Interspecific competition between alien Pallas’s squirrels and Eurasian red squirrels reduces density of the native species

Mazzamuto, Maria Vittoria; Bisi, Francesco; Wauters, Luc A.; Preatoni, Damiano; Martinoli, Adriano

doi:10.1007/s10530-016-1310-3

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Squirrels are commonly traded as pets and they are likely to establish, spread and become invasive outside their natural range, even when populations originate from few founders (Bertolino, ). As a consequence, the recent list of invasive species of Union concern (European Regulation 1143/2014) includes four squirrel species (including the grey squirrel, the Pallas's squirrel and the Siberian chipmunk) that affects native species through competitive exclusion and parasite‐mediated competition (e.g., Rushton et al, ; Gurnell et al, ; Mazzamuto, Bisi, et al, ; Mori et al, ). Managing invasive squirrel may be challenging, as they are popular and charismatic, for their appealing appearance (Bertolino & Genovesi, ); therefore, predicting their potential spread may help researchers and managers to better design control programs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At least eight reproductive populations of four alien squirrel species occur in Italy: the Eastern grey squirrel (four large populations and scattered presence elsewhere: Bertolino et al, ; Mori et al, ), the Finlayson's squirrel (two populations: Bertolino & Lurz, ), the Pallas's squirrel (one population: Mazzamuto, Bisi, Bisi, Wauters, Preatoni, & Martinoli, ), and the Siberian chipmunk (one self‐sustaining population and scattered presence elsewhere: Mori, Zozzoli, & Menchetti, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Integrating climate and land‐use change scenarios in modelling the future spread of invasive squirrels in Italy

Febbraro

Menchetti

Russo

et al. 2019

Diversity and Distributions

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Aim The establishment and spread of invasive alien species may be influenced by several mutually interacting factors, whose understanding is paramount to develop effective biosecurity policies. However, studies focused on modelling spatially explicit patterns of future invasion risk have so far focused on species response to climate change impacts, while land‐use change has been neglected. We investigated how the interplay between climate and land‐use change could affect the future potential distribution and dispersal corridors of four alien squirrels introduced to Europe (Sciurus carolinensis, Callosciurus finlaysonii, Callosciurus erythraeus and Eutamias sibiricus). Location and Methods Our study was conducted in Italy. We used Species Distribution Models and circuit theory methods to test whether future scenarios based only on climate change predict a different effect on range and connectivity of alien squirrel populations, compared to scenarios that include both climate and land‐use changes. Results Scenarios based only on climate change predicted a range increase and a high geographic stability (>50%) for most species, with different, yet limited, effects on connectivity corridors. Conversely, scenarios based on both climate and land‐use change showed a loss in range extent and a low geographic stability (<50%) of both range and dispersal corridors for most species. Main conclusions Scenarios considering both climate and land‐use change provide predictions on invasion risk that overturn those including only climate change. The effect of global warming alone would lead to a considerable range expansion of all species. Conversely, when land‐use change is added, a potential loss in suitable habitat and dispersal corridors is predicted for alien squirrels, hence limiting their range expansion. We recommend using multiple drivers in models to obtain reliable predictions for implementing biosecurity policies related to invasive alien species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating climate and land‐use change scenarios in modelling the future spread of invasive squirrels in Italy

Febbraro

Menchetti

Russo

et al. 2019

Diversity and Distributions

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“…Such detrimental effects can lead to extinction of native species and consequent loss of biodiversity (Keller et al, 2011). For example, the introduction of alien species in a new environment can produce high levels of niche overlap with ecologically similar native species, and competition for key resources (Glen & Dickman, 2008;Mazzamuto, Bisi, Wauters, Preatoni, & Martinoli, 2017), that can ultimately result in exclusion competition and extinction of the native species (Mooney & Cleland, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress in biological invasions: Introduced invasive grey squirrels increase physiological stress in native Eurasian red squirrels

Santicchia

Dantzer

Kesteren

et al. 2018

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Invasive alien species can cause extinction of native species through processes including predation, interspecific competition for resources or disease-mediated competition. Increases in stress hormones in vertebrates may be associated with these processes and contribute to the decline in survival or reproduction of the native species. Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) have gone extinct across much of the British Isles and parts of Northern Italy following the introduction of North American invasive grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). We extracted glucocorticoid metabolites from faecal samples to measure whether the presence of the invasive species causes an increase in physiological stress in individuals of the native species. We show that native red squirrels in seven sites where they co-occurred with invasive grey squirrels had glucocorticoid concentrations that were three times higher than those in five sites without the invasive species. Moreover, in a longitudinal study, stress hormones in native red squirrels increased after colonisation by grey squirrels. When we experimentally reduced the abundance of the invasive grey squirrels, the concentration of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in co-occurring red squirrels decreased significantly between pre- and postremoval periods. Hence, we found that the invasive species acts as a stressor which significantly increases the concentrations of glucocorticoids in the native species. Given that sustained elevations in glucocorticoids could reduce body growth and reproductive rate, our results are consistent with previous studies where the co-occurrence of the invasive grey squirrel was associated with smaller size and lower reproductive output in red squirrels.

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“…Compared to other squirrel species (e.g. Bertolino et al ., ; Mazzamuto et al ., ), very little ecological information is available for the Siberian chipmunk in the introduced range (Marmet, Pisanu & Chapuis, , ). In our study, we have developed SDMs to quantify and identify the global patterns of distribution of the Siberian chipmunk and of its Eastern‐Asiatic subspecies, the ‘Korean chipmunk’, which is invasive in Europe.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of taxonomy in species distribution models at a global scale: the case of an overlooked alien squirrel facing taxonomic revision

et al. 2018

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The Siberian chipmunk is native to north-eastern Asia, but alien populations of this squirrel, introduced through the pet trade, occur in many European countries. This rodent has been listed as an invasive species of European concern, being a potential vector of ticks spreading Lyme disease. We aimed to assess its current distribution range and to identify areas of potential invasion. Two sets of species distribution models were conducted, one considering the locations of the species (n = 625 occurrences) and the other with only the occurrences of the Korean subspecies (the invasive one in Europe; n = 255 occurrences), which might be a separate species from the Siberian one. We included 19 uncorrelated predictors (two topographic, nine land cover, five bioclimatic and three anthropogenic variables), which may represent the habitat characteristics of the target species. Most of the northern hemisphere supports the establishment of the Siberian chipmunk, particularly for the invasive Korean subspecies (especially in Europe, where it is already established), mostly in urban areas. Anthropogenic food supply was found to be an important factor promoting the growth of alien populations of chipmunks, whereas the presence of the native red squirrel at the time of introduction may limit it.

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Interspecific competition between alien Pallas’s squirrels and Eurasian red squirrels reduces density of the native species

Cited by 22 publications

References 59 publications

Integrating climate and land‐use change scenarios in modelling the future spread of invasive squirrels in Italy

Integrating climate and land‐use change scenarios in modelling the future spread of invasive squirrels in Italy

Stress in biological invasions: Introduced invasive grey squirrels increase physiological stress in native Eurasian red squirrels

The importance of taxonomy in species distribution models at a global scale: the case of an overlooked alien squirrel facing taxonomic revision

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