Invasive species in Puerto Rico

Last updated October 28, 2023

Invasive species are species that are native to foreign environments which may have important effects on a specific area's economy, ecosystem and infrastructure. These species can be introduced by natural causes or human intervention. There are many invasive species that exist around the world. One that is abundant around Puerto Rico is the lionfish. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) perform biosecurity inspections for Puerto Rico.^[1]

Mammals

Mongoose: Sugar planters introduced Urva auropunctata , called the "small Indian mongoose", to Puerto Rico in the nineteenth century as a way to control the invasive rat population. Although it was immediately incredibly successful in improving crop yields,^[2]^[3]^[4] they are also responsible for 70% of all rabies cases, albeit that rabies is quite rare, on the island.^[5] Note that until recently, the species was believed to be U. javanicus, and most sources still classify the creature under this species. The two taxa are impossible to distinguish without genetic testing. It was introduced in either 1877 or 1887 to the island.^[4] It is also believed to prey on the native fauna of the island.^[3]
Pigs: Introduced in the 1500s by the Spanish,^[6] now feral in the capital San Juan and elsewhere.^[6] United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has been attempting - so far unsuccessfully - to eradicate them.^[6]
Rats: Mus musculus and R. rattus are invasive rat species in El Yunque National Forest.^[7] The latter, also known as a black rat, is believed to be a larger threat because of its wider range.^[7] The former, or the house mouse, is mainly limited to roadside areas.^[7]

Birds

Columba livia : more commonly known as the rock pigeon, is an invasive bird brought introduced through early European movement throughout the Caribbean. The species typically has a grey body with a white colored rump, but the body color can vary between gray, white, tan, and brown. Throughout history, this animal was bred and used for a multitude of activities including homing and competitive racing. In modern times, they are more commonly utilized as a pastime, where people enjoy feeding and watching them. This particular bird can adapt to live in a variety of environments, including farm yards, grain elevators, feed mills, parks, city buildings, bridges, and more. Rock pigeons have been known to transmit diseases such as salmonella, food poisoning, cryptococcosis, toxoplasmosis, and more. The droppings of rock pigeons can also lead to increased deuteriation of building material, causing issues for urban areas within Puerto Rico.^[8]

Reptiles

Although once believed to be native to the island, green iguana may have been introduced to Puerto Rico in the modern era. Green iguanas are native to South and Central America. The species is considered invasive due to the damage it carries out on local agriculture and the threat it poses to native species.^[9]
Boa constrictor : Native to Central and South America, the boa constrictor has recently been observed in Puerto Rico. A small population was found in the city of Mayagüez, where at least 150 boas have been removed.^[10] Although recently discovered, it is believed that the population has existed in the area for several decades due to an incidental release.^[10]

Plants

Abrus precatorius : Is a flowering plant better known as "jequirity bean" or "rosary pea" which is notorious for invading warm tropical areas.^[11] This nitrogen fixing plant is known to alter soil nutrients and heavily impact native species via allelopathic effects.^[12] At the end of the twentieth century, it was declared an invasive weed by Puerto Rico and much of the Caribbean Islands.^[13] Once this plant has fully matured, their roots become difficult to remove, adding to this weeds notoriety.^[12] The most common removal method was using herbicides such as glyphosate, causing other unintended drawbacks on ecosystems which were invaded.^[14] Native species and humans also have to worry about consuming this plant, as it contains toxins which can be detrimental to their health with enough consumption.^[11]

Arthropods

The overwhelming majority of arthropods intercepted by border pest inspections came from elsewhere in the Caribbean.^[1] Despite a large amount of cargo traffic in both directions, Florida sends more adventive arthropods to PR than the other way around, probably due to laxer biosecurity on the PR side.^[1]

Insects

Africanized bee: Known to have attacked researchers and certain endangered bird species. First seen on the island in 1994, the honeybee has also inhabited a majority of tree cavities.^[7] It has evolved to become a lesser threat to the area over time, although it is still present in the area.^[7]
Aedes aegypti : Also known as the yellow fever mosquito, aides aegypti originated in Africa and is a danger to humans. The mosquito is capable of spreading diseases such as the Zika virus and dengue fever.^[7] A distinctive characteristic of the species is its white marks on its leg, and can transported from low to high elevations.^[7]
Hypogeococcus sp.: This invasive mealybug, better known as the Harrisia cactus mealybug, has been assigned its classification for their influence on plant species in Puerto Rican dry forests.^[15] Native cacti infected by the bug were observed to have produced fewer fruits and flowers than their healthy counterparts.^[15] A higher mortality rate was also seen in certain cactus species, due to Harrisia cactus mealybug.^[15]

