Identifying hotspots of invasive alien terrestrial vertebrates in Europe to assist transboundary prevention and control

Abstract

This study aims to identify environmentally suitable areas for 15 of the most harmful invasive alien terrestrial vertebrates (iAtV) in europe in a transparent and replicable way. We used species distribution models and publicly-available data from GBif to predict environmental suitability and to identify hotspots of iAtV accounting for knowledge gaps in their distributions. to deal with the ecological particularities of invasive species, we followed a hierarchical approach to estimate the global climatic suitability for each species and incorporated this information into refined environmental suitability models within europe. combined predictions on environmental suitability identified potential areas of IATV concentrations or hotspots. Uncertainty of predictions identified regions requiring further survey efforts for species detection. Around 14% of Europe comprised potential hotspots of IATV richness, mainly located in northern France, UK, Belgium and the Netherlands. IATV coldspots covered ~ 9% of Europe, including southern Sweden and Finland, and northern Germany. Most of Europe (~ 77% area) comprised uncertain suitability predictions, likely caused by a lack of data. priorities on prevention and control should focus on potential hotspots where harmful impacts might concentrate. Promoting the collection of presence data within data-deficient areas is encouraged as a core strategy against iAtVs. Invasive alien species (IAS) are the second greatest cause of global biodiversity loss and endangerment, after habitat destruction, and pose an increasing threat to human economies and native ecosystems 1,2. The varied insidious impacts caused by IAS have prolifically been reported for island ecosystems due to the particular fragility of these environments 3. However, alien species have invaded all kind of ecosystems and their impacts at large continental scales are of great concern for the conservation of natural and human systems 4. In the United States alone, IAS are considered a threat for 42% of endangered species, and involve annual costs of U.S. $137 billion 5. In Europe, IAS are responsible for estimated damage costs (i.e. excluding management costs) of €10-20 billion per year 6. Approximately 14,000 alien species were reported in 2015 in Europe, of which ~ 10-15% are considered invasive 7. However, the potential economic and ecological impact of about 90% of these species remains unknown 8. Therefore, improving knowledge about invasion patterns, risks, and impacts is still required. Control of IAS is included as a priority to halt biodiversity loss in global initiatives, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity 9. Europe has specific legislation on IAS prevention and management; however, transboundary cooperation is necessary to guarantee their compliance and effectiveness, including that from bordering non-EU countries 10,11. To reduce the expansion and associated deleterious impacts of IAS, it is of critical importance to identify and characterize priority areas of management that include hotspots of a...

Introduction, spread, and impacts of invasive alien mammal species in Europe

“…Of the 66 species currently included on the Union List, 11 (~17%) are mammals, highlighting the perceived impact of this taxon across Europe. Indeed, mammals represent 60% of the worst invasive terrestrial vertebrates in Europe (DAISIE 2009 , Polaina et al 2020 ) and, overall, more than 50 species of alien mammals are currently established in this continent (Biancolini et al 2021 ). Alarmingly, due to climate change, suitable climatic space is projected to increase for most invasive mammals in Europe (Polaina et al 2020 ).…”

“…Indeed, mammals represent 60% of the worst invasive terrestrial vertebrates in Europe (DAISIE 2009 , Polaina et al 2020 ) and, overall, more than 50 species of alien mammals are currently established in this continent (Biancolini et al 2021 ). Alarmingly, due to climate change, suitable climatic space is projected to increase for most invasive mammals in Europe (Polaina et al 2020 ). For instance, this is the case for the coypu Myocastor coypus (Schertler et al 2020 ), the raccoon Procyon lotor (Louppe et al 2019 ), and the small Indian mongoose Herpestes auropunctatus (Louppe et al 2020 ).…”

Invasive alien mammals of European Union concern

“…However, all these environmental impacts have been recorded, at present, only in the squirrel's alien range. The ecology of the other species of invasive mammals in their alien ranges needs to be addressed as soon as possible (Gethöffer & Siebert 2020, Polaina et al 2020 to understand, contain, and reduce potential environmental impacts.…”

“…Furthermore, seven species with high invasive potential are in the initial phase of the invasion (i.e., restricted to the initial location of introductions and without established populations in Europe): the four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), the American bison (Bison bison), the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), the Northern palm squirrel (Funambulus pennantii), the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps), and the Caucasian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus). Alarmingly, due to climate change, suitable climatic space is projected to increase for most invasive mammals in Europe (Polaina et al 2020). For instance, this is the case for the coypu (Myocastor coypus; Schertler et al 2020), the raccoon (Procyon lotor; Louppe et al 2019), and the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus; Louppe et al 2020).…”

“…CC-BY 4.0 International license made available under a (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted April 22, 2021. ; https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.04.21.440832 doi: bioRxiv preprint 5 terrestrial vertebrates in Europe (DAISIE 2009, Polaina et al 2020) and, overall, more than 50 species of mammals are currently established in this continent (Biancolini et al 2021). Furthermore, seven species with high invasive potential are in the initial phase of the invasion (i.e., restricted to the initial location of introductions and without established populations in Europe): the four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris), the American bison (Bison bison), the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), the Northern palm squirrel (Funambulus pennantii), the striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps), and the Caucasian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus).…”