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First report of marine alien species in mainland Ecuador: threats of invasion in rocky shores

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Bigatti, G.

Cornejo, M.

Coronel, J.

Cárdenas, A.

Cárdenas-Calle, M.

Keith, I.

Martinez, P.

Mora, E.

Pérez-Correa, J.

Rivera, F.

Torres, G.

Triviño, M.

Troccoli, L.

Villamar, F.

Zambrano, R.

Invasive species are of signi?cant concern, especially in mega-diverse countries, because they cause negative e?ects such as loss of native biodiversity, ecological alterations, disease spread, and impacts on economic development and human health. In mainland Ecuador, information on invasive invertebrates in marine ecosystems is scarce. The objective of this study was to describe and locate the invasive species present in the rocky shores of the intertidal and subtidal zones along 10 areas (83 sites) covering most of the Ecuadorian coast during 20152016. Benthic macroinvertebrates communities were measured over quadrats located randomly on a 50 m transect positioned parallel to the coast in the intertidal and subtidal zone, covering an area of 1,860 km2. Six invasive species were recorded: Arthropoda (Amphibalanus amphitrite), Cnidaria (Pennaria disticha, Carijoa riisei), Bryozoa (Bugula neritina), Rhodophyta (Asparagopsis taxiformis) and Chlorophyta (Caulerpa racemosa). The areas with highest abundance of invasive species were in Jama (not a protected area), Marine and Costal Wildlife Reserve Puntilla of Santa Elena and Santa Clara Island Wildlife Refuge (protected areas). The most abundant species was Carijoa riisei with a relative abundance of up to 80%. It was the most aggressive of the invasive species registered in the subtidal zone, mainly in northern centre of the Ecuadorian coast. C. riisei is growing on native coral (Pocillopora spp.) and on sessile macroinvertebrate communities (Pinctada mazatlanica, Muricea appresa and Aplysina sp.) that are being a?ected by its invasion. This study must be taken into account by local and regional government authorities to create public policy programmes of monitoring for surveillance and control of invasive species. These programmes should focus on integration of socio-economic and ecological e?ects. They should be complemented by experimental design and analysis of environmental variables to provide technical information for a baseline of bio-invasion analysis along the Ecuadorian coast and Galápagos, to avoid the expansion of invasive species negatively a?ecting the marine biodiversity of mega-diverse countries such as Ecuador and other countries of South America.

Assessment of snail exposure to the anticoagulant rodenticide brodifacoum in the Galapagos Islands

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

Alifano, A.

Campbell, K.J.

Fisher, P.

Jolley, W.

Parent, C.E.

Eradication of invasive rodents has become a powerful tool to protect native island biota. Use of brodifacoum, an anticoagulant rodenticide, has contributed to hundreds of successful invasive rodent eradication e?orts on islands. Application of bait containing brodifacoum for this purpose requires appropriate consideration of adverse e?ects on non-target wildlife. Thus, a priori identi?cation of non-target risks and, where needed, approaches to mitigate these to acceptable levels, is now an essential component of eradication planning and implementation. As part of the plan for eradicating invasive rats and mice from Floreana Island in the Galapagos, we experimentally tested the e?ect of brodifacoum on the Galapagos endemic land snail species Naesiotus unifasciatus. Importantly, the trials were designed to evaluate e?ects of particular components of the bait pellets, namely the active brodifacoum, the pyranine biomarker, and a blue dye. We found no evidence for increased snail mortality following exposure to any of these bait components. We review results of past toxicity studies on terrestrial molluscs and ?nd that, as for our own study, there is likely to be little impact of anticoagulant rodenticide on terrestrial mollusc survival as the result of application of brodifacoum bait. However, given the limited taxonomic representation in the toxicity tests performed on terrestrial molluscs so far, we recommend the continued used of captive toxicity trials to assess potential e?ect of any rodenticide applications on native malacological fauna on a case-by-case basis where large-scale eradication programmes are planned and undertaken.

Management of an invasive avian parasitic fly in the Galapagos Islands: is biological control a viable option?

