Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake Predation
The avifauna of Guam was devastated by the introduction of the Brown Treesnake, and the restoration of native birds would need to address the problem with eradication or suppression of BTS. With eradication of the snake unlikely in the near term, and suppression capabilities limited to specific fini...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2021.683964/full |
| _version_ | 1819279105824129024 |
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| author | Robert M. McElderry Eben H. Paxton Andre V. Nguyen Shane R. Siers |
| author_facet | Robert M. McElderry Eben H. Paxton Andre V. Nguyen Shane R. Siers |
| author_sort | Robert M. McElderry |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The avifauna of Guam was devastated by the introduction of the Brown Treesnake, and the restoration of native birds would need to address the problem with eradication or suppression of BTS. With eradication of the snake unlikely in the near term, and suppression capabilities limited to specific finite areas, key information for reintroductions is how low BTS abundance will likely need to be for each bird species to be re-established based on their vulnerability to BTS predation. Here, we estimate vulnerability, which can no longer be measured directly, so biologists who are familiar with one or more of seven Guam birds were surveyed to obtain their knowledge and produce quantitative vulnerability estimates. As is typical of birds adapted to islands devoid of predators, respondents judged that our focal species exhibit few predator avoidance and tolerance traits, leaving body size as the prime determinant of vulnerability. Respondent opinion also holds that any behavior that reduces the likelihood of an encounter by BTS, e.g., roosting/nesting in palm crowns, cavity nesting, and in particular urban dwelling, substantially reduces vulnerability. Our results can help inform species-specific decisions about when it may be safe to consider the release of birds on Guam depending on the relative vulnerability of each species to predation by BTS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:22:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-296c13d3051c4bf99e06b90518c798e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-611X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T00:22:37Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-296c13d3051c4bf99e06b90518c798e42022-12-21T17:24:32ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Conservation Science2673-611X2021-07-01210.3389/fcosc.2021.683964683964Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake PredationRobert M. McElderry0Eben H. Paxton1Andre V. Nguyen2Shane R. Siers3Research Corporation of the University of Guam, Mangilao, GuamU.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Hawaii National Park, Hawaii, HI, United StatesDepartment of Biology, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, United StatesU.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Barrigada, GuamThe avifauna of Guam was devastated by the introduction of the Brown Treesnake, and the restoration of native birds would need to address the problem with eradication or suppression of BTS. With eradication of the snake unlikely in the near term, and suppression capabilities limited to specific finite areas, key information for reintroductions is how low BTS abundance will likely need to be for each bird species to be re-established based on their vulnerability to BTS predation. Here, we estimate vulnerability, which can no longer be measured directly, so biologists who are familiar with one or more of seven Guam birds were surveyed to obtain their knowledge and produce quantitative vulnerability estimates. As is typical of birds adapted to islands devoid of predators, respondents judged that our focal species exhibit few predator avoidance and tolerance traits, leaving body size as the prime determinant of vulnerability. Respondent opinion also holds that any behavior that reduces the likelihood of an encounter by BTS, e.g., roosting/nesting in palm crowns, cavity nesting, and in particular urban dwelling, substantially reduces vulnerability. Our results can help inform species-specific decisions about when it may be safe to consider the release of birds on Guam depending on the relative vulnerability of each species to predation by BTS.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2021.683964/fullnon-native predatorinvasive speciesisland endemic avifaunapredator-prey interactionsMariana Islandsspecies reintroduction |
| spellingShingle | Robert M. McElderry Eben H. Paxton Andre V. Nguyen Shane R. Siers Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake Predation Frontiers in Conservation Science non-native predator invasive species island endemic avifauna predator-prey interactions Mariana Islands species reintroduction |
| title | Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake Predation |
| title_full | Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake Predation |
| title_fullStr | Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake Predation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake Predation |
| title_short | Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake Predation |
| title_sort | distilling professional opinion to gauge vulnerability of guam avifauna to brown treesnake predation |
| topic | non-native predator invasive species island endemic avifauna predator-prey interactions Mariana Islands species reintroduction |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2021.683964/full |
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