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Using Pathway Analysis To Inform Prevention Strategies For Alien Reptiles And Amphibians, Fred Kraus Aug 2007

Using Pathway Analysis To Inform Prevention Strategies For Alien Reptiles And Amphibians, Fred Kraus

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Alien reptiles and amphibians are deserving of greater attention that has hitherto been bestowed upon them by managers and researchers. Eradication or control of established taxa will generally be infeasible, leaving prevention of introductions as the primary management tool for controlling herpetological invasions. I analyzed >5,700 introductions of alien reptiles and amphibians worldwide to obtain the pathway information necessary for design of informed prevention programs. Six pathways account for the large majority of introductions: accidental introductions via cargo and the nursery plant trade and intentional introductions for biocontrol, food use, the pet trade, and aesthetic purposes. Pathway importance varies taxonomically, …

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Global Harmonisation In The Field Of Invasive Species Management Product Development, Steven Lapidge, Simon Humphrys, David Dall Aug 2007

Global Harmonisation In The Field Of Invasive Species Management Product Development, Steven Lapidge, Simon Humphrys, David Dall

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Problems associated with managing vertebrate invasive species, defined as any exotic or native species that has spread beyond its natural range, are remarkably common around the world. Although the species may differ, the niches they fill and the damage they generally cause is often consistent. As such, a possibility exists for greater collaboration and harmonization in developing new tools to manage the impacts of invasive species. Moreover, the considerable expense of developing new products, the often onerous registration process, and the lack of return on investment leading to market failure has meant that progress within the field of invasive animal …

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Spotting Cryptic Animals In The Dark: What Light Properties Should A Good Headlamp Have?, Bjorn Lardner, Julie A. Savidge, Gordon H. Rodda Aug 2007

Spotting Cryptic Animals In The Dark: What Light Properties Should A Good Headlamp Have?, Bjorn Lardner, Julie A. Savidge, Gordon H. Rodda

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Relying on headlamp illumination for visual detection of cryptic nocturnal animals may present a challenge. To test how search light properties affect brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) detection rate, we assigned eight biologists to search for dead snakes placed in roadside vegetation. Each person conducted 4 searches using lamps with varying properties: weak versus strong light, crossed by narrow versus wide beam. On each occasion, 100 snakes were placed randomly along the roadside transect. The mean number spotted per transect search was 13.5. Using an information theoretic approach, sequential order of transect runs was the only confounding variable included …

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European Starlings: A Review Of An Invasive Species With Far-Reaching Impacts, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Shannon M. Gaulker, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier Aug 2007

European Starlings: A Review Of An Invasive Species With Far-Reaching Impacts, George M. Linz, H. Jeffrey Homan, Shannon M. Gaulker, Linda B. Penry, William J. Bleier

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The introduction of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in New York City in 1890 and 1891 resulted in their permanent establishment in North America. The successful occupation of North America (and most other continents as well) has earned the starling a nomination in the Top 100 list of ‘Worlds Worst’ invaders. Pimentel et al. (2000) estimated that starling damage to agriculture crops in the United States was $800 million yearly, based on $5/ha damage. Starlings may spread infectious diseases that sicken humans and livestock, costing nearly $800 million in health treatment costs. Lastly, starlings perhaps have contributed to the …

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Considering Control Of Invasive Barred Owls To Benefit California Spotted Owls: Possible Justification And Draft Methods, Kent B. Livezey, Richard M. Engeman, Dennis F. Rock, Donald A. Yasuda Aug 2007

Considering Control Of Invasive Barred Owls To Benefit California Spotted Owls: Possible Justification And Draft Methods, Kent B. Livezey, Richard M. Engeman, Dennis F. Rock, Donald A. Yasuda

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Invasive, but native to North America, barred owls (Strix varia) are negatively affecting site occupancy, reproduction, and survival of federally threatened northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina), thereby confounding the land-based conservation strategy for northern spotted owls. Barred owls are moving southward into the range of non-federally listed California spotted owls (S. o. occidentalis), but are not, at this time or in the foreseeable future, a threat to the California spotted owl population. We recommend consideration of barred owl control in the northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, while barred owl numbers are low enough to …

