Titelangaben
Cooke, Sophia C. ; Anchundia, David ; Caton, Emma ; Haskell, Lucy E. ; Jäger, Heinke ; Kalki, Yatindra ; Mollá, Óscar ; Rodríguez, Jacqueline ; Schramer, Tristan D. ; Walentowitz, Anna J. ; Fessl, Birgit:
Endemic species predation by the introduced smooth-billed ani in Galápagos.
In: Biological Invasions.
Bd. 22
(2020)
Heft 7
.
- S. 2113-2120.
ISSN 1573-1464
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02251-3
Abstract
The introduced smooth-billed ani Crotophaga ani has become widespread across the Galápagos archipelago in the past half-century. It is known to predate upon a range of native and endemic species, and is a potential vector for the spread of invasive plants and parasites. Here we report previously undocumented examples of smooth-billed ani predation in Galápagos, including that of an endemic racer snake and a scorpion. We highlight the possibility of smooth-billed anis having a serious impact on the endemic Galápagos carpenter bee, a major pollinator, as well as native and endemic Lepidopterans and other invertebrates. In addition, we report smooth-billed ani predation of other introduced species and note the importance of further research on the wide-scale impacts of smooth-billed anis in Galápagos and their role within the archipelago’s ecological networks.