Impact and Control of the Brown Tree Snake as an Invasive Species
Impact and Control of the Brown Tree Snake as an Invasive Species on Guam
by
Karen Myers
Introduction
“Invasive species are a rapidly growing problem, and in many areas, they are the second-most-important cause of species declines” (Perry & Vice, 2009, p. 993). Often times, the invasive problem is by accident due to transportation of the species, but at times is intentional. This paper will review the history of the Brown Tree Snake as an invasive species, a species description of the Brown Tree Snake, and the impact this species has had on Guam. Potential ways to resolve and control the ecological and economic impacts of the Brown Tree Snake on Guam and efforts to prevent new invasions by this species on other Pacific islands including Hawaii will also be reviewed.
Background and History
The Brown Tree Snake is well-known for the intense ecological impacts it has had on vertebrate life with its postwar arrival on the island of Guam (Rodda, G. H., & Savidge, J. A., 2007). Around the end of World War II, Brown Tree Snakes were mistakably transported from Australia to Guam by Military ships. By the mid-1980s, the snakes had spread across the island of Guam and were continuing to reproduce in excessive numbers. Since the snake’s invasion of Guam, they have caused a major weakening of the island’s native forest bird species, loss of two lizard species, and a decline in numbers of the Mariana fruit bat. For example, the Brown Tree Snake has eliminated 10 of 13 native bird species on Guam and this loss of native birds has permanently altered the island’s environmental and ecological characteristics” (Shwiff, Gebhardt, Kirkpatrick, & Shwiff, 2010, p. 2). Findings have shown that the Brown Tree Snake may even effect prey populations similar to that of lizards. (Campbell III, E. W., Adams, A., Converse, S. J., Fritts, T. H., & Rodda, G. H., 2012).
Since this unintended invasion, the Brown Tree Snake has also become a public health threat and has
by
Karen Myers
Introduction
“Invasive species are a rapidly growing problem, and in many areas, they are the second-most-important cause of species declines” (Perry & Vice, 2009, p. 993). Often times, the invasive problem is by accident due to transportation of the species, but at times is intentional. This paper will review the history of the Brown Tree Snake as an invasive species, a species description of the Brown Tree Snake, and the impact this species has had on Guam. Potential ways to resolve and control the ecological and economic impacts of the Brown Tree Snake on Guam and efforts to prevent new invasions by this species on other Pacific islands including Hawaii will also be reviewed.
Background and History
The Brown Tree Snake is well-known for the intense ecological impacts it has had on vertebrate life with its postwar arrival on the island of Guam (Rodda, G. H., & Savidge, J. A., 2007). Around the end of World War II, Brown Tree Snakes were mistakably transported from Australia to Guam by Military ships. By the mid-1980s, the snakes had spread across the island of Guam and were continuing to reproduce in excessive numbers. Since the snake’s invasion of Guam, they have caused a major weakening of the island’s native forest bird species, loss of two lizard species, and a decline in numbers of the Mariana fruit bat. For example, the Brown Tree Snake has eliminated 10 of 13 native bird species on Guam and this loss of native birds has permanently altered the island’s environmental and ecological characteristics” (Shwiff, Gebhardt, Kirkpatrick, & Shwiff, 2010, p. 2). Findings have shown that the Brown Tree Snake may even effect prey populations similar to that of lizards. (Campbell III, E. W., Adams, A., Converse, S. J., Fritts, T. H., & Rodda, G. H., 2012).
Since this unintended invasion, the Brown Tree Snake has also become a public health threat and has
References: Burnett, K., Sittidaj. P. & Roumasset, J. (2011). Species invasion as catastrophe: The case of the brown tree snake Campbell III, E. W., Adams, A., Converse, S. J., Fritts, T. H., & Rodda, G. H. (2012). Do predators control prey species abundance? An experimental test with brown tree snakes on Guam. Ecology, 93(5), 1194-1203. Hall, B Perry, G., & Vice, D. (2009). Forecasting the risk of brown tree snake dispersal from Guam: A mixed transport-establishment model Savidge, J. A., Qualls, F. J., & Rodda, G. H. (2007). Reproductive biology of the brown tree snake, boiga irregularis (reptilia: colubridae), during colonization of Guam and Shwiff, S. A., Gebhardt, K., Kirkpatrick, K. N., & Shwiff, S. S. (2010). Potential economic damage from introduction of brown tree snakes, boiga irregularis (reptilia: A., & Bischof, R. (2009). Evaluation of trap capture in a geographically closed population of brown tree snakes on Guam