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Prioritization Of Action On Non-Native Species – Progress In Great Britain, Niall Moore Aug 2007

Prioritization Of Action On Non-Native Species – Progress In Great Britain, Niall Moore

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

There is an increasing number of calls for action on a wide range of invasive non-native species, but only a limited resource to deal with them. It is clearly important for policy makers and others to be able to prioritize where these scarce resources are directed in order to maximize their conservation benefit. Coordination of effort, and knowledge sharing are clearly important as are risk assessment methods which attempt to quantify the risk posed by a range of species that are either present or are likely to invade. Great Britain, as an island, has advantages over continental landmasses in that …

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Developing A New Toxin For Potential Control Of Feral Cats, Stoats, And Wild Dogs In New Zealand, Elain C. Murphy, Charles T. Eason, Steve Hix, Duncan Macmorran Aug 2007

Developing A New Toxin For Potential Control Of Feral Cats, Stoats, And Wild Dogs In New Zealand, Elain C. Murphy, Charles T. Eason, Steve Hix, Duncan Macmorran

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The endemic fauna of New Zealand evolved in the absence of mammalian predators and their introduction has been responsible for many extinctions and declines. Predator control will have to be on-going if some native species are to survive on the mainland. Currently, predator control relies largely on labourintensive trapping, so the development of humane predator-specific toxins would provide valuable additional control methods. Para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) is being investigated as a toxin for feral cats (Felis catus), stoats (Mustela erminea), and wild dogs (Canis familiaris). Carnivores appear to be much more susceptible to PAPP than birds, …

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Developing Strategy And Tools For The Local Elimination Of Multiple Pest Species, Graham Nugent, David R. Morgan, Peter Sweetapple, Bruce Warburton Aug 2007

Developing Strategy And Tools For The Local Elimination Of Multiple Pest Species, Graham Nugent, David R. Morgan, Peter Sweetapple, Bruce Warburton

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Control of invasive vertebrate pests is likely to be needed in perpetuity unless their pest status changes or they are completely eradicated, both of which seem unlikely at present. This emphasizes the need for pest managers to adopt long-term strategies that are both ecologically sound and cost-effective. We suggest that a strategy for simultaneous management of multiple sympatric species of pests is preferable to a single-species approach. While present strategy involves periodic control over entire areas to achieve management aims, modelling suggests that a strategy of localised elimination followed by perimeter control offers significant cost-savings in the long term. We …

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Tree Squirrels As Invasive Species: Conservation And Management Implications, Geoffrey H. Palmer, John Koprowski, Tony Pernas Aug 2007

Tree Squirrels As Invasive Species: Conservation And Management Implications, Geoffrey H. Palmer, John Koprowski, Tony Pernas

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The impact of invasive species on native biodiversity is increasing worldwide. Mammalian invaders are formidable ecological and economic threats, and tree squirrels are models of such challenges. We review the worldwide distribution of tree squirrel introductions and detail their nearly universal success. The biological characteristics of tree squirrels that enable success as invasive species are: high reproductive potential, high vagility, diverse food habits, ability to construct nests, and plasticity in human-impacted landscapes. We document costs and benefits of tree squirrel introductions, and discuss existing management strategies planned for some species. We focus on an introduced population of Mexican red-bellied squirrels …

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An Evaluation Of Passive Thermal Fumigation For Brown Treesnake Control In Surface Transportation From Guam, Gad Perry, Daniel S. Vice Aug 2007

An Evaluation Of Passive Thermal Fumigation For Brown Treesnake Control In Surface Transportation From Guam, Gad Perry, Daniel S. Vice

