THE ROLE OF INTRODUCED SPECIES IN THE DEGRADATION OF ISLAND ECOSYSTEMS: A Case History of Guam
Abstract
▪ Abstract The accidental introduction of the brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) on Guam around 1950 induced a cascade of extirpations that may be unprecedented among historical extinction events in taxonomic scope and severity. Birds, bats, and reptiles were affected, and by 1990 most forested areas on Guam retained only three native vertebrates, all of which were small lizards. Of the hypotheses to account for the severity of this extinction event, we find some support for the importance of lack of coevolution between introduced predator and prey, availability of alternate prey, extraordinary predatory capabilities of the snake, and vulnerabilities of the Guam ecosystem. In addition, there were important interactions among these factors, especially the presence of introduced prey (possessing coevolutionary experience) that were thus able to maintain their populations and provide alternate prey to the introduced predator while it was driving the native prey species to extinction. This complex of vulnerabilities is common on oceanic islands.
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Introductions of non-native predators to islands without predators demonstrate that novel predators can greatly reduce native prey numbers and drive local extinctions.
“The history of introductions of exotic predators to predator-free islands illustrates that novel predators can markedly reduce populations of native prey and cause local extinctions (Fritts & Rodda 1998;Knapp et al. 2001;Blackburn et al. 2004).”
From Landscape heterogeneity shapes predation in a newly restored predator–prey system (2007) · cites this paper as Fritts & Rodda 1998
The highly heterogeneous pattern of predation in this system suggests that economically and socially valuable ungulate populations will not suffer runaway predation as occurs with many exotic predator invasions.
“The highly heterogeneous pattern of predation found in this system offers a measure of assurance that economically and socially valuable ungulate populations will not suffer runaway predation as occurs with many exotic predator invasions (Fritts & Rodda 1998;Knapp et al. 2001).”
From Landscape heterogeneity shapes predation in a newly restored predator–prey system (2007) · cites this paper as Fritts & Rodda 1998
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- Authors
- Fritts, T. H., & Rodda, G. H.
- Affiliations
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- Venue
- Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics
- Publisher
- Annual Reviews
- Published
- 1998-11
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 113-140
- ISSN
- 0066-4162 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2122640751
- Cited by
- 601
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 12 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 28
- FWCI
- 10.98
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Defense
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Keywords
- brown tree snake, Boiga irregularis, introduced species, extinction cascades, Guam, birds, bats, reptiles, coevolution, alternative prey, introduced predators, oceanic islands, island biogeography
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