Download knowledge and its value for conservation

Fort de France, Martinique, 2016
First Caribaea Initiative Research and Conservation Workshop
“Animal invasive species in the Antilles: the relevance of scientific research
to conservation”
Invasive Vertebrates in Cuba:
knowledge and its value for
conservation
Rafael Borroto-Páez
[email protected]
[email protected]
Cuban archipelago
Forest cover
Area: 109 884,01 km2
More than 3000 islands and keys
Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa
Important wetlands and mangroves (29.6%)
karstic areas (66%)
Sierra Maestra
National System of Protected Areas
77 Protected Areas with National
Significance
134 PA with Local Significance
20.20% of Cuban territory
Cuba is a very important part of the Caribbean Hotspot
6 519 species of plants.
Molluscs: 1393 sp. (95,8% endemic)
Many vertebrates: 621
Many endemic vertebrates: 255
Many endemic species considered threatened : 167.
High rate of extinction : The current biodiversity of Cuban
endemic terrestrial mammals is only 32% of all known species
Objectives
Review available information on introduced vertebrates
in Cuba
Enhance knowledge about introduction events, the
species and their impacts with special emphasis in the
biodiversity conservation
Create a baseline for introduced and invasive vertebrates
useful to build capacities, assessments and research in
biosecurity, agriculture, public health and conservation
Information Sources
Extensive bibliography review
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Scientific journals and invasive species books and reports
Management Plans of Protected Areas (123 manuscripts in CNAP)
Vertebrates catalogs, check-list, and lists
Old Project reports
History book
Old natural history books
Old Agriculture books and journals
Grey literature (game information and calendar, magazine) .
International organization database in Internet
Interview of rural people, farmers and hunters
Field work and expeditions
Reasons for Introductions
Agriculture (livestock, aquiculture, poultry, etc.)
Food
Pet
Biological control
Hunting
Until now is no
include all
introduction result of
trade for aquarium
and zoo propose
Laboratory animal
Only zoo and aquarium vertebrates that are free or become
invasive
Accidental or unintentional transportation
Output
Database: Taxa: Class, family, genus and species
.
Common name
Introduction time
Mode of entry
Population sources
Pathway
Status: transported, stablished, invasive.
Habitat invaded
Impact description
Level of Impact (Hawkins et
Distribution: Prot. areas, offshore islands
al., 2015)
Reference
Undergraduate student thesis from University of Habana (2013).
Papers and chapters:
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•
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Mamiferos introducidos e invasores (in Mamiferos en Cuba, 2011)
Introduced amphibians and reptiles in Cuba archipelago, Herpt. Conser. Biol. 2016
Cuban mammal biodiversity and conservation: past, present, and invasive mammals
Introduced and invasive birds in Cuba
Introduced vertebrates in Cuba: an overview
Book: Catalog of Introduced Vertebrates in Cuba and their impacts
Critique review to protected area management plans
What we found in bibliography review:
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•
•
•
Deficient general knowledge about Invasive Vertebrate (IV).
Forgotten information in the time.
Some cryptic species.
Invasive species considered as native (specially birds) in
catalogs.
• High level of public tolerance to common IV.
INTRODUCED VERTEBRATES: 168
INVASIVE VERTEBRATES: 93
(55,3%)
Cumulative growth in Cuban introductions of
Vertebrates
180
160
no
140
120
100
80
60
Hunting sp.
Cuniculus
2
Dasyprocta
Silvilagus
Pecari
17 species
black rat
mouse
cat
dog
pig
horse
donkey
cow
european rabbit
sheep
goat
Chicken
Turkey
Pigeon
Common
Peafolwl
Domestic Duck
1 Rodentia
2 Perissodactyla
3 Primates
5 Artiodactyla
2 Clarias spp.
+12
fresh
water
fishes
many
ornamental
birds
Northern
Bobwhile
mongoose
+20 fresh
water
fishes
cayman
brown rat
40
common carp
trout
sun fish
Bullfrog cachama
20
House sparrow
0
years
79,5 %
N=168
N=93
58,1 %
32,1 %
47,6 %
16,6 %
What we found in Management Plan of PA review?
