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Biology
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Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions
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Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Conservation Biology and Biodiversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 11511

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Xubin Pan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing 100176, China
Interests: biodiversity; biosecurity; risk analysis; data and knowledge

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Biological invasion is not just an ecological phenomenon, but also an administrative challenge. In order to manage alien invasive species, we must specify which species, pathways, and habitats should be our first priority due to our limited resources; we can use the tool of risk assessment to identify and rank them. However, risk assessment for biological invasions faces many dilemmas, which impede us in controlling alien invasive species effectively. Thus, I hope that this Special Issue can attract more attention and collect diverse examples on this topic.

I am pleased to invite your submissions on risk assessment for biological invasions from a range of disciplines. They can be based on data consolidation, field observations, modeling and simulation, procedures and guidelines, and/or geospatial techniques. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: data requirements and quality, risk assessment methods, introduction risk, spread risk, impact analysis, and so on.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Xubin Pan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • native species
  • data
  • pathway
  • habitat
  • impact
  • quarantine pest
  • national list
  • potential geographic distribution
  • economic losses

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 12420 KiB  
Article
Agricultural and Ecological Resources Safeguarded by the Prevention of Wild Pig Population Expansion
by Colin Jareb, Kim M. Pepin, Ryan S. Miller, Sarah Sykora, Stephanie A. Shwiff and Sophie C. McKee
Biology 2024, 13(9), 670; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13090670 - 29 Aug 2024
Viewed by 462
Abstract
Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most destructive invasive species in the US, known for causing extensive damage to agricultural commodities, natural resources, and property, and for transmitting diseases to livestock. Following the establishment of the National Feral Swine [...] Read more.
Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one of the most destructive invasive species in the US, known for causing extensive damage to agricultural commodities, natural resources, and property, and for transmitting diseases to livestock. Following the establishment of the National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSDMP) in 2014, the expansion of wild pig populations has been successfully slowed. This paper combines two modeling approaches across eight separate models to characterize the expansion of wild pig populations in the absence of intervention by the NFSDMP and forecasts the value of a subset of resources safeguarded from the threat of wild pigs. The results indicate that if wild pigs had continued spreading at pre-program levels, they would have spread extensively across the US, with significant geographic variation across modeling scenarios. Further, by averting the threat of wild pigs, a substantial amount of crops, land, property, and livestock was safeguarded by the NFSDMP. Cumulatively, between 2014 and 2021, wild pig populations were prevented from spreading to an average of 724 counties and an average of USD 40.2 billion in field crops, pasture, grasses, and hay was safeguarded. The results demonstrate that intervention by the NFSDMP has delivered significant ecological and economic benefits that were not previously known. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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17 pages, 778 KiB  
Article
An Annotated Checklist of Invasive Species of the Phyla Arthropods and Chordates in Panama
by Digna Rodríguez-Gavilanes, Humberto A. Garcés Botacio, Rogemif Fuentes, Louise Rodriguez-Scott, Yostin Añino, Oscar G. López-Chong and Enrique Medianero
Biology 2024, 13(8), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13080571 - 28 Jul 2024
Viewed by 954
Abstract
Invasive species are one of the five main causes of biodiversity loss, along with habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. Numbers and species of invasive organisms represent one of the first barriers to overcome in ecological conservation programs since they are difficult [...] Read more.
Invasive species are one of the five main causes of biodiversity loss, along with habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution, and climate change. Numbers and species of invasive organisms represent one of the first barriers to overcome in ecological conservation programs since they are difficult to control and eradicate. Due to the lack of records of invasive exotic species in Panama, this study was necessary for identifying and registering the documented groups of invasive species of the Chordates and Arthropod groups in Panama. This exhaustive search for invasive species was carried out in different bibliographic databases, electronic portals, and scientific journals which addressed the topic at a global level. The results show that approximately 141 invasive exotic species of the Arthropoda and Chordata phyla have been reported in Panama. Of the 141 species, 50 species belonged to the Arthropoda phylum and 91 species belonged to the Chordate phylum. Panamanian economic activity could facilitate the introduction of alien species into the country. This study provides the first list of invasive exotic chordate and arthropod species reported for the Republic of Panama. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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15 pages, 5516 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Distribution Pattern of Phenacoccus manihoti in China under Climate Change Based on the Biomod2 Model
by Yumeng Huang, Tong Li, Weijia Chen, Yuan Zhang, Yanling Xu, Tengda Guo, Shuping Wang, Jingyuan Liu and Yujia Qin
Biology 2024, 13(7), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070538 - 17 Jul 2024
Viewed by 852
Abstract
The changing global climate has significantly impacted the spread of plant pests. The cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti) is among the most dangerous quarantine pests affecting cassavas worldwide, causing substantial losses in agricultural production and food security across several regions. Although China [...] Read more.