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The brown treesnake (BTS) has been on Guam for about 50 years and in this period has caused extensive ecological, economic, and social damage. It has also repeatedly dispersed from Guam via the transportation network, arriving at numerous locations. However, the conditions snakes face in surface shipping are unknown, making assessment of the risk of snake survival impossible. To address this, we recorded thermal conditions in surface shipments leaving Guam and identified factors that determine these conditions. We monitored 16 shipments to locations in Micronesia and the United States mainland and conducted a series of intensive studies at the Naval …

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Environmental And Economic Costs Of Vertebrate Species Invasions Into The United States, David Pimental Aug 2007

Environmental And Economic Costs Of Vertebrate Species Invasions Into The United States, David Pimental

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The more than 50,000 species of plants, animals, and microbes introduced into the United States (US) cause more extinction of native species than most any other threat and cause more than $120 billion in damages and control costs each year. In particular, invasive mammals and birds cause major environmental and economic losses totaling about $46 billion per year in damage and control costs per year. Feral cats, rats, and hogs are especially serious pests. Pigeons and starlings are a major concern in cities and US agriculture. Prevention and management strategies will be discussed.

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Impacts Of Introduced Species On An Island Ecosystem: Non-Native Reptiles And Amphibians In The Us Virgin Islands, Renata J. Platenberg Aug 2007

Impacts Of Introduced Species On An Island Ecosystem: Non-Native Reptiles And Amphibians In The Us Virgin Islands, Renata J. Platenberg

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Island ecosystems are highly sensitive to the impacts of introduced species. Non-native invasive snakes, lizards, and amphibians can introduce diseases into native populations and have other deleterious effects through predation, competition, and habitat manipulation. The United States (US) Virgin Islands are situated on the Puerto Rican Shelf in the Caribbean Sea and have a long history of human impacts and species introductions. Two species, the green iguana (Iguana iguana) and the red-legged tortoise (Geochelone carbonaria) were historically introduced and have become naturalized with little apparent impact to the local ecosystem. Recent years, however, have seen the …

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Habitattitude™: Getting A Backbone About The Pet Release Pathway, Jamie K. Reaser, N. Marshall Meyers Aug 2007

Habitattitude™: Getting A Backbone About The Pet Release Pathway, Jamie K. Reaser, N. Marshall Meyers

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Many people would not consider their family complete without a pet. Unfortunately, for some pet owners, circumstances arise that prevent them from being able to properly care for their companions and pet abandonment has become one of the most common pathways of vertebrate species introduction. It is also one of the most challenging pathways to address once the animals become established, eradication and control programs face significant public scrutiny and are often challenged by “animal rights” groups. Prevention measures are thus the key to minimizing the size and impacts of the “pet release pathway.” Habitattitude™ is a proactive campaign designed …

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Population Ecology And Some Potential Impacts Of Emerging Populations Of Exotic Parrots, Douglas E. Runde, Will C. Pitt, J. T. Foster Aug 2007

Population Ecology And Some Potential Impacts Of Emerging Populations Of Exotic Parrots, Douglas E. Runde, Will C. Pitt, J. T. Foster

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Parrots have been transported around the world since the 1400s and about 44 species have established populations outside of their native ranges. At least 70% of these introduced species were identified as potential agricultural pests, compared to only 15% of all parrot species. At least 74 exotic psittacines have been reported in the wild in the United States, but only nine species were considered established. Since 1990, 24 psittacine species have been sighted in the wild in Hawai`i, about 21 species regularly occur on the main islands and at least five appear established. Past history of successful introduction, recent status …

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Early Detection And Eradication Of Invading Rats, James C. Russell, Mick N. Clout, David R. Towns Aug 2007

Early Detection And Eradication Of Invading Rats, James C. Russell, Mick N. Clout, David R. Towns

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Invasive rats continue to colonize rat-free islands around the world. To prevent rats from establishing on rat-free islands, especially following their eradication, biosecurity actions are required to enable early detection and elimination. Rats arrive at islands by both human transportation and by swimming. There are very little data on the rates of rat transportation by humans, although it is known that they are not negligible. There are better data on the distances rats can swim, allowing estimates to be made of the risk of reinvasion of islands close to source populations. Biosecurity prioritization must take place across all rat-free islands, …

