Distribution patterns of invasive Monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in an urban habitat

Abstract

Several invasive species have been shown to have a marked preference for urban habitats. The study of the variables responsible for the distribution of these species within urban habitats should allow to predict which environmental variables are indicative of preferred habitat, and to design landscape characteristics that make these areas less conducive to these species. The Monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus is an invasive species in many American and European countries, and cities are one of its most usual habitats in invaded areas. The aim of this paper was to identify the main factors that determine distribution of the Monk parakeet in Barcelona, one of the cities in the world with the highest parakeet density. We defined our model based on eight preselected variables using a generalized linear model (GLZ) and evaluated the strength of support for each model using the AIC–based multi–model inference approach. We used parakeet density as a dependent variable, and an analysis restricted to occupied neighbourhoods provided a model with two key variables to explain the distribution of the species. Monk parakeets were more abundant in neighbourhoods with a high density of trees and a high percentage of people over 65 years. This is interpreted by the fact that parakeets use trees as food sources and support for the nests, and that older people often feed the species. Data support the ‘human–activity’ hypothesis to explain how invasive species can successfully establish in a non–native habitat, and stress how limiting food resources, especially food supplied by humans, may be the easiest way to exert some control on Monk parakeet populations.

Population estimates of non-native rose-ringed parakeets Psittacula krameri (Scopoli, 1769) in the Durban Metropole, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

“…The population of rose-ringed parakeets in South Africa may continue to grow and spread to other urban areas if not controlled. Furthermore, the role played by the pet trade in introducing parrot species in the cities is of great concern as most of them accidentally escape or intentionally released into the environment and cause impacts (Symes 2014;Rodríguez-Pastor et al 2012;Falcón and Tremblay 2018;Shivambu et al 2020).…”

“…Consequently, some of these species establish feral populations and become invasive often with environmental and socioeconomic impacts (Magnino et al 2009;Hernández-Brito et al 2018;Shiels et al 2018;Shivambu et al 2020). For example, parrot species such as monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus, Alexandrine parakeet Psittacula alexandri, and rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri have established in several cities around the world and are reported to cause agricultural, infrastructural, and ecological damage (Strubbe and Matthysen 2007;Neo 2012;Rodríguez-Pastor et al 2012;Surender et al 2016;Shiels et al 2018).…”

Impact assessment of seven alien invasive bird species already introduced to South Africa

“…The minimal impacts scored can change to be large for some species once introduced to areas which meet their colonisation traits, as explained in Blackburn et al (2009). This is evident for species such as common mynas in South Africa (Peacock et al 2007) and monk parakeets in Spain (Rodríguez-Pastor et al 2012) which have large densities in their invasive ranges compared with their native ranges, and their impacts are relatively large.…”

Invasive birds: global trends and impacts

“…In the past decade, Monk Parakeets have been seen with increasing frequency in many parts of the country coincident with large numbers of imports • Spain: Thousands of Monk Parakeets were imported in the 1980s and 1990s. Currently, the species is common in many locations, including the Canary Islands (Sol et al, 1997;Rodríguez-Pastor et al, 2012;. • UK: Small numbers of free-living Monk Parakeets have been reported since 1987 (Tayleur, 2010).…”