The changing global climate has significantly impacted the spread of plant pests. The cassava mealybug (Phenacoccus manihoti) is among the most dangerous quarantine pests affecting cassavas worldwide, causing substantial losses in agricultural production and food security across several regions. Although China is currently free of the cassava mealybug, its proximity to affected countries and extensive trade with these regions necessitate a detailed understanding of the pest’s distribution pattern and dynamic ecological niche changes. Using the Biomod2 model, we selected two historical climate scenarios and two future climate scenarios (SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5) to investigate the distribution patterns, potential habitats, distribution centers, and dynamic ecological niches of cassava mealybugs in China. Key environmental variables influencing the distribution were identified, including bio4, bio8, bio12, bio18, and bio19. The potential habitat of cassava mealybugs is mainly located in several provinces in southern China. In the future, the suitable habitat is projected to expand slightly under the influence of climate change, maintaining the overall trend, but the distribution center of suitable areas will shift northward. Dynamic ecological niche prediction results indicate the potential for further expansion; however, the ecological niches may be unequal and dissimilar in the invaded areas. The predictions could serve as a valuable reference for early warning systems and management strategies to control the introduction of cassava mealybugs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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23 pages, 2300 KiB  
Article
Returning to the Wilderness: Potential Habitat Suitability of Non-Native Pet Birds in South Africa
by Tinyiko C. Shivambu, Ndivhuwo Shivambu, Takalani Nelufule, Moleseng C. Moshobane, Nimmi Seoraj-Pillai and Tshifhiwa C. Nangammbi
Biology 2024, 13(7), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070483 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 683
Abstract
The global trade of non-native pet birds has increased in recent decades, and this has accelerated the introduction of invasive birds in the wild. This study employed ensemble species distribution modelling (eSDM) to assess potential habitat suitability and environmental predictor variables influencing the [...] Read more.
The global trade of non-native pet birds has increased in recent decades, and this has accelerated the introduction of invasive birds in the wild. This study employed ensemble species distribution modelling (eSDM) to assess potential habitat suitability and environmental predictor variables influencing the potential distribution of non-native pet bird species reported lost and sighted in South Africa. We used data and information on lost and found pet birds from previous studies to establish and describe scenarios of how pet birds may transition from captivity to the wild. Our study revealed that models fitted and performed well in predicting the suitability for African grey (Psittacus erithacus), Budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus), Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus), Green-cheeked conure (Pyrrhura molinae), Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), and Rose-ringed parakeet (Psittacula krameri), with the mean weighted AUC and TSS values greater than 0.765. The predicted habitat suitability differed among species, with the suitability threshold indicating that between 61% and 87% of areas were predicted as suitable. Species with greater suitability included the African grey, Cockatiel, and Rose-ringed parakeet, which demonstrated significant overlap between their habitat suitability and reported lost cases. Human footprint, bioclimatic variables, and vegetation indices largely influenced predictive habitat suitability. The pathway scenario showed the key mechanisms driving the transition of pet birds from captivity to the wild, including the role of pet owners, animal rescues, adoption practices, and environmental suitability. Our study found that urban landscapes, which are heavily populated, are at high risk of potential invasion by pet birds. Thus, implementing a thorough surveillance survey is crucial for monitoring and evaluating the establishment potential of pet species not yet reported in the wild. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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20 pages, 1621 KiB  
Article
Risk Perception: Chemical Stimuli in Predator Detection and Feeding Behaviour of the Invasive Round Goby Neogobius melanostomus
by Natalia Z. Szydłowska, Pavel Franta, Marek Let, Vendula Mikšovská, Miloš Buřič and Bořek Drozd
Biology 2024, 13(6), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13060406 - 2 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1010
Abstract
The round goby Neogobius melanostomus is a notoriously invasive fish originating from the Ponto-Caspian region that in recent decades has successfully spread across the globe. One of its primary impacts is direct predation; in addition, when entering new ecosystems, the round goby is [...] Read more.