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Dna Detection Of Foxes To Prevent Establishment In Tasmania, Stephen D. Sarre, Rachel Walsch, Niccy Aitken, Alison Foster, Nick Mooney Aug 2007

Dna Detection Of Foxes To Prevent Establishment In Tasmania, Stephen D. Sarre, Rachel Walsch, Niccy Aitken, Alison Foster, Nick Mooney

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has wreaked havoc on mainland Australia’s environment and agricultural production since its introduction in the 1870s. Over the same period, the southern Australian island State of Tasmania has remained virtually fox-free, allowing its unique biodiversity to remain relatively pristine. Recently, an unknown number of foxes were deliberately or accidentally introduced to Tasmania. Some of those animals and possibly their progeny now live in the wild in Tasmania. Finding foxes in a state the size of Tasmania presents special problems for wildlife managers, but is essential to prevent their establishment in this stronghold for …

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Flotation Materials For Aerial Delivery Of Acetaminophen Toxic Baits To Brown Treesnakes, Peter J. Savarie, Tom C. Mathies, Kathleen A. Fagerstone Aug 2007

Flotation Materials For Aerial Delivery Of Acetaminophen Toxic Baits To Brown Treesnakes, Peter J. Savarie, Tom C. Mathies, Kathleen A. Fagerstone

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes are effective bait stations for delivering dead neonatal mice (DNM) treated with the oral toxicant, 80 mg acetaminophen, to brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) in accessible jungle forest on Guam. However, PVC tubes are not practical for delivery of baits to remote areas of jungle or the forest canopy. Further, it is important that baits entangle in the canopy and not fall to the ground where they can be scavenged by non-target animals such as crabs. Data from helicopter aerial deployment of untreated DNM with radio transmitters that landed on the ground in areas of …

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International Perspective On Programs Of Invasive Vertebrate Species, Greg Sherley Aug 2007

International Perspective On Programs Of Invasive Vertebrate Species, Greg Sherley

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

An account of global initiatives in invasive alien species, including vertebrates, was presented based on the author’s experience and that of colleagues, mainly in the developing world. The account focused on those programs which highlight typical problems or best practice for design and which promised improvements in the future. Some of the characteristics of these programs were described and discussed. Techniques used in vertebrate control programs, especially in developing island states, were also described with a commentary on their efficacy and suitability for use. Finally, some future directions were recommended in terms of the design of in-country and regional programs …

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Coqui Frog Research And Management Efforts In Hawaii, Hans Sin, Adam Radford Aug 2007

Coqui Frog Research And Management Efforts In Hawaii, Hans Sin, Adam Radford

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

ī The coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) is native to Puerto Rico and was accidentally introduced to the State of Hawai‘i through contaminated nursery products from the Caribbean. Since its introduction in the late 1980s, coqui have become widely dispersed and in some areas population densities have reached 55,000 frogs/ha. The coqui frog is a species of concern because individual frogs can produce sound levels of 80 decibels (at 0.5 m), which has caused sleep loss to residents and affected the quality of life in Hawai‘i. Economic concerns in infested areas include diminished property values and sales, impacts on …

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Pest Eradication Technology – The Critical Partner To Pest Exclusion Technology: The Maungatautari Experience, Cam Speedy, Tim Day, John Innes Aug 2007

Pest Eradication Technology – The Critical Partner To Pest Exclusion Technology: The Maungatautari Experience, Cam Speedy, Tim Day, John Innes

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Invasive pest eradication is an increasingly viable management option for conservation and wildlife managers all over the world. The list of successful rodent eradications from isolated islands continues to grow globally. Now, with the development of effective pest exclusion technologies, the opportunities for eradicating multiple species of vertebrate pests from progressively larger fragments of habitat in mainland situations are also increasing. Attempts at eradicating up to fifteen separate species of pest mammal from indigenous forest fragments protected by Xcluder™ pest proof fencing have been made on the main islands of New Zealand. These include various assemblages of multiple species of …

