasing the impact of lionfish invasion. The experience acquired by understanding the invasion process in the Caribbean and Mediterranean will help to establish and prioritize goals for Brazil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo O Soares
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil; Reef Systems Group, Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Bremen, Germany; Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES), University of the Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, USA.
| | - Pedro H C Pereira
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil; Projeto Conservação Recifal (PCR), Recife, Brazil
| | - Caroline V Feitosa
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Maggioni
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Rafael S Rocha
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Luis Ernesto Arruda Bezerra
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Oscar S Duarte
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Sandra V Paiva
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Eurico Noleto-Filho
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Maiara Queiroz M Silva
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Mayra Csapo-Thomaz
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Tatiane M Garcia
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | | | - Bruno Vinicius
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Brazil
| | - Ricardo Araújo
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - José Amorim-Reis Filho
- ICHTUS Environment & Society, Salvador, BA, 41830-600, Brazil; Graduate Studies Program in Ecology: Theory, Application and Values, Federal University of Bahia, 40170-115, Brazil
| | | | | | - Lívio Moreira de Gurjão
- Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA), Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | - Rafaela Camargo Maia
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE), Campus Acaraú, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Emanuel Soares Santos
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE), Campus Aracati, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Rachel Sabry
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Ceará (IFCE), Campus Aracati, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Nils Asp
- Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Campus Bragança, Bragança, Brazil
| | | | | | - Tallita C L Tavares
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | | | - Luiz A Rocha
- California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, USA
| | - Carlos E L Ferreira
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Ambientes Recifais (LECAR), Departamento de Biologia Marinha, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Tommaso Giarrizzo
- Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Avenida da Abolição, 3207, Fortaleza, Brazil; Núcleo de Ecologia Aquática e Pesca da Amazônia (NEAP), Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Belém, PA, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|