Indirect impacts of invaders: A case study of the Pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis)

Jessica Nicole Welch, James A. Fordyce, Daniel S. Simberloff

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although many indirect consequences of biological invasions are plausible, few studies test hypotheses for management of threatened taxa. A case study of the endangered Pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis) illustrates the importance of investigating indirect effects of invasion on species of conservation concern. We hypothesized that two invaders, feral goats and Lantana camara, would indirectly affect the bat by decreasing availability of suitable resources. Specifically, that microclimate and bat prey abundances in lantana shrub differ from native forest habitat, and that preferential browsing by goats structures forests to be less suitable for bats. Our results suggest that bats avoid lantana shrub. However, we found no evidence that preferential goat browsing influenced bat activity. Our research implies that the impact of lantana on the persistence of the bat has been underestimated and that it is unclear how goats alter bat habitat aside from reducing understory vegetation. Future managers should prioritize efforts that restore native forest and reforest areas currently dominated by lantana. We urge conservation scientists to evaluate indirect effects of invasive species and publish findings that elucidate the consequences for native populations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)146-151
Number of pages6
JournalBiological Conservation
Volume201
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2016
Externally publishedYes

Funding

We thank the following for their expertise and logistical assistance on this project: Gary McCracken, Tammy Mildenstein, Haldre Rodgers, Ton Castro, Anthony Deleon Gurrero, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Fish and Wildlife, Mayor's Office of Tinian. We thank Zach Marion, St. Thomas LeDoux, and anonymous reviewers for assistance with the manuscript. Funding: This work was supported by Sigma Xi [grant number G20120315161439 ]; Bat Conservation International [grant number A15-0240-001 ].

FundersFunder number
Bat Conservation InternationalA15-0240-001
Sigma XiaG20120315161439

    Keywords

    • Emballonura semicaudata
    • Feral goat
    • Indirect effects
    • Invasion impacts
    • Island invasion
    • Lantana camara

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Indirect impacts of invaders: A case study of the Pacific sheath-tailed bat (Emballonura semicaudata rotensis)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this