Introduced mammals on Western Indian Ocean islands
The diversity of introduced mammals and their introduction history varies greatly across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) islands, from ancient introductions in the past millennia on islands off the East coast of Africa where extant terrestrial native mammal communities exist, to very recent invasions...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2016-04-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415300469 |
| _version_ | 1818367380621885440 |
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| author | James C. Russell Nik C. Cole Nicolas Zuël Gérard Rocamora |
| author_facet | James C. Russell Nik C. Cole Nicolas Zuël Gérard Rocamora |
| author_sort | James C. Russell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The diversity of introduced mammals and their introduction history varies greatly across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) islands, from ancient introductions in the past millennia on islands off the East coast of Africa where extant terrestrial native mammal communities exist, to very recent invasions in the past decades on islands in the Mascarene archipelago. We compile the distribution of 16 introduced mammal taxa on 28 island groups comprising almost 2000 islands. Through an exhaustive literature review and expert consultation process we recorded all mammal eradications, and species recoveries which could be attributed to introduced mammal eradication or control. All island groups have been invaded by mammals, and invasive cats and rats in particular are ubiquitous, but cultural contingency has also led to regional invasions by other mammals such as lemurs, civets and tenrecs. Mammal eradications have been attempted on 45 islands in the WIO, the majority in the Seychelles and Mauritius, and where successful have resulted in spectacular recovery of species and ecosystems. Invasive mammalian predator eradication or control in association with habitat management has led to improved conservation prospects for at least 24 species, and IUCN red-list down-listing of eight species, in the Mascarene Islands. Future island conservation prioritisation in the region will need to take account of global climate change and predicted sea-level rises and coastal inundation. Greater investment and prioritisation in island conservation in the region is warranted, given its high biodiversity values and the extent of invasions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:51:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69c2284014394df2ba35d72d83266a4f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2351-9894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T22:51:08Z |
| publishDate | 2016-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-69c2284014394df2ba35d72d83266a4f2022-12-21T23:28:36ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942016-04-016C13214410.1016/j.gecco.2016.02.005Introduced mammals on Western Indian Ocean islandsJames C. Russell0Nik C. Cole1Nicolas Zuël2Gérard Rocamora3School of Biological Sciences and Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New ZealandDurrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrés Manor, Trinity, Jersey JE3 5BP, Channel Islands, United KingdomMauritian Wildlife Foundation, Grannum Road, Vacoas, MauritiusIsland Biodiversity and Conservation Centre, University of Seychelles, Faculty of Sciences, Anse Royale, Mahé, SeychellesThe diversity of introduced mammals and their introduction history varies greatly across the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) islands, from ancient introductions in the past millennia on islands off the East coast of Africa where extant terrestrial native mammal communities exist, to very recent invasions in the past decades on islands in the Mascarene archipelago. We compile the distribution of 16 introduced mammal taxa on 28 island groups comprising almost 2000 islands. Through an exhaustive literature review and expert consultation process we recorded all mammal eradications, and species recoveries which could be attributed to introduced mammal eradication or control. All island groups have been invaded by mammals, and invasive cats and rats in particular are ubiquitous, but cultural contingency has also led to regional invasions by other mammals such as lemurs, civets and tenrecs. Mammal eradications have been attempted on 45 islands in the WIO, the majority in the Seychelles and Mauritius, and where successful have resulted in spectacular recovery of species and ecosystems. Invasive mammalian predator eradication or control in association with habitat management has led to improved conservation prospects for at least 24 species, and IUCN red-list down-listing of eight species, in the Mascarene Islands. Future island conservation prioritisation in the region will need to take account of global climate change and predicted sea-level rises and coastal inundation. Greater investment and prioritisation in island conservation in the region is warranted, given its high biodiversity values and the extent of invasions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415300469La RéunionMadagascarMaldivesMascareneMauritiusSeychellesZanzibar |
| spellingShingle | James C. Russell Nik C. Cole Nicolas Zuël Gérard Rocamora Introduced mammals on Western Indian Ocean islands Global Ecology and Conservation La Réunion Madagascar Maldives Mascarene Mauritius Seychelles Zanzibar |
| title | Introduced mammals on Western Indian Ocean islands |
| title_full | Introduced mammals on Western Indian Ocean islands |
| title_fullStr | Introduced mammals on Western Indian Ocean islands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Introduced mammals on Western Indian Ocean islands |
| title_short | Introduced mammals on Western Indian Ocean islands |
| title_sort | introduced mammals on western indian ocean islands |
| topic | La Réunion Madagascar Maldives Mascarene Mauritius Seychelles Zanzibar |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989415300469 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jamescrussell introducedmammalsonwesternindianoceanislands AT nikccole introducedmammalsonwesternindianoceanislands AT nicolaszuel introducedmammalsonwesternindianoceanislands AT gerardrocamora introducedmammalsonwesternindianoceanislands |