Island and Ocean Ecosystems, BRB

Available Online

The bird-parasitic ?y, Philornis downsi, was ?rst recorded in the Galápagos Islands in 1964 where it likely invaded from mainland Ecuador. This muscid ?y is now the leading cause of recent declines in endemic landbird populations as its larvae feed on the nestlings of at least 19 bird species in the Galápagos, including many species of Darwins ?nches. As yet, no long-term control method has been implemented for P. downsi, but importation (also known as classical) biological control may be a viable option. Due to historically high-pro?le examples of biological control agents attacking non-target species, some consider biological control to be too risky to be compatible with conservation aims. However, since biosafety practices were implemented beginning in the 1990s, these risks have been drastically reduced, and biological control is now an important tool for suppressing invasive species that are di?cult to control using other means. We investigated the safety of a potential biological control agent, the parasitoid wasp, Conura annulifera, that attacks P. downsi in its native range. Here we summarise the results of a series of ?eld, laboratory and comparative studies on C. annulifera (methods and results are not reported here) and outline future directions. We used a ?eld experimental paradigm involving nest boxes baited with non-target hosts, and quarantine laboratory no-choice trials in which non-target hosts were exposed to C. annulifera. Our work to-date suggests that C. annulifera is restricted to attacking species within the genus Philornis. Furthermore, a phylogenetically controlled comparative study suggests that C. annulifera is evolutionarily constrained in its host range. These results lead us to conclude that C. annulifera demonstrates promise as an ecologically safe agent for the long-term biological control of P. downsi. Studies will now focus on an evaluation of risks to endemic and native species in the Galápagos.

Used Oil Management Plan for Fiji (2013 - 2014)

Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

This Used Oil Management Plan ims at introducing and implementing a Used Oil Stewardship System n Fiji.

Used Oil Management Plan for Vanuatu.

Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

This Used Oil Management Plan aims at introducing and implementing a Used Oil Stewardship System in Vanuatu.

Vanuatu National Action Plan to reduce releases of Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants 2018-2022.

Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic chemicals that can travel long distances through air and water and accumulate in the fatty tissues of humans and other animals. These POPs do not degrade quickly over time, and consequently, potentially expose people to serious health issues including cancer, birth defects and immune system impairments. As a result of anthropogenic releases of POPs to the environment since the 1940s, POPs are now widely distributed over large regions, including the Pacific Islands. To address the global environmental threat of POPs, the Stockholm Convention on POPs was adopted in May 2001 and entered into force on 17th May 2004. The Stockholm Convention commits Parties to reducing, and where feasible, eliminating the production and environmental releases of POPs. Vanuatu became a Party to the Convention on 15th December 2005. For more information on the Stockholm Convention, please visit http://chm.pops.int/.

Contemporary used oil audits in Tuvalu

SPREP Publications, Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

Elbezewiscz S & Talouli A

The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) retained Golder Associates New Caledonia Sarl (Golder) to perform contemporary used oil audits in Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu to establish volumes of lubricating, hydraulic and transmissions oils imported into each country and the volume of used oil produced, and stored or otherwise disposed of. The major sources of used oil are power generation and motor vehicles. Used oil contains high levels of heavy metals and some amounts of more toxic chemicals. Oil spilled on the ground contaminates the soil and leaches into the water system, polluting water courses, groundwater, lagoons and the ocean. This report presents the findings of a contemporary used oil audit in Tuvalu. In-country visits, interviews and data collection that support this report were conducted by Golder in July 2014

Consultancy for In-Country Waste Oil Audit for Vanuatu.

SPREP Publications, Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

Contract Environmental Ltd

This report covers the Vanuatu component of a project involving waste oil audits in Fiji and Vanuatu to establish volumes of hydraulic and lubricating oils imported annually into these countries and to confirm the volumes of waste oil produced, stored or otherwise disposed. The work was carried out by Contract Environmental Ltd under a contract to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), with funding provided by the French Development Agency. Most of the information required for the audit was obtained in a country visit to Vanuatu which took place from 22 to 26 October 2012 and was organised through the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation (DEPC). There are two major suppliers of lubricating and hydraulic oil in the country and a number of other minor suppliers. Based on Customs import data, the total imports of lubricating and hydraulic oil are around 750,000 L per year.

Consultancy for Contemporary used oil audits in selected Pacifc Island CountriesReport for the State of Yap, Federated States of Micronesia.

SPREP Publications, Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

Contract Environmental Ltd

This report covers the State of Yap component of a project involving used oil audits in selected Pacific Island countries. The objective of the audits is to establish volumes of lubricating, hydraulic and transmission oils imported annually into each country and the volumes of used oil produced, stored or otherwise disposed. The work has been carried out by Contract Environmental Ltd under a contract to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), with funding provided by the Global Environment Facility. Most of the information required for the audit has been obtained in a country visit undertaken by Martyn OCain from 1 June to 8 June 2014 and was organised through the local Environmental Protection Agency in Yap.

Consultancy for Contemporary used oil audits in selected Pacific Island Countries - Republic of Palau

SPREP Publications, Waste Management and Pollution Control

Available Online

Contract Environmental Ltd

This report covers the Republic of Palau component of a project involving used oil audits in selected Pacific Island countries. The objective of the audits is to establish volumes of lubricating, hydraulic and transmission oils imported annually into each country and the volumes of used oil produced, stored or otherwise disposed. The work has been carried out by Contract Environmental Ltd under a contract to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), with funding provided by the Global Environment Facility. Most of the information required for the audit has been obtained in a country visit undertaken by Martyn O'Cain from 26 to 31 May 2014 and was organized through the Palau Environment Quality Protection Board (EQPB).

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