95% of arthropod border interceptions are insects.^[1]

Acari

Only 4% of arthropod border interceptions are acari.^[1]

Related Research Articles

Mealybugs are insects in the family Pseudococcidae, unarmored scale insects found in moist, warm habitats. Of the more than 2000 described species, many are considered pests as they feed on plant juices of greenhouse plants, house plants and subtropical trees and also act as a vector for several plant diseases. Some ants live in symbiotic relationships with them, protecting them from predators and feeding off the honeydew which they excrete.

The Puerto Rican dry forests are a tropical dry forest ecoregion located in southwestern and eastern Puerto Rico and on the offshore islands. They cover an area of 1,300 km² (500 sq mi). These forests grow in areas receiving less than 1,000 mm (39 in) of rain annually. Many of the trees are deciduous, losing their leaves during the dry season which normally lasts from December to April.

A number of introduced species, some of which have become invasive species, have been added to New Zealand's native flora and fauna. Both deliberate and accidental introductions have been made from the time of the first human settlement, with several waves of Polynesian people at some time before the year 1300, followed by Europeans after 1769.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Common coquí</span> Species of amphibian

The common coquí or coquí is a species of frog native to Puerto Rico belonging to the family Eleutherodactylidae. The species is named for the loud call the males make at night. This sound serves two purposes. "CO" serves to repel other males and establish territory while the "KEE" serves to attract females. Since the auditory systems of males and females respond preferentially to different notes of the male call, this is an example of a sex difference in a sensory system. The common coquí is a very important aspect of Puerto Rican culture, and it has become an unofficial territorial symbol of Puerto Rico. The frog is also found elsewhere, and is usually considered an invasive species outside Puerto Rico.

The Mona ground iguana is a critically-endangered species of rock iguana, endemic to Mona Island, Puerto Rico. It is one of the island nation’s few large land animals, and it is the largest endemic terrestrial lizard in the country, and one of the biggest rock iguanas within the Antilles. It was previously considered a subspecies of the rhinoceros iguana.

Harrisia is a genus of night blooming cacti.

Desecheo is a small uninhabited island of the archipelago of Puerto Rico located in the northeast of the Mona Passage; 13 mi (21 km) from Rincón on the west coast of the main island of Puerto Rico and 31 mi (50 km) northeast of Mona Island. It has a land area of 0.589 sq mi. Politically, the island is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as the Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge, but part of Barrio Sabanetas of Mayaguez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fauna of Puerto Rico</span>

The fauna of Puerto Rico is similar to other island archipelago faunas, with high endemism, and low, skewed taxonomic diversity. Bats are the only extant native terrestrial mammals in Puerto Rico. All other terrestrial mammals in the area were introduced by humans, and include species such as cats, goats, sheep, the small Indian mongoose, and escaped monkeys. Marine mammals include dolphins, manatees, and whales. Of the 349 bird species, about 120 breed in the archipelago, and 47.5% are accidental or rare.

Cactoblastis cactorum, the cactus moth, South American cactus moth or nopal moth, is native to Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. It is one of five species in the genus Cactoblastis that inhabit South America, where many parasitoids, predators and pathogens control the expansion of the moths' population. This species has been introduced into many areas outside its natural range, including Australia, the Caribbean, and South Africa. In some locations, it has spread uncontrollably and was consequently classified an invasive species. However, in other places such as Australia, it has gained favor for its role in the biological control of cacti from the genus Opuntia, such as prickly pear.

The little fire ant, also known as the electric ant, is a small, light to golden brown (ginger) social ant native to Central and South America, now spread to parts of Africa, Taiwan, North America, Puerto Rico, Israel, Cuba, and six Pacific Island groups plus north-eastern Australia (Cairns). It is a very harmful invasive species.

The Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico. It is part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Paracoccus marginatus, commonly known as the papaya mealybug, is a small sap-sucking insect in the mealybug family, Pseudococcidae. It is found on a number of different hosts, including economically important tropical fruit trees and various ornamental plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Small Indian mongoose</span> Mongoose species in South Asia

The small Indian mongoose is a mongoose species native to Iraq and northern South Asia; it has also been introduced to many regions of the world, such as several Caribbean and Pacific islands.

Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) is one of six operational program units within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The PPQ works to safeguard agriculture and natural resources in the U.S. against the entry, establishment, and spread of animal and plant pests, and noxious weeds in order to help ensure the protection of native flora and an abundant, high-quality, and varied food supply.

The fauna of the United States Virgin Islands consists of 144 species of birds, 22 species of mammals, 302 species of fish and 7 species of amphibians. The wildlife of the U.S.V.I. includes numerous endemic species of tropical birds, fish, and land reptiles as well as sea mammals. The only endemic land mammals are six species of native bats: the greater bulldog bat, Antillean fruit-eating bat, red fruit bat, Brazilian free-tailed bat, velvety free-tailed bat and the Jamaican fruit bat. Some of the nonnative land mammals roaming the islands are the white-tailed deer, small Asian mongoose, goats, feral donkeys, rats, mice, sheep, hogs, dogs and cats.

Mona and Monito Islands Nature Reserve consists of two islands, Mona and Monito, in the Mona Passage off western Puerto Rico in the Caribbean. Mona and Monito Islands Nature Reserve encompasses both land and marine area, and with an area of 38,893 acres it is the largest protected natural area in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Much like the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, the Mona and Monito Islands reserve represents a living laboratory for archaeological, biological, geological, oceanographical and wildlife management research.

Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus, commonly known as the vermiculated sailfin catfish, is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Madeira River basin in Bolivia and Brazil, although it has subsequently been introduced to various countries.

References

1 2 3 4 5 Jenkins, David A.; Mizell, Russell F.; Van Bloem, Skip; Whitmire, Stefanie; Wiscovitch, Leyinska; Zaleski, Crystal; Goenaga, Ricardo (2014). "An Analysis of Arthropod Interceptions by APHIS-PPQ and Customs and Border Protection in Puerto Rico". American Entomologist . Oxford University Press (OUP). 60 (1): 44–57. doi: 10.1093/ae/60.1.44 . ISSN 2155-9902.
↑ Espeut, W. B. 1882. On the acclimatization of the Indian mongoose in Jamaica. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1882:712–714.
1 2 George A. Seaman; John E. Randall (1962). "The Mongoose as a Predator in the Virgin Islands". Journal of Mammalogy. 43 (4): 544–546. doi:10.2307/1376922. JSTOR 1376922.
1 2 Roy, Sugoto (10 January 2020). "Herpestes auropunctatus (small Indian mongoose)". Invasive Species Compendium. CAB International . Retrieved 12 February 2020.
↑ "Expanding rabies work to mongooses in Puerto Rico". wildlife.org. THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-20.
1 2 3 "Feral pigs flummox Puerto Rico, infiltrate communities". ABC News . 2020-12-24. Retrieved 2020-12-25.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Zimmerman, Jess K.; Rojas-Sandoval, Julissa; Shiels, Aaron B. (2021). "Invasive Species in Puerto Rico: The View From El Yunque". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2021.640121 . ISSN 2296-701X.
↑ "GISD". www.iucngisd.org. Retrieved 2020-12-14.
↑ "Preguntas Frecuentes sobre la Iguana Verde o Gallina de Palo en Puerto Rico". DRNA. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
1 2 Reynolds, R. Graham; Puente-Rolón, Alberto R.; Reed, Robert N.; Revell, Liam J. (2013-05-01). "Genetic analysis of a novel invasion of Puerto Rico by an exotic constricting snake". Biological Invasions. 15 (5): 953–959. doi:10.1007/s10530-012-0354-2. ISSN 1573-1464. S2CID 254292205.
1 2 "Are Rosary Peas Poisonous?". www.poison.org. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
1 2 "GISD". www.iucngisd.org. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
↑ "Abrus precatorius (rosary pea)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
↑ Lieurance, Deah; Flory, S. Luke (2020-10-09). "The UF/IFAS Assessment of Nonnative Plants in Florida's Natural Areas: History, Purpose, and Use". EDIS. 2020 (3). doi:10.32473/edis.ag376.2020. ISSN 2576-0009. S2CID 242601995.
1 2 3 Carrera-Martínez, Roberto; Aponte-Díaz, Laura A.; Ruiz-Arocho, Jorge; Lorenzo-Ramos, Alexander; Jenkins, David A. (2019-11-01). "The effects of the invasive Harrisia cactus mealybug (Hypogeococcus sp.) and exotic lianas (Jasminum fluminense) on Puerto Rican native cacti survival and reproduction". Biological Invasions. 21 (11): 3269–3284. doi:10.1007/s10530-019-02046-1. ISSN 1573-1464. S2CID 195738974.

