Birds as key vectors for the dispersal of some alien species: Further thoughts

W. Solarz, K. Najberek, A. Pociecha & E. Wilk-Woźniak (2017, Diversity and Distributions, 23, 113–117) published a letter in Diversity and Distributions debating our view that waterbirds are important vectors of alien species (C. Reynolds, N. A. F. Miranda & G. S. Cumming, 2015 Diversity and...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Reynolds. Chevonne, Cumming, Graeme S., Vilà, Montserrat, Green, Andy J.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/146632
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/146632
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Alien species
Biological invasions
Dispersal vectors
Invasion pathways
Long-distance dispersal
Multi-scale
Invertebrate
Waterbirds
Descripción
Sumario:W. Solarz, K. Najberek, A. Pociecha & E. Wilk-Woźniak (2017, Diversity and Distributions, 23, 113–117) published a letter in Diversity and Distributions debating our view that waterbirds are important vectors of alien species (C. Reynolds, N. A. F. Miranda & G. S. Cumming, 2015 Diversity and Distributions, 21, 744–754; A. J. Green, 2016 Diversity and Distributions, 22, 239–247) and question whether future research into the mechanisms under-pinning this phenomenon can be advantageous for the practical management of alien species. Additionally, Solarz et al. suggest that human activities are the primary source of all alien species introductions and that waterbirds may only act as vectors of secondary dispersal. In this letter, we respond to several arguments raised by the authors surrounding the relevance of waterbird-mediated dispersal in the introduction and spread of alien species. We emphasize the partly deterministic nature of waterbird dispersal and the significance of long-distance dispersal events (and hence the potential for primary introductions of new alien species across political boundaries). Finally, we reaffirm the importance of further research into dispersal by birds to improve our capacity to foresee and manage invasions of those alien species with strong capacity to spread via avian vectors.