• Wrong taxonomic information
• Some protected areas do not include invasive species
• Some protected areas have very incomplete information
• Many invasive vertebrates included as native
• Deficient perception of the impacts.
• No action to assessment the impacts.
• Few actions for management and control
Principal invasive vertebrates identified on protected areas
management plan (N= 123) and offshore islands.
Invasive vertebrates
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibian
Fishes
No. of
Protected Areas
No.of
offshore Islands
Rattus rattus
85
64
Bubulcus ibis
63
19
Bus tauro
57
6
Canis lupus familiaris
51
19
Felis silvestris catus
48
17
Herpestes auropunctatus
42
3?
Colinus virginianus
36
2
Odocoileus virginianus
36
5
Mus musculus
35
15
Passer domesticus
34
8
Sus scrofa
32
6
Lithobates catesbeianus
31
1
Molothrus bonariensis
26
3
Rattus norvegicus
25
4
Cyanerpes cyaneus
26
2
Hemidactylus angulatus
19
9
Clarias sp
17
-
Monkeys (3 sp.)
3
3
Impacts to Conservation in Cuba by invasive
vertbrates
First impact
Black rat (Rattus rattus ) introduction after 1510 could be important causes for extinction of
Cuban endemic small mammals by depredation, competition, diseases, and parasites.
Boromys torrei
Boromys ofella
Rattus rattus
Nesophontes micrus
Recent extinction of Cuban mammals
First possible extinction
in recent time
Possible Causes:
Invasive mammals predation and competition:
feral cat, feral dog, mongoose, and black rat.
Mesocapromys nanus
Fire (intentional and accidental)
Drought
Floods
Cienaga de Zapata
Recent extinction of Cuban mammals
Second possible
extinction
Mesocapromys
sanfelipensis
Many Causes:
•Invasive mammal predation and competition
Large Black rat infestation
Domestic dog (trained to hunt)
•Imprudent application of rodenticide for rat
control.
•Fire (intentional) to reduce mosquitos.
•Hunting.
•Human activities (charcoal, cutting, fishing, army,
etc.)
Juan Garcia key, Cayos de San Felipe
Almiqui
Solenodon cubanus
Population reduced and restricted
distribution to two localities: National Parks:
Pico Cristal and Alejandro de Humboldt.
Threat: Black rats, wild cat and will dogs are
real threats to the Solenodon
Dog predation demonstrated
Recent evidences of cat predation
High Black rat density in their habitat
Habitat destruction by mine
Black rat
Black rat (Rattus rattus) density estimates in Solenodon
habitat in Alejandro de Humboldt National Park ,
Guantanamo (March 2012) by trapping removal
method.
Reported in 64 islands
Plot
Date
Area in
m2
1
2
3
March 2012
March 2012
May 2010
1200
1200
750
Rats/ha ± S.E.
Leslie Regression
Ricker Semi-log
Model
Regression
Model
322.25 ± 2.9
313.66 ± 18.4
146.58 ± 0.9
176.92 ± 4.1
214.3 ± 0.9
268.0 ± 4.8
Rattus rattus
Black rats in habitat and refuge of
Mesocapromys auritus in Cayo
Fragoso
350 g
Black rats in Cayo Salinas, Cayos de Ana Maria in
the refuges of Mesocapromys angelcabrerai
Native and introduced vertebrates reported with predation and crushing impacts on
Cuban terrestrial snails (N).
Native vertebrates predators
Birds (unidentified )
Cuban Kite (Chondrohierax wilsonii
Guareao (Aramus guarauna)
Great Lizard-Cuckoo (Saurothera merlini)
Hutia conga (Capromys pilorides)
Snail Kite (Rosthramus sociabilis)
Toad (Bufo peltacephalus)
Great Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger)
Chipojo (Anolis baracoae)
Chipojo (Anolis equestris)
Anolis (Anolis sp.)