The round goby Neogobius melanostomus is a notoriously invasive fish originating from the Ponto-Caspian region that in recent decades has successfully spread across the globe. One of its primary impacts is direct predation; in addition, when entering new ecosystems, the round goby is likely to become a food resource for many higher native predators. However, little is known either about the indirect effects of predators on the round goby as prey or its feeding behaviour and activity. The non-consumptive effect of the presence of higher native predators presumably plays an important role in mitigating the impact of non-native round gobies as mesopredators on benthic invertebrate communities, especially when both higher- and mesopredators occupy the same habitat. We tested the food consumption probability and gut evacuation rates in round gobies in response to chemical signals from a higher predator, the European eel Anguilla anguilla. Gobies were placed individually in experimental arenas equipped with shelters and exposed to water from a tank in which (a) the higher predator had actively preyed on a heterospecific prey, earthworms Lumbricus sp. (the heterospecific treatment; HS); (b) the higher predator had fed on round gobies (the conspecific treatment; CS); or (c) the water was provided as a control treatment (C). To ensure exposure to the chemical stimuli, this study incorporated the application of skin extracts containing damaged-released alarm cues from the CS treatment; distilled water was used for the remaining treatments. No significant differences were observed in either the food consumption probability or gut evacuation rate in the tested treatments. Despite the lack of reaction to the chemical stimuli, round gobies did exhibit high evacuation rates (R = 0.2323 ± 0.011 h−1; mean ± SE) in which complete gut clearance occurred within 16 h regardless of the applied treatment. This rapid food processing suggests high efficiency and great pressure on resources regardless of the presence or not of a higher predator. These findings hint at the boldness of round gobies, which did not exhibit any pronounced threat sensitivity. This would seem to suggest great efficiency in food processing and a potential competitive advantage over local native species when colonising new ecosystems, irrespective of the presence of native predators. Our study did not detect any non-consumptive effect attributable to the higher predator, given that the feeding activity of the invasive round goby was not altered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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11 pages, 1948 KiB  
Article
The First Records of Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) and Trissolcus mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), Alien Egg Parasitoids of Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae) in Serbia
by Aleksandra Konjević, Luciana Tavella and Francesco Tortorici
Biology 2024, 13(5), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13050316 - 1 May 2024
Viewed by 1260
Abstract
Serbia has recently begun facing a serious problem with the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), which was first recorded in October 2015. This species belongs to the Pentomidae family and is notorious for causing extensive damage to plants. During the winter, [...] Read more.
Serbia has recently begun facing a serious problem with the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), which was first recorded in October 2015. This species belongs to the Pentomidae family and is notorious for causing extensive damage to plants. During the winter, it tends to gather in urban areas, such as houses and different man-made facilities, which has raised concerns among producers and citizens. The population of this species has rapidly increased, causing significant economic damage to cultivated plants. However, despite the alarming situation no natural enemies have yet been identified in Serbia. Therefore, research in 2022 was focused on collecting stink bug eggs to investigate the presence of egg parasitoids. The study identified two foreign Hymenoptera species for the European region, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) and Tr. mitsukurii (Ashmead) (Scelionidae), recorded for the first time in Serbia. Additionally, the list of egg parasitoid species belonging to the Hymenoptera order includes seven local species: Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy), from the Eupelmidae family; Ooencyrtus sp., from the Encyrtidae family; and Telenomus turesis (Walker), Tr. basalis (Wollaston), Tr. belenus (Walker), Tr. colemani (Crawford), and Tr. semistriatus (Nees von Esenbeck), from the Scelionidae family. In total, nine egg parasitoid species were, for the first time, reported as parasitizing H. halys and related species in Serbia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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16 pages, 22658 KiB  
Article
World Spread of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum) under Global Change: Historical Reconstruction, Niche Shift, and Potential Geographic Distribution
by Yuhan Qi, Xiaoqing Xian, Haoxiang Zhao, Ming Yang, Yu Zhang, Wentao Yu and Wanxue Liu
Biology 2023, 12(9), 1179; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12091179 - 29 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1542
Abstract
Solanum viarum has become extensively invasive owing to international trade, climate change, and land–use change. As it is classified as a quarantine weed by countries such as the U.S. and Mexico, it is critical to understand the prevailing historical dispersal, ecological niche dynamics, [...] Read more.
