Predicting the potential distribution of invasive ring-necked parakeets Psittacula krameri in northern Belgium using an ecological niche modelling approach |
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Authors: | Diederik Strubbe Erik Matthysen |
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Institution: | (1) Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium |
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Abstract: | The threat to biodiversity due to invasive alien species is considered second only to that of habitat loss. Given the large
number of species that are currently invading ecosystems all over the world, we need to distinguish invaders with minor effects
from those with large effects in order to prioritize management efforts. Ecological niche models can be used to predict the
potential distribution of an invasive species from occurrence records and environmental data layers. We used the Ecological
Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA), a presence-only predictive modelling approach, to describe the invasive ring-necked parakeets’
realized niche and to identify areas suitable for the parakeet in northern Belgium. ENFA proved to be a robust and reliable
modelling technique, able to gauge the ecological requirements of an invasive species without the need to include historical
information on the starting point of the invasion. ENFA shows that the parakeets tend to occupy relatively rare habitats compared
to the main environmental conditions in northern Belgium, although they show some tolerance for environmental conditions inside
parks and forests. The general distribution of the ring-necked parakeet is governed primarily by the amount of older forest
patches, parks and built-up area in the landscape—reflecting the parakeets’ need for suitable nesting cavities and its reliance
upon urban areas to forage. Our resulting habitat suitability maps show that the parakeets have ample room to further increase
their range in northern Belgium. Our results indicate some concern for increased competition between parakeets and the nuthatches,
native cavity nesters known to suffer from competition with parakeets, as some regions known as nuthatch strongholds are highly
likely to be invaded by the parakeets. |
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Keywords: | Biodiversity Competition Habitat suitability Invasions Presence-only modelling Ring-necked parakeet |
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