Cuban frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis)
Almiqui (Solenodon cubanus)
Bat (unidentified)
Green Woodpeckers (Xiphidiopicus percussus)
Cuban small frog (Eleutherodactylus spp.)
Chameleons (Chamaeleolis spp.)
Cuban lizards (Anolis spp.)
Ruddy Quail-Dove (Geotrygon montana)
Key West Quail-Dove (Geotrygon chysia)
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Total reports
N
90
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
139
Invasive vertebrate predator
Black rat (Rattus rattus)
Wild pig (Sus scrofa)
House mouse (Mus musculus)
Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Domestic Folk (Gallus gallus)
Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Common Goose (Anser anser)
Domestic Duck (Cairina moschata)
Helmeted Guinea Fowl (Numida meleagris)
Domestic sparrow (Passer domesticus)
American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)
Total reports
N
65
7
5
4
3
3
3
3
2
1
?
?
96
Invasive vertebrate crushing
N
Cow (Bos taurus)
Horse (Equus caballus)
Goat (Capra hiscus)
Sheep (Ovis aries)
Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
2
2
2
2
1
9
Chondropometes exquisitum
Sierra la Guira, Pinar del Rio
Polymita brocheri,
Maisi, Guantanamo
Cerion pinerium, Cayo Rico
Zachrysia auricoma,
Sierra del Rosario, PR
Polymita picta, PN Alejandro de Humboldt
Emoda sagraiana, Sierra San Carlos
Feral Cat
Reported in 17 islands
Diet of feral cats (Felis silvestris catus) as % of occurrence of food
category in spots in two important conservation areas:
Solenodon cubanus habitat and island habitat
Food category
Solenodon hábitat
Island hábitat
AHNP, Eastern Cuba Cayo Campo, South
1, small animal;
2, large animal
N=43
Cuba N=40
Vegetal fiber
23.2
17.5
Insect
23.3
7.5
Crab
17.5
Amphibian 1
2.7
Amphibian 2
2.7
-
Lizard 1
Lizard 2
Ophidian 1
Ophidian 2
Bird
Hutia
Solenodon
65.1
6.9
23.3
2.3
2.3
13.9
4.7 *
5.0
20.0
52.5
-
Black rat
Mouse
48.8
-
27.5
12.5
High level of Tolerance
21 cat in a
restaurant in
Havana Vieja
Cats in
Restaurant
Cat over
Coconut tree in
Caguma Hotel,
Varadero
Feral cat in National
Aquarium
Cat in Estrella Hotel in
cayo Santa Maria, ASC
Cat in garbage
container
Reported in 19 islands
Feral dog
Dog excrement with hutia
bones and hair in Cienaga
de Zapata NP
Cayo Coco, ASC
Havana City
Cayo Santa Maria
Sick dog in
Guanahacabibes
NP
Impacts:
Predation (Solenodon, hutias, birds, lizard
and iguana, invertebrates, etc).
Spread disease (Rabies) and parasite.
Ethic
Present in 6 Islands
Feral pig
Rooting in Guanahacabibes NP
Feral pig predating crab
Impacts: Wild pig rooting impacts have been
observed on Solenodon burrows.
Wild pig can produce affectation in natural
areas
Predation small vertebrates, invertebrates as
mollusk, crag, etc.
Erosion by rummage action
Mosquito
Mongoose
More abundant in western Cuba and rare in the east until 1999
when they have been invading more areas, including the
Alejandro de Humboldt Nationla Park
Significant new possible threat to Solenodon
Impact: predation (eggs, birds, small lizard, frog, Polymita spp.)
.
Rabies
Green monkey (Chlorocebus aethiops)
in Cayo Cantiles, Archipelago of
Canarreos (a colony of 40 animals)
Macaco Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)
in Cayo Campo, Archipelago of
Canarreos (a colony around 100)
Cryptic species
Colinus virginianus (Common Bobwhile):
Origin: USA.
