Biosecurity interceptions of an invasive lizard: origin of stowaways and human‐assisted spread within New Zealand

Evolutionary Applications

David G. Chapple³  Anthony H. Whitaker²  Stephanie N. J. Chapple³  Kimberly A. Miller¹ 

[1] School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic., Australia;Orinoco, Motueka, New Zealand;Division of Sciences, Museum Victoria, Melbourne, Vic., Australia

关键词: Australia;    biological invasion;    biosecurity;    human‐assisted dispersal;    mitochondrial DNA;    New Zealand;    trade routes;    unintentional introduction;   

DOI  :  10.1111/eva.12002

来源: Wiley

【 摘 要 】

Abstract

Globalization, and the resultant movement of animals beyond their native range, creates challenges for biosecurity agencies. Limited records of unintentional introductions inhibit our understanding of the trade pathways, transport vectors and mechanisms through which hitchhiker organisms are spread as stowaways. Here, we adopt a phylogeographic approach to determine the source and human-mediated dispersal pathways of New Zealand's only invasive lizard, the delicate skink (Lampropholis delicata), intercepted by biosecurity agencies in New Zealand. Biosecurity agencies correctly predicted the source region of 77% of stowaways, which were usually solitary adults, arriving via air or sea pathways during the cooler months, evading initial border checks and alive when detected. New arrivals from Australia comprised 16% of detections originating from the region between Brisbane and Sydney. Our analyses indicate human-mediated dispersal has driven the post-border spread of L. delicata within New Zealand. Propagule pressure was substantially greater for L. delicata compared with the noninvasive, congeneric Lampropholis guichenoti. Our results highlight the transport pathways, spread mechanisms, and stowaway characteristics of Lampropholis lizards entering New Zealand, which could enhance current biosecurity protocols and prevent the establishment of additional lizard species.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC   
© 2012 The Authors. Evolutionary Applications published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.