Towards the European eradication of the North American ruddy duck

Abstract

The North American ruddy duck is an invasive alien species in Europe, which threatens the native white-headed duck through hybridisation. A substantial population established in the UK following escapes and releases beginning in the 1950s. The species then spread widely within Europe, with records across much of the continent, and viable populations established in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Spain. An international plan to eradicate the species from Europe has been adopted, but the approaches and intensity of control have varied widely between countries. We report on progress towards eradication across the continent. Numbers in 2013 were less than 7 % of the 2000 population, although coordinated action is still required to achieve eradication. The European Union is considering a new legislative instrument on Invasive Alien Species, which is likely to place responsibilities on member states to control named species. Coordinated control across those member states with remaining ruddy duck populations is likely to be an early test of any new responsibilities, with the potential to achieve the first continental scale eradication of an invasive alien species.

Risk management to prioritise the eradication of new and emerging invasive non-native species

“…However, some parallels can be drawn as well as exceptions highlighted. Our results indicate that terrestrial and lentic freshwater species are more likely to be priorities for eradication than marine or lotic freshwater species, and this already has been the case in GB where eradications, either complete or underway, have been instigated for terrestrial vertebrates (Himalayan porcupine, Hystrix brachyuran; coypu, Myocastor coypus; muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus (Baker 2010); monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus; ruddy duck, Oxyura jamaicensis (Defra 2015; Robertson et al 2015) and lentic freshwater species (topmough gudegon, Pseudorasbora parva (Britton and Brazier 2006;Britton et al 2010); fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas; black bullhead, Ameiurus melas; African clawed-frog, Xenopus leavis; American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus; and, water primrose, Luwigia grandiflora (Defra 2015). An important difference between our data and experience from GB to date is that the NNRM scheme indicates terrestrial plants could be a high priority for eradication where limited to small populations; however, there are few recorded eradications of these species in GB, or indeed in Europe (Genovesi 2005).…”

The large-scale removal of mammalian invasive alien species in Northern Europe

“…The relationship between the area and the manpower required to achieve eradication for 11 large‐scale invasive alien mammal eradications in Great Britain and Ireland (closed symbols). Also included for comparison are the failed mink eradication from the 1960s, a failed squirrel campaign from Thetford and the removal of a bird – the ruddy duck …”

“…These related to seven species, including edible dormouse ( Glis glis , L.), muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus , L.), coypu ( Myocaster coypus , Molina), Himalayan porcupine (Hystrix brachyura , L.), American mink ( Neovison vison , Schreber), grey squirrel ( Sciurus carolinensis , Gmelin) and Pallas' squirrel ( Callosciurus erythraeus , Pallas). In addition, the programme to remove the resident breeding ruddy duck ( Oxyura jamaicensis , Gmelin) population from the United Kingdom was included for comparative purposes.…”

Abundance, biomass and energy use of native and alien breeding birds in Britain

“…black swan Cygnus atratus, muscovy duck Cairina moschata, monk parakeet Myiopsitta monachus; Holling and The Rare Breeding Bird Panel 2017) and attempts to eradicate alien species (e.g. ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis, monk parakeet) being unusual (Robertson et al 2015; http:// www.nonnativespecies.org/index.cfm?pageid=294). Direct comparison between countries is difficult due to differences in the criteria by which species are considered to be alien and self-sustaining, but Britain is relatively rich in alien bird species and relatively poor in native species (c.f.…”

“…The ruddy duck, feral pigeon, ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri) and little owl (Athene noctua) were all classified alongside ring-necked pheasant as having Moderate (MO), and therefore population-level, impacts on native species by Evans et al (2016) in their recent global assessment. However, these classifications were all on the basis of effects documented outside the UK: the impact of ruddy ducks through hybridization with the threatened white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) in Spain (Robertson et al 2015), of little owls through predation on insect populations in New Zealand (Watt 1979), of feral pigeons by disease transmission to Galápagos doves (Zenaida galapaagoensis) (Wikelski et al 2004), and of ring-necked parakeets through nest site competition with nuthatches (Sitta europaea) in Belgium (Strubbe et al 2010). The last of these species certainly has the potential for impacts on cavity-nesting birds in Britain, and while there is not yet good evidence for such an effect (Newson et al 2011), the rapid population growth of this species (see Table 1) surely makes one more likely.…”