Clear historic evidences: Gundlach, 1865-1866, 1876 y 1893,
Pichardo (1854), Garcia (1987), Bond (1963).
The description of a Cuban subspecies (Colinus virginianus
cubensis), cause to continue considering it as a native species
by Cuban ornithologists.
Impacts: Crop
damages.
Competition.
Cyanerpes cyaneus (Red-legged Honey-creeper)
Original Distribution: México and Central America
Historic evidence: Bernal Diaz del Castillo in Verdadera Historia de la
Conquista de la Nueva España. Introduced by Juan de Grijalva from
México, as a gift to Diego Velázquez around 1515.
Rodriguez- Ferrer (1876) introduced by a hurricane in XIX century.
de Schauensee and Meyer (1964) and Raffaelle et al 1998 suggest
introduction by human mean.
Impacts:
competition by
foods and nest
site.
Molothrus bonariensis (Shiny Cowbird)
Origen: From Panama to South America
Invasion: Cuba late 1970´s nd early 1980´s.
Impacts: Competition for food and nest
Bird nest parasite: Solibio (Icterus melanopsis,
Bien Te Veo (Vireo altiloquus), Mayito (Agelaius
humeralis).
Some ornithologist consider
native because the dispersion
was “natural”
Crop damages (rice).
Bubulcus ibis (Cattle Egret)
Origin: South of Eurasia & Africa
Invasion : South America late 1870´s.
Cuba 1953
Impacts: Predation: eggs, small vertebrates as lizard, frog .
Ectoparasite dispersion.
Competition
Some ornithologist
consider native
because the dispersion
was “natural”
Streptopelia decaocto (Eurasian collared-Dove)
Origin: Part of Europe, south Asia and North Africa.
Invasion: Cuba late 1980´s, confirmed in 1990, from
Bahamas
Impacts: Competion for food and nest site
Damages in grain stores, crops and gardens.
.
Today is one of the more
abundant birds in some
urban places
Some ornithologist consider native because the dispersion was “natural”.
Passer domesticus (House Sparrow)
Origin: Part of Eurasia and North Africa
Introduction event: Possibly an intentional introduction
around 1850-1860 with political implication.
Impacts:
Political
Spread disease and parasite
Urban disturb
Block drain
Crop damages
Garden damages
Electric hazard
Predation of small vertebrates
Airport interference
Excrement accumulation
Competition for food and nest site
Possibly the more abundant
birds in Cuba
Some ornithologist including as native or innocuous introduced birds .
Species considered as natives
Origin
Gonatodes albogularis fuscus: Sudamericano
Hemidactylus turcicus:
Mediterraneo
Hemidactylus mabouia:
Africa
Hemidactylus angulatus:
Africa
Hemidactylus frenatus:
Africa and Asia
Spherodactylus argus:
Jamaica
Commensal species
Distributed in the beginning in coastal zone and
harbors.
Introduction way
Slave trade
Impacts: Phobia to reptiles
Competition
Damages painted walls
Trade and commerce
Some herpetologist consider native because the dispersion could be “natural”
Fishes
Clarias gariepinus
Original distribution: Africa
Introduction date: 1999-2000
Impacts: possible predator of cave blind fishes
Lucifuga (3 very rare and local endemic
species).
Predation Frog, fishes, etc.
Cayo Saetia, north eastern Cuba
Priority for conservation
• Reduce the level of infestation of invasive vertebrates
(wild cat, wild dog and black rat) in Solenodon and
Polymita habitats.
• Black rat eradication in the islands (Cayo Fragoso y Cayo
Salinas) to protect small hutias Mesocapromys auritus
and M. angelcabrerai
• Control of invasive vertebrates in Zapata Swamp where
there are many threated native vertebrate like:
Gallinuela de Santo Tomás (Cyanolimnas cerverai), Zapata
Sparrow (Torreornis inexpectata), dwarf Hutia
(Mesocapromys nanus), etc.