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The Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team, James W. Stanford, Gordon H. Rodda Aug 2007

The Brown Treesnake Rapid Response Team, James W. Stanford, Gordon H. Rodda

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

In the 1940s the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) was accidentally transported to Guam and became established. Brown treesnakes have caused and continue to cause major problems for the ecology, economy, and quality of life on Guam. As Guam’s snake densities increased in the late 1970s, extralimital encounters began to be reported on islands with transportation links to Guam. In 1993, a major effort was initiated to reduce the potential for brown treesnakes to accidentally enter Guam’s transportation system. In 2002, a multi-agency Rapid Response Team (RRT) was established to assist in detection and capture of brown treesnakes on …

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Monitoring The Sale And Trafficking Of Invasive Vertebrate Species Using Automated Internet Search And Surveillance Tools, Karl Suiter, Sanda Sferrazza Aug 2007

Monitoring The Sale And Trafficking Of Invasive Vertebrate Species Using Automated Internet Search And Surveillance Tools, Karl Suiter, Sanda Sferrazza

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The internet is often an unregulated pathway that can lead to the introduction of invasive species. Surveillance of internet-related sale or trade activities can reduce the movement of potentially invasive species and serve to lessen the risk of an introduction. The Invasive Species Internet Monitoring System automates the process of searching the internet for suspect sites (e.g., internet storefronts, chat rooms, etc.) involved in the sale or trade of targeted species. Additionally, this software system incorporates data management features that permit the archiving of suspect website content, assists subject matter experts in evaluating sites for risk, send informational emails to …

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Genetic Options For The Control Of Invasive Vertebrate Pests: Prospects And Constraints, Ronald E. Thresher Aug 2007

Genetic Options For The Control Of Invasive Vertebrate Pests: Prospects And Constraints, Ronald E. Thresher

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Conventional methods for the control of invasive pests are generally effective only on small-space scales or short-time frames. For most well established pest populations, longer-term efforts to manage the problem have been largely abandoned. I examine the potential of using “autocidal” genetic techniques to control terrestrial vertebrate pests, based on the inheritance through males of transgenes that either sterilize females or convert them into functional males (“daughterless”). Simulation analysis of two high profile pest species, the cane toad (Bufo marinus) in Australia and brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in an urban environment, using realistic parameters, suggests that …

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Developing A Decision Support System For Improving Possum Control Planning, Bruce Warburton, Jim Coleman, Mark Fuglestad, James Dietrich Aug 2007

Developing A Decision Support System For Improving Possum Control Planning, Bruce Warburton, Jim Coleman, Mark Fuglestad, James Dietrich

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Brushtail possums are a major invasive pest in New Zealand. A decision support system (DSS) has been developed to enable those involved in operational planning or delivery of possum control to access available relevant knowledge when making operational decisions. The DSS comprises checklists that ensure users consider relevant constraints and issues, a database of best-practice information on possum control, and an “expert” system that recommends actions based on information provided by the user.

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Invasive Species: A National Perspective And The Need For A Coordinated Response, Lori Williams Aug 2007

Invasive Species: A National Perspective And The Need For A Coordinated Response, Lori Williams

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The multiple economic, environmental, and animal and human health impacts of invasive species pose complex challenges in policy formation and governmental coordination. The National Invasive Species Council (NISC) was established by an Executive Order in 1999 to provide coordination, planning and facilitate cooperation among the diverse federal agencies and to take a more comprehensive approach to invasive species. NISC, assisted by the nonfederal Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC) has developed several tools and enhanced capacities to address invasive species. Additionally, NISC has helped place greater emphasis on essential prevention, early detection and rapid response, research, public outreach, and international cooperation …

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Management Of Invasive Vertebrates In The United States: An Overview, Gary W. Witmer, Patrick W. Burke, Will C. Pitt, Michael L. Avery Aug 2007

Management Of Invasive Vertebrates In The United States: An Overview, Gary W. Witmer, Patrick W. Burke, Will C. Pitt, Michael L. Avery

