The influence of traditional Buddhist wildlife release on biological invasions

Abstract

An understanding of anthropogenic factors influencing wildlife invasions is crucial to development of comprehensive prevention and management strategies. However, little attention has been paid to the role religious practice plays in biological invasions. The tradition of wildlife release is prevalent in many areas around the world where Asian religions are influential and is hypothesized to promote species invasions, although quantitative evidence is lacking. We used an information-theoretic approach to evaluate the influence of Buddhist wildlife release events on establishment of feral populations of American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) in Yunnan province, southwestern China, from 2008 to 2009. We identified frequency of release events and lentic water conditions as factors that promote establishment of bullfrog populations, whereas hunting activity likely helps to prevent establishment. Our study provides the first quantitative evidence that religious release is an important pathway for wildlife invasions and has implications for prevention and management on a global scale.

Ecological knowledge reduces religious release of invasive species

“…According to the propagule pressure hypothesis of species invasions, high frequency of introduction events or high number of individuals or species introduced per event not only significantly increase the likelihood that introduced species will become established but can also increase impacts on native species (Cassey et al 2004, Lockwood et al 2009, Ricciardi et al 2011. In keeping with this hypothesis, we recently found that high frequency of Buddhist religious release events increased the likelihood of establishment of feral populations of introduced bullfrogs (Liu et al 2012), confirming that propagule pressure from religious releases can lead to biological invasions. Prevention of introductions is widely accepted as one of the best, most cost-effective invasive species management strategies and evaluation of potential invasion pathways is an integral part of this approach (Wilson et al 2009).…”

“…The release of wildlife for religious purposes has historically been a traditional practice in many religions of Asian origin (e.g., Buddhism, Taoism) and is especially prevalent in Buddhist doctrine (Agoramoorthy and Hsu 2005). Religious releases are most widespread in Asian countries with considerable Buddhist influence, but also occur in Canada, Australia, and the United States Hsu 2005, Shiu andStokes 2008), where they are likely much more common than is known and have caused environmental problems (Agoramoorthy and Hsu 2005, Chan 2006, Liu et al 2012.…”

“…The potential for religion to play a positive role in promoting conservation biology is increasingly a topic of global interest (Bhagwat and Palmer 2009, Dudley et al 2009, Hall et al 2009, Bhagwat et al 2011, Jenkins and Chapple 2011; however, the potentially negative influence of religious wildlife releases on biological invasions poses a conservation concern (Severinghaus and Chi 1999, Agoramoorthy and Hsu 2005, Liu et al 2012. The release of wildlife for religious purposes has historically been a traditional practice in many religions of Asian origin (e.g., Buddhism, Taoism) and is especially prevalent in Buddhist doctrine (Agoramoorthy and Hsu 2005).…”

Filling a gap in the distribution of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis: evidence in amphibians from northern China

“…The Critically Endangered Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus is raised for food in many provinces of China, such as Shaanxi, Zhejiang, and Beijing (Liang et al 2004). The North American bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus is widely raised for food in farms, from which it has escaped and has established feral populations in many regions across China (Li et al 2006, Liu & Li 2009, Liu et al 2012, 2013a. Other species, such as the Mexican axolotl Ambystoma mexicanum, the African clawed frog Xenopus laevis, and the Asiatic grass frog R. chensinensis are commonly traded in pet shops for ornamental purposes and are captive-bred in China.…”

“…Many amphibians are commonly traded as food or for ornamental purposes, particularly around the most populous cities of China (Liu & Li 2009, Liu et al 2012. The Critically Endangered Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus is raised for food in many provinces of China, such as Shaanxi, Zhejiang, and Beijing (Liang et al 2004).…”