• Assessment impacts in other many invasive vertebrates.
List of priority islands with conditions for eradication
Name of
Area
Island/Cay (Ha)
Location Archipela UICN Red Listed
(Lat/Lon) go
single island endemic
species
(Local ENDEMICs)
Invasive
Vertebrate
Species names,
and if
confirmed
there
Eradication
attempted or
completed
there?
Protected
Area
Status?
(Part of a
protected
area,
name)
1.Cayo
Campo
21368
ha
-82,17,59
21,34,11
Canarreo Dendrosygna alborea
Buteogallus gundlachi
Caretta caretta
Chelonia mydas
Cyclura nubila
Crocodylus acutus
Capromys piloridesssp
Leiocephalus cubensis
pambasileus
Rr, Fsc, Clf,
Mf
-
RF
monkey
Campo Rosario
2.Cayo
Cantiles
3900
ha
-82,02,00
21,36,00
Canarreo Cyclura nubila
Eretmochelys imbricate
Dendrosygna alborea
Buteogallus gundlachi
Sphaerodactylus storeyae
Anolis luteogularis
coctilis
Caraiba andreai
melopyrrha
Capromys pilorides
Fsc, Rr, Mm, Ca
RF
monkey
Campo Rosario
Canarreo Capromys garridoi ?
Caretta caretta
Chelonia mydas
Cyclura nubila
Buteogallusgundlachi
Charadrius melodus
Sphaerodactylus storeyae Rr, Rn, Mm,
Capromys pilorides
Fsc, Clf
3.Cayo
Largo del
Sur
3800ha -81,28,39
21,37,35
12 islands
Cayo Santa Maria
Cayo Fragoso
Cayo la Sagra
Cayos del Pajonal
Cayo Pasaje
Cayo La Loma
Important factors to
affect eradication
success (people living
on island, tourist visits,
prohibited area etc)
Bi
Rat control
RE
Cayo
largo
People, tourist, hotels
Sd
Cayo Ballenato del Medio
Cayo Maja 3
Plus a list of Bibliography reference
about biodiversity in Islands.
Institutions and NGO,s linked with Conservation and
Invasive vertebrates in Cuba
Institutions
• National Center of Protected Area
• Enterprise for the Conservation of the
Flora and Fauna
• Center of Biosecurity
• University of Habana
• Institute of Ecology and Systematics
• Institute of Tropical Geography
• National Aquarium
• Institute of Health Plant
• Center of Coastal Ecosystems
• Institute of Oceanology
• National Museum of Natural History
• GaviotaTour, S.A.
• BIOECO
NGO,s
• Cuban Zoological Society
• Antonio Nunez Jimenez Foundation
• Cuban Geography Society
• Cuban Botanic Society
Conclusion
• The compilation Invasive Vertebrates in Cuba is an important
baseline, including to other Caribbean islands.
• Increased the understand of the Invasive Species problem
(stakeholders, protected area workers, rangers, scientific,
students, etc.).
• The CNAP workshop to review of Protected Area Management
Plans in 2014 included more and better information.
• Important to establish the priority for conservation
What we need?
• Need to assessment impacts.
• Need control and eradication.
• The protected area need continue building capacities about
Invasive specie.
• Need for national and international funds for conservation and
cooperation.
Muchas Gracias
Priorities
Based on historical engagements in Cuba, review and analysis of
conservation opportunities, gaps and biodiversity threats, the following
approach is recommend as priority actions:
1) Engage and meet with key Cuban conservation institutions to build confidence
and trust in common conservation goals, initiated through a focused workshop
that includes information exchange
2) Identify, prioritize and develop an action agenda for high value conservation
targets through a joint public-private information review using key scientific
knowledge
3) Initiate and operationalize on-the-ground conservation actions that implement
the action agenda by removing invasive vertebrates from prioritized offshore
islands in order to demonstrate the conservation tool proof-of-concept and
effective conservation collaboration.