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

At least 161 introduced/invasive vertebrates have become established in the United States and its territories, including at least 81 mammalian, 94 avian, and 86 reptilian/amphibian species. Particularly problematic species include feral cats and dogs; feral pigs; commensal rats and mice; starlings, pigeons, and house sparrows; and bullfrogs, brown treesnakes, and coqui frogs. We briefly review these introductions and the types of damage they cause. We review the basic types of methods used for control or eradication of each taxonomic group, including physical, chemical, biological, and cultural methods. We also discuss some of the challenges in managing these species, including issues …

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Welcome And Opening Remarks, Richard L. Bruggers Aug 2007

Welcome And Opening Remarks, Richard L. Bruggers

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Greetings and welcome to Fort Collins. We at the National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) have had the privilege of organizing and hosting four international symposia since 1993. The first three were on the topics of contraception and wildlife, repellents in wildlife management, and the economics of wildlife damage management.

Today, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our fourth symposium: the International Symposium on Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species. I know our Symposium’s organizing committee has strived to bring you a diverse group of international speakers….all of whom are working on the cutting edge of invasive species research, management, and …

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Landscape Genetics Of Feral Swine And Implications For Management, Johanna Delgado-Acevedo, Randy W. Deyoung, Tyler A. Campbell Aug 2007

Landscape Genetics Of Feral Swine And Implications For Management, Johanna Delgado-Acevedo, Randy W. Deyoung, Tyler A. Campbell

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The management of the invasive feral pig (Sus scrofa) has been the subject of intense study in recent years. Feral pigs are also susceptible to diseases (e.g., brucellosis, pseudorabies) that can be transmitted to livestock, humans, and wildlife. Feral pigs clearly represent a threat to the sustainability of multiple agriculture products. Population reduction (trapping or shooting) is the best current alternative for controlling pig damage. However, reduction is crude and inefficient in terms of manpower and resources because pigs from neighboring areas quickly recolonize managed areas. We used a panel of 9 microsatellite loci to study broad-scale population …

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Wildlife Contraception: Targeting The Oocyte, Richard E. Mauldin, Lowell A. Miller Aug 2007

Wildlife Contraception: Targeting The Oocyte, Richard E. Mauldin, Lowell A. Miller

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

The USDA’s National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) has successfully researched and developed a number of chemical and immunologically-based wildlife contraceptives. Diazacon™ interferes with cholesterol metabolism and disrupts steroidogenesis, while nicarbazin (registered as OvoControl-P® and OvoControl-G®) disrupts the structure of the vitelline membrane of bird eggs. Immunologically-based agents act to stimulate targeted antibody production. GonaCon™ causes the host’s immune system to bind gonadotropin releasing hormone, preventing ovulation, while SpayVac™ prevents fertilization of the postovulatory oocyte. This kind of target specificity can be highly advantageous. A number of oocyte-only control contraceptive strategies are currently being researched at the NWRC. 4-Vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) …

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Reducing Risk And Enhancing Efficiency In Non-Native Vertebrate Removal Efforts On Islands: A 25 Year Multi-Taxa Retrospective From Santa Cruz Island, California, Scott A. Morrison Aug 2007

Reducing Risk And Enhancing Efficiency In Non-Native Vertebrate Removal Efforts On Islands: A 25 Year Multi-Taxa Retrospective From Santa Cruz Island, California, Scott A. Morrison

Managing Vertebrate Invasive Species

Effective conservation of native biodiversity on islands often requires the eradication of destructive non-native vertebrates. There are risks in conducting an eradication project, however, including the risk that the effort will fail to remove all the individuals, and the risk that the removal of the species will trigger ecological cascades with unanticipated and undesired consequences. Managers must plan to reduce such risks, and also maximize the return on investment of the limited conservation resources available for restoration programs. I discuss four vertebrate removal projects implemented on Santa Cruz Island, CA, over the past 25 years: sheep, golden eagles, pigs, and …

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