Solanum viarum has become extensively invasive owing to international trade, climate change, and land–use change. As it is classified as a quarantine weed by countries such as the U.S. and Mexico, it is critical to understand the prevailing historical dispersal, ecological niche dynamics, and distribution patterns. We reconstructed the historical invasion countries and analyzed the ecological niche shift of S. viarum. Using MaxEnt based on the conservativeness of ecological niches, we studied variations in the potential geographical distributions (PGDs) of S. viarum in ecosystems and variations in suitability probabilities along latitudinal gradients. The invasion history in six continents involved three phases: lag (before 1980), spread (1980–2010), and equilibrium (2010–present). The ecological niche remains conserved. The area of S. viarum PGDs had increased by 259 km2; the PGDs will expand to reach a maximum in the 2050s, SSP5–8.5. The PGDs of S. viarum will migrate to higher latitudes under the same future climate scenarios. The latitudes subject to high threats range from 20° to 30° in forest and cropland ecosystems, 15.5° to 27.5° (northern hemisphere) and 33.1° to 42.8° (southern hemisphere) in grassland ecosystems, and 20° to 35° in urban ecosystems. Global change has led to an increased threat of S. viarum at high latitudes. These findings provide a theoretical basis to monitor and control S. viarum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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14 pages, 1659 KiB  
Article
Aliens on the Road: Surveying Wildlife Roadkill to Assess the Risk of Biological Invasion
by Andrea Viviano, Marcello D’Amico and Emiliano Mori
Biology 2023, 12(6), 850; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12060850 - 13 Jun 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
Monitoring the presence and distribution of alien species is pivotal to assessing the risk of biological invasion. In our study, we carried out a worldwide review of roadkill data to investigate geographical patterns of biological invasions. We hypothesise that roadkill data from published [...] Read more.
Monitoring the presence and distribution of alien species is pivotal to assessing the risk of biological invasion. In our study, we carried out a worldwide review of roadkill data to investigate geographical patterns of biological invasions. We hypothesise that roadkill data from published literature can turn out to be a valuable resource for researchers and wildlife managers, especially when more focused surveys cannot be performed. We retrieved a total of 2314 works published until January 2022. Among those, only 41 (including our original data) fitted our requirements (i.e., including a total list of roadkilled terrestrial vertebrates, with a number of affected individuals for each species) and were included in our analysis. All roadkilled species from retrieved studies were classified as native or introduced (domestic, paleo-introduced, or recently released). We found that a higher number of introduced species would be recorded among roadkill in Mediterranean and Temperate areas with respect to Tropical and Desert biomes. This is definitely in line with the current knowledge on alien species distribution at the global scale, thus confirming that roadkill datasets can be used beyond the study of road impacts, such as for an assessment of different levels of biological invasions among different countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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34 pages, 11940 KiB  
Article
Distribution, Effect, and Control of Exotic Plants in Republic of Korea
by Bong Soon Lim, Ji Eun Seok, Chi Hong Lim, Gyung Soon Kim, Hyun Chul Shin and Chang Seok Lee
Biology 2023, 12(6), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12060826 - 6 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1747
Abstract
This study was carried out to clarify the spatial distribution of exotic plants at national, regional, and local levels, as well as their ecological impacts, and to prepare a strategy to reduce the impacts in Republic of Korea. This study was attempted at [...] Read more.
This study was carried out to clarify the spatial distribution of exotic plants at national, regional, and local levels, as well as their ecological impacts, and to prepare a strategy to reduce the impacts in Republic of Korea. This study was attempted at the national, regional, and local levels throughout Republic of Korea. Compositae occupied the highest percentage among invading exotic plants in Republic of Korea. A review of the biological attributes of exotic plants based on the dormancy form, longevity, disseminule form, growth form, and radicoid form showed that therophytes, annual plants, plants that disperse seeds by gravity (D4), erect form (E), and nonclonal growth form (R5) occupied the highest proportion. At the national level, the spatial distribution of exotic plants tended to depend on topographic conditions such as elevation and slope degree, and to increase around urbanized areas, agricultural fields, and coastal areas. The habitat types that exotic plants established were similar in their native habitat and in Korea, where they invaded. They preferred disturbed land such as roadsides, bare ground, agricultural fields, and so on. The spatial distribution of vegetation types dominated by exotic plants was restricted in the lowland. The proportion of the exotic/native plants tended to proportionate reversely to the vegetation type richness (the number of vegetation types); that is, the ecological diversity. The proportion of the exotic plants was higher in artificial plantations, vegetation due to disturbance, and vegetation established on lower slopes compared with upper slopes. Even at the local level, the exotic plants appeared abundantly in the introduced vegetation, while they were rare in the native ones. In the vegetation infected by exotic species, not only the species composition changed significantly, but the species diversity also decreased. Restorative treatment by introducing mantle vegetation around the hiking trail inhibited the establishment of exotic plants. Further, the restoration practice recovered the similarity of the species composition compared to the reference vegetation and increased the species diversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Risk Assessment for Biological Invasions)
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