Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > WR > WR07091
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 35(3)

The invasion ecology of mammals: a global perspective

Mick N. Clout A B and James C. Russell A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Biodiversity and Biosecurity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand.

B Corresponding author. Email: m.clout@auckland.ac.nz

Wildlife Research 35(3) 180-184 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR07091
Submitted: 12 July 2007  Accepted: 15 October 2007   Published: 20 May 2008

Abstract

Of the extant species of land mammals, 124 (2.6%) can be classed as ‘successful invaders’, whereas 1038 (21.6%) are classed as threatened, according to the 2006 IUCN Red List. Relatively high proportions of successful invaders are found among Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Lagomorpha and Perissodactyla. Compared with other organisms, mammals seem relatively likely to become established when introduced outside their natural range. Studies of determinants of invasion success indicate that the number of individuals released, the size of the natural range of the introduced species, and the temperateness of climate in the new range can all increase the probability of establishment of introduced mammals. Negative impacts of invasive mammals on native biodiversity include direct effects such as predation, browsing and competition, but can extend to disruption of patterns of nutrient flow, and trophic cascades. Eradication of several species of invasive mammals from increasingly large areas is now possible. In this context, it is important to better understand ecological interactions between such mammals (and between them and other species) to avoid unwanted consequences such as mesopredator or competitor release, after the removal of particular species. Finally, it is increasingly apparent that research is needed on the behaviour of dispersing and invading individuals, to improve the early detection of new mammal invasions or reinvasions.


References

Amori G., and Clout M. N. (2003). Rodents on islands: a conservation challenge. In ‘Rats, Mice and People: Rodent Biology and Management’. (Eds G. R. Singleton, C. A. Hinds, C. J. Krebs, and D. M. Spratt.) ACIAR Monographs 96, 63–68.

Atkinson I. A. E. (2006). Introduced mammals in a new environment. In ‘Biological Invasions in New Zealand’. (Eds R. B. Allen and W. G. Lee). Ecological Studies 186, 49–66.

Burbidge, A. A. , and Manly, B. F. J. (2002). Mammal extinctions on Australian islands: causes and conservation implications. Journal of Biogeography 29, 465–473.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Cadotte M. W., McMahon S. M., and Fukami T. (Eds.) (2006). ‘Conceptual Ecology and Invasion Biology: Reciprocal Approaches to Nature.’ (Springer: Dordrecht.)

Caut, S. , Casanovas, J. , Virgos, E. , Lozano, J. , Witmer, G. , and Courchamp, F. (2007). Rats dying for mice: modelling the competition release effect. Austral Ecology 32, 858–868.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Clout M. N., and Russell J. C. (2006). The eradication of mammals from New Zealand islands. In ‘Assessment and Control of Biological Invasion Risks’. (Eds F. Koike, M. N. Clout, M. Kawamichi, M. De Poorter and K. Iwatsuki.) pp. 127–141. (IUCN: Gland.)

Colautti, R. I. , and MacIsaac, H. J. (2004). A neutral terminology to define ‘invasive species’. Diversity & Distributions 10, 135–141.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Gleeson D., Harman H., and Armstrong T. (2006). Genetics of invasive species in New Zealand. In ‘Biological Invasions in New Zealand’. (Eds R. B. Allen and W. G. Lee.) Ecological Studies 186, 103–118.

Gosling, L. M. , and Baker, S. J. (1989). The eradication of muskrats and coypus from Britain. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 38, 39–51.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Lever C. (1985). ‘Naturalized Mammals of the World.’ (Longman: London.)

Long J. L. (2003). ‘Introduced Mammals of the World: Their History, Distribution and Influence.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Mack, R. N. , Simberloff, D. , Lonsdale, W. M. , Evans, H. , Clout, M. N. , and Bazazz, F. (2000). Biotic invasions: causes, epidemiology, global consequences and control. Ecological Applications 10, 689–710.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Myers K. (1986). Introduced vertebrates in Australia, with emphasis on the mammals. In ‘Ecology of Biological Invasions: an Australian Perspective’ (Eds R. Groves and J. Burdon.) pp 120–136. (Australian Academy of Science: Canberra.)

Pitman, R. L. , Ballance, L. T. , and Bost, C. (2005). Clipperton Island: pig sty, rat hole and booby prize. Marine Ornithology 33, 193–194.
Sax D. F., Stachowicz J. J., and Gaines S. D. (2005). ‘Species Invasions: Insights into Ecology, Evolution and Biogeography.’ (Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.)

Simberloff, D. (2006). Invasional meltdown 6 years later: important phenomenon, unfortunate metaphor, or both? Ecology Letters 9, 912–919.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Thomson G. M. (1922). ‘The Naturalisation of Plants and Animals in New Zealand.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

Towns, D. R. , and Broome, K. G. (2003). From small Maria to massive Campbell: forty years of rat eradications from New Zealand islands. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 30, 377–398.
Veitch C. R., and Clout M. N. (Eds.) (2002). ‘Turning the Tide: the Eradication of Invasive Species’. (IUCN: Gland.)

Wardle D. (2006). Hidden effects: the belowground consequences of introduced browsing mammals in New Zealand forests. In ‘Biological Invasions in New Zealand’. (Eds R. B. Allen and W. G. Lee.) Ecological Studies 186, 307–322.

Wardle, D. A. , Bellingham, P. , Fukami, T. , and Mulder, C. P. H. (2007). Promotion of ecosystem carbon sequestration by invasive predators. Biology Letters 3, 479–482.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | Williamson M. (1996). ‘Biological Invasions.’ (Chapman & Hall: London.)

Zavaleta E. (2002). It’s often better to eradicate, but can we eradicate better? In ‘Turning the Tide: the Eradication of Invasive Species’. (Eds C. R. Veitch and M. N. Clout.) pp 393–403. (IUCN: Gland.)