The first management of a marine invader in Africa: The importance of trials prior to setting long-term management goals.

Autor: Mabin CA; Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa., Wilson JRU; Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa., Le Roux JJ; Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa; Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia., Majiedt P; South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa., Robinson TB; Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602, South Africa. Electronic address: trobins@sun.ac.za.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of environmental management [J Environ Manage] 2020 May 01; Vol. 261, pp. 110213. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Mar 02.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110213
Abstrakt: Biological invasions severely impact on marine ecosystems around the world, but to date management is rare and has not previously been attempted in Africa. This study documents a trial management programme aimed at informing a national management strategy for the invasive European shore crab, Carcinus maenas, in South Africa. The approach involved testing control methods used elsewhere (baited traps, crab condos, diver collections and sediment dredging) and adapting these to the local context. Following these trials, baited traps were deployed over the course of the year, and the catch per unit effort (CPUE) tracked. A total of 36,244 crabs were collected during the management period, six times more than a pre-management population estimate. The population was not extirpated and CPUE increased once trapping ceased. The cost of attempting nationwide eradication is prohibitive, particularly given the lack of current impacts by this crab in this region and the possibility of reintroduction. We highlight key administrative challenges encountered, and the importance of such pilot trials in setting long-term goals when attempting alien species management interventions.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None.
(Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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