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[Jenkins-et-al-2014-1] 1 2 3 4 5 Jenkins, David A.; Mizell, Russell F.; Van Bloem, Skip; Whitmire, Stefanie; Wiscovitch, Leyinska; Zaleski, Crystal; Goenaga, Ricardo (2014). "An Analysis of Arthropod Interceptions by APHIS-PPQ and Customs and Border Protection in Puerto Rico". American Entomologist . Oxford University Press (OUP). 60 (1): 44–57. doi: 10.1093/ae/60.1.44 . ISSN 2155-9902.

[Espeut1882-2] Espeut, W. B. 1882. On the acclimatization of the Indian mongoose in Jamaica. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1882:712–714.

[Seaman1962-3] 1 2 George A. Seaman; John E. Randall (1962). "The Mongoose as a Predator in the Virgin Islands". Journal of Mammalogy. 43 (4): 544–546. doi:10.2307/1376922. JSTOR 1376922.

[CABI-4] 1 2 Roy, Sugoto (10 January 2020). "Herpestes auropunctatus (small Indian mongoose)". Invasive Species Compendium. CAB International . Retrieved 12 February 2020.

[5] "Expanding rabies work to mongooses in Puerto Rico". wildlife.org. THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY. 28 April 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-20.

[pigs-ABC-6] 1 2 3 "Feral pigs flummox Puerto Rico, infiltrate communities". ABC News . 2020-12-24. Retrieved 2020-12-25.

[:03-7] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Zimmerman, Jess K.; Rojas-Sandoval, Julissa; Shiels, Aaron B. (2021). "Invasive Species in Puerto Rico: The View From El Yunque". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2021.640121 . ISSN 2296-701X.

[8] "GISD". www.iucngisd.org. Retrieved 2020-12-14.

[9] "Preguntas Frecuentes sobre la Iguana Verde o Gallina de Palo en Puerto Rico". DRNA. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2020-08-20.

[:1-10] 1 2 Reynolds, R. Graham; Puente-Rolón, Alberto R.; Reed, Robert N.; Revell, Liam J. (2013-05-01). "Genetic analysis of a novel invasion of Puerto Rico by an exotic constricting snake". Biological Invasions. 15 (5): 953–959. doi:10.1007/s10530-012-0354-2. ISSN 1573-1464. S2CID 254292205.

[:02-11] 1 2 "Are Rosary Peas Poisonous?". www.poison.org. Retrieved 2020-12-06.

[:12-12] 1 2 "GISD". www.iucngisd.org. Retrieved 2020-12-06.

[13] "Abrus precatorius (rosary pea)". www.cabi.org. Retrieved 2020-12-06.

[14] Lieurance, Deah; Flory, S. Luke (2020-10-09). "The UF/IFAS Assessment of Nonnative Plants in Florida's Natural Areas: History, Purpose, and Use". EDIS. 2020 (3). doi:10.32473/edis.ag376.2020. ISSN 2576-0009. S2CID 242601995.

[:22-15] 1 2 3 Carrera-Martínez, Roberto; Aponte-Díaz, Laura A.; Ruiz-Arocho, Jorge; Lorenzo-Ramos, Alexander; Jenkins, David A. (2019-11-01). "The effects of the invasive Harrisia cactus mealybug (Hypogeococcus sp.) and exotic lianas (Jasminum fluminense) on Puerto Rican native cacti survival and reproduction". Biological Invasions. 21 (11): 3269–3284. doi:10.1007/s10530-019-02046-1. ISSN 1573-1464. S2CID 195738974.

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