Download Impacts of Invasive Alien SpeciesImpacts of Invasive Alien

Invasive Alien Species and
Information Courtesy of the
JAMAICAN SOCIETY
Invasive alien plants are also known for
creating allergic reactions (eg. black
wattle).
IAS in Jamaica also threaten our society by
affecting native species that serve as
cultural icons (eg. Thiara snail and the
Jamaican Bussu Festival).
Socio-economics within local communities
have also been affected by IAS. Jobs that
depend on the sustainability of existing
Jamaican biodiversity may be at risk.
Black Rat
(Ratttus rattus)
Populations were likely
accidentally introduced
on ships during the 17th
century.
Photo: Museum Victoria
Rats pose serious health risks to humans and other
mammals. In Jamaica rats are well known for
transmitting Eosinophillic Meningitis and
Leptospirosis. In 2006 there was a 100%
increase in dogs infected with Leptospirosis and the
Ministry of Health reported 326 laboratory
confirmed cases of Leptospirosis among humans.

Institute of Jamaica

Jamaica Clearing-House Mechanism

University of the West Indies

Jamaica Conservation and Development
Trust

Jamaica Gleaner

The Nature Conservancy

Convention on Biological Diversity

Williamson M., 1996. Biological
In-
vasions. New York: Springer.

CAB International

United States Geological Survey

Museum Victoria
CONTACT
INFORMATION
Jamaica Clearing House Mechanism
Natural History Division
Institute of Jamaica
10-16 East Street
Kingston
Jamaica
Telephone: (876) 922-0620-6
Fax: (876) 922-1147
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]
Website: www.jamaicachm.org.jm
Impacts of Invasive Alien Species
Apart from changing the course of
Jamaica’s natural history, IAS have
influenced our society. Public health has
been jeopardized by growing populations of
exotic species. These organisms may
transmit pathogens and diseases to humans
as well as domesticated animals. Many
domesticated animals can also become
quite invasive and affect human health (eg.
dogs and pigs).
FOLLOWING
Biological Invasions
and
JAMAICAN
ECOSYSTEM
ECONOMY
and
SOCIETY
Institute of
Jamaica
Natural History
Division
ClearingHouse
Mechanism
The Effects of
Invasive Alien Species and
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
Biological invasions result from the
movement of a species outside of its
native range consequent to intentional or
accidental human action (Williamson,
1996). When such species pose a threat to
natural biodiversity and/or human societies
they are referred to as invasive alien species
(IAS).
The establishment of IAS is a complex but
common phenomenon in many parts of the
world. In fact, IAS are considered the
second greatest threat posed to biodiversity
globally. However, in evolutionarily isolated
ecosystems, such as islands, IAS possibly
are THE greatest threat to our ecosystems.
In developing countries such as Jamaica,
the livelihood of its people are extremely
vulnerable to the disturbance of the
environment on which they depend.
JAMAICAN ECOSYSTEM
Jamaica is known for its high endemicity
and distribution of native flora and fauna.
These ecosystems are very sensitive to the
sudden ecological changes brought about
by invasive species. IAS affect ecosystems
by-:

Altering the physio-chemical features of
a habitat (e.g. sucker-mouth catfish)

Introducing pathogens and diseases
(e.g. rats and mice)

Increasing inter-specific competition
(e.g. Australian Redclaw)

Increasing predation (e.g. Wolf Cichlid)
There have been several instances observed
of the gradual displacement of native flora
and fauna around the island due to the
introduction of alien species.
In Jamaica some 84 IAS are recognized and
all have caused some change to the habitats
or surrounding human communities they
invade. The impacts of IAS in Jamaica span
four main areas:
Invasive Alien Species and
JAMAICAN ECONOMY
It is estimated that damage caused by
invasive species worldwide total US$1.4
trillion (5% of global economy).
As with many other countries, IAS have
affected Jamaica’s economy in two main
ways:
Invasive species; often with little or no
economic benefit, have displaced flora and
fauna with commercial and recreational
significance. Such an effect has been
specially noted in large and small scale
agriculture and aquaculture in Jamaica (eg.
coffee berry borer, water hyacinth).
There have been growing campaigns on the
education, protection, eradication and
management of IAS in Jamaica. These
efforts are often very costly, diverting
budgets of government, NGO’s and
industrial agencies to curtailing the effects
of alien species in our natural environment
(eg. green mussel, ginger lily).
Mock Orange
Australian Redclaw
(Cherax quadricarinatus)
(Pittosporum undulatum)
Introduced to Jamaica in
1995 for the purposes of
fisheries improvement.
Introduced to the Blue
Mountains in 1883 as an
ornamental plant.
Native to Australia
Native to Australia

ECOLOGY

ECONOMICS

HEALTH
Photo: Elizabeth Morrison

HERITAGE/CULTURE
Escaped the confines of ponds in St. Elizabeth and
first sited in the Black River.
Mock orange has an approximate density of 71 stems
per acre.
Resilience and ability of Cherax to grow in slightly
saline waters gives population a competitive
advantage over native Macrobrachium spp. which are
gradually being displaced from the Black River.
Manual labour, equipment and ranger supervision
cost approximately JA$430,000 to remove a mere 20
acres of Pittosporum undulatum from the Blue Mountains.
Understanding how these organisms
influence our environment and society is
the first step to mitigating the dangers
caused by biological invasions.
Photo: Sean Townsend