Review of Callosciurus Erythraeus and Sciurus Niger
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Review of Callosciurus erythraeus and Sciurus niger (Version edited for public release) Prepared for the European Commission Directorate General Environment ENV.E.2. – Environmental Agreements and Trade by the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre November, 2010 UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 219 Huntingdon Road Cambridge PREPARED FOR CB3 0DL United Kingdom The European Commission, Brussels, Belgium Tel: +44 (0) 1223 277314 Fax: +44 (0) 1223 277136 DISCLAIMER Email: [email protected] Website: www.unep-wcmc.org The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or contributory ABOUT UNEP-WORLD CONSERVATION organisations. The designations employed and the MONITORING CENTRE presentations do not imply the expressions of any The UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP, the (UNEP-WCMC), based in Cambridge, UK, is the European Commission or contributory specialist biodiversity information and assessment organisations concerning the legal status of any centre of the United Nations Environment country, territory, city or area or its authority, or Programme (UNEP), run cooperatively with concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or WCMC, a UK charity. The Centre's mission is to boundaries. evaluate and highlight the many values of biodiversity and put authoritative biodiversity © Copyright: 2010, European Commission knowledge at the centre of decision-making. Through the analysis and synthesis of global biodiversity knowledge the Centre provides authoritative, strategic and timely information for conventions, countries and organisations to use in the development and implementation of their policies and decisions. The UNEP-WCMC provides objective and scientifically rigorous procedures and services. These include ecosystem assessments, support for the implementation of environmental agreements, global and regional biodiversity information, research on threats and impacts, and the development of future scenarios. CITATION UNEP-WCMC. 2010. Review of Callosciurus erythraeus and Sciurus niger. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge. 2 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................4 2. METHODS.......................................................................................................................................................6 3. SPECIES REVIEWS ...........................................................................................................................................7 SPECIES: Callosciurus erythraeus .........................................................................................................7 SPECIES: Sciurus niger..........................................................................................................................12 4. ANNEX ..........................................................................................................................................................17 3 Introduction 1. INTRODUCTION Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are considered one of the most important threats to biodiversity, as well as impacting the economy and human health (Bruemmer et al., 2000; Genovesi and Shine, 2003; Bertolino, 2008; CBD Secretariat, 2009; Kettunen et al., 2009). Most EU Member States have some national legislation in relation to IAS, although they vary widely in terms of scope and purpose (Miller et al., 2006; Shine et al., 2008). The European Commission recognised IAS as an emerging issue (Genovesi and Shine, 2003) and is currently considering several policy options for the best EU strategy on IAS (Shine et al., 2008; Shine et al., 2009a; 2009b): Option A: Business as usual Option B: Maximising use of existing approaches and voluntary measures Option B+: Amending existing legislation Option C: Comprehensive, dedicated EU legal instrument It was recognised that prevention of unwanted introductions is the most desirable approach, followed by eradication where possible or long-term containment/control (Shine et al., 2008). Shine et al. (2009b) advised that “a comprehensive EU legal instrument, is the only policy package that could deliver the necessary visibility, coverage, coordination, resourcing and horizon-scanning for all types of IAS risks and impacts.” The EU Wildlife Trade Regulations contain provisions to list in Annex B, “species in relation to which it has been established that the introduction of live specimens into the natural habitat of the Community would constitute an ecological threat to wild species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Community” (Article 3.2(d) of EC Regulation 338/97). The Commission may also establish restrictions on introduction into the Community “of live specimens of species for which it has been established that their introduction into the natural environment of the Community presents an ecological threat to wild species of fauna and flora indigenous to the Community” (Article 4.6(d) of EC Regulation 338/97). There are also provisions to restrict “the holding or movement of live specimens of species in relation to which restrictions on introduction into the Community have been established in accordance with Article 4(6).” Four IAS have already been listed in Annex B, with their import into the EU currently prohibited: the Red-eared slider Trachychemys scripta elegans, American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana, Painted turtle Chrysemys picta and Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicenis. Tree squirrels were considered to make particularly successful invasive species due to their high reproductive potential, ability to disperse effectively, diverse food habits, ability to build nests, and adaptability to human-impacted landscapes (Palmer et al., 2007). Bertolino (2009) reported that the most frequent vectors of squirrel introductions were the pet market, private citizens and zoos, with squirrels introduced into new areas by either intentional release into public estates and parks or the escape of imported live animals. The negative impacts of invasive squirrels were reported to include competition with native squirrels, negative impact on breeding birds, damage to vegetation, crop damage, spread of parasites and disease, and damage to electric cables and irrigation systems (Bertolino, 2009). A review of the North American Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis was presented at SRG53 along with a proposal from Italy to list the species in Annex B of EC Regulation no. 338/97. Two additional invasive squirrel species were proposed for review: Callosciurus erytherus and Sciurus niger. This report investigates whether Callosciurus erytherus and Sciurus niger are currently offered for sale in the EU, the status and distribution of any existing introduced populations in the EU, the (potential) impact on native EU fauna and flora of any introduced populations, and any existing legislation or management measures in place, to determine whether these species might merit listing in Annex B of Council Regulation 338/97, Article 3.2(d). General EU legislation for IAS and the relevant legislation of the individual Member States was described in detail in Miller et al, (2006) and Shine et al. (2008), hence only legislation specific to C. erytherus and S. niger is presented in this report. 4 Introduction REFERENCES: Bertolino, S. 2008. Introduction of the American grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Europe: a case study in biological invasion. Current Science, 95 (7): 903-906. Bertolino, S. 2009. Animal trade and non-indigenous species introduction: the world-wide spread of squirrels. Diversity and Distributions, 15: 701-708. Bruemmer, C., Lurz, P., Larsen, K., and Gurnell, J. 2000. Impacts and management of the alien Eastern gray squirrel in Great Britain and Italy: lessons for British Columbia, in Darling, L. M., (ed.), Proceedings of a conference on the biology and management of species and habitats at risk, Kamloops, B.C. 15-19 Feb. 1999. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Victoria, B.C. and University College of the Cariboo, Kamloops, B.C.. CBD Secretariat. 2009. Invasive Alien Species a threat to biodiversity. International day for biological diversity. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Montreal, Canada. Genovesi, P. & Shine, C. 2003. European strategy on invasive alien species. Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats, Standing Committee 23rd meeting, Strasbourg, 1-5 December 2003. T-PVS (2003) 7 revised. Kettunen, M., Genovesi, P., Gollasch, S., Pagad, S., Starfinger, U., ten Brink, P., & Shine, C. 2009. Technical support to EU strategy on invasive species (IAS) - Assessment of the impacts of IAS in Europe and the EU. Final report for the European Commission. Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP). Brussels, Belgium. Miller, C., Kettunen, M., & Shine, C. 2006. Scope options for EU action on invasive alien species (IAS). Final report for the European Commission. Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP). Brussels, Belgium. Palmer, G. H., Koprowski, J. L., and Pernas, T. 2007. Tree squirrel as invasive species: conservation and management implications, in Witmer, G. W., Pitt, W. C., & Fagerstone, K. A., (eds.), Managing vertebrate invasive species: proceedings of an international symposium. USDA/APHIS Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S. Shine, C., Kettunen, M., Genovesi, P., Gollasch, S.,