Indicator: BD-10 Examples of native species whose populations have declined where various invasive species have established resident populations
Data
Bird Atlas surveys reviewed by Garnett et al. (2002) show that increases in habitat modification and the relative abundance of introduced bird species correlated with decreases in native bird abundance and distribution. The highest abundance of introduced bird species, principally exotic species, occur in the extensively modified parts of south-east Australia and eastern Tasmania where they now make up 15% of all species (National Land and Water Resources Audit (2002).
Source: Garnett ST, Crowley GM and Barrett GB (2002), Birds, in "Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity Assessment", National Land and Water Resources Audit, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
What the data mean
The examples found show that habitat modification impacts on both native and naturalised species populations.
Data Limitations
In the absence of any indicator which isolates the pressure of species behaving invasively from other pressures which may just favour the introduced species at the expense of the native species, the indicator aims to identify correlations between the proliferation of species that are considered to be invasive in certain environments and the decline of native species. It sheds little light on the impact of naturalised species on native species.
The two examples found relate only to birds.
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Biodiversity — Pressures on biodiversity - Invasive species
A spatial correlation between declines in native species and establishment of introduced populations does not automatically imply a cause and effect relationship, especially where there are other pressures, such as habitat modification, which could be the common cause of both changes. However, compiling data on such correlations may enable the development of studies which control for other pressures and thus provide insight into the actual impact of naturalised species.
Other indicators for this issue:
- IW-37 Examples of carp pressures and measures for removal and/or commercial catch
- IW-38 Cane toad distribution
- IW-39 Examples of significant wetland weeds
- BD-09 The change in extent of selected nationally significant invasive species
- LD-19 Land use and land use change
- LD-20 Total grazing pressure relative to net primary productivity
- LD-35 Temporal and spatial correlation between changing fire regimes and species change
- LD-40 Current research into pressures and contributions of naturalised introduced species
- BD-13 Examples of the impact of grazing on biodiversity
Land — Direct pressure of human activities on the land - Species introduction and species change
Changes in population and/or distribution of either native or introduced species may be indicative of more general changes in land condition, whether the cause of the change is habitat modification, species introduction, or any other pressure. Compiling data on such correlations may also enable the development of studies which control for other pressures and thus provide insight into the actual impact of naturalised species on land condition.
Other indicators for this issue:
- LD-01 The proportion and area of native vegetation and changes over time
- LD-19 Land use and land use change
- LD-40 Current research into pressures and contributions of naturalised introduced species
- LD-20 Total grazing pressure relative to net primary productivity
- LD-35 Temporal and spatial correlation between changing fire regimes and species change
- BD-12 Examples of the impacts of fires on biodiversity
- BD-13 Examples of the impact of grazing on biodiversity
- IW-37 Examples of carp pressures and measures for removal and/or commercial catch
- IW-38 Cane toad distribution
- IW-39 Examples of significant wetland weeds
- BD-09 The change in extent of selected nationally significant invasive species
Inland Waters — Response of biota - Invasive species
Changes in population and/or distribution of either native or introduced species may be indicative of more general changes in the condition of freshwater systems, whether the cause of the change is habitat modification, species introduction, or any other pressure. Compiling data on such correlations may also enable the development of studies which control for other pressures and thus provide insight into the actual impact of naturalised species on condition of inland waters.
Other indicators for this issue:
- IW-37 Examples of carp pressures and measures for removal and/or commercial catch
- IW-38 Cane toad distribution
- IW-39 Examples of significant wetland weeds
- LD-40 Current research into pressures and contributions of naturalised introduced species
- BD-09 The change in extent of selected nationally significant invasive species
Coasts and Oceans — Direct pressure of human activities on coasts and oceans - Direct pressure of coastal activities (other than shipping and fishing)
Changes in population and/or distribution of either native or introduced marine species may be indicative of more general changes in the condition of coastal and marine systems, whether the cause of the change is habitat modification, species introduction, or any other pressure. Compiling data on such correlations may also enable the development of studies which control for other pressures and thus provide insight into the actual impact of species introduced by coastal activities on the condition of coasts and oceans.
Other indicators for this issue:
- CO-27 Number, frequency, extent and volume of oil spills from all sources
- CO-28 Quantity of discharges of different substances from humans activities to coastal and marine waters
- CO-29 Change in area of coastal potential acid sulphate soils under development for human use
- CO-30 Length and area of coastal and estuarine foreshore altered for human purposes
- CO-32 Number of injuries to marine animals from marine debris
- CO-44 Marine chlorophyll concentration
- CO-46 Comparative water quality of coastal lakes and lagoons (water quality gradient from north to south)
- CO-53 Evidence or examples of noise or visual disturbance of marine species by human activities
- CO-60 Sea salinity
- CO-65 Correlation between various human activities and introduction of coastal and marine species
- IW-12 Catchment nitrogen and phosphorus load
- HS-05 Total population and distribution
- IW-19 Exceedance of total nitrogen and phosphorus water quality triggers
- LD-40 Current research into pressures and contributions of naturalised introduced species
- BD-09 The change in extent of selected nationally significant invasive species
Further Information
- A preliminary risk assessment of cane toads in Kakadu National Park (van Dam et al. 2002)
- Facts and figures - Environmental and agricultural weeds
- Interactions between feral cats, foxes, native carnivores, and rabbits in Australia
- Australian Weeds - their ecology and management
Key
Links to another web site
Links to data in the DRS
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