Neotropical Biology and Conservation 8(3):165-175, september-december 2013 © 2013 by Unisinos - doi: 10.4013/nbc.2013.83.07 REVIEW ARTICLE Non-native bird species in Brazil Espécies de aves não nativas no Brasil Priscila M. Fontoura1* [email protected] Abstract Many non-native species of birds have been introduced beyond the limits of their natu- Ellie Dyer2 ral geographic ranges, where they may subsequently establish viable populations and [email protected] perhaps become invasive. Much attention in the literature has been devoted to the study of bird introductions, but relatively little of that attention has been focused on introduc- Tim M. Blackburn2,3 tions to the continental tropics. Here, we compile published data on records of non-native [email protected] bird species introduced to the wild in Brazil, with the aim of organizing and standardizing available information to facilitate future studies in this context. A total of 59 bird species were classified as introduced in Brazil, with one further species believed to be a recent Mário L. Orsi4 natural colonist. Published information implies that 14 species have established or proba- [email protected] bly established non-native populations in Brazil, while a further 10 species have possibly established non-native populations. In this context, we map the non-native distributions of non-native species of birds in Brazil. Additional research is needed to confirm the status of these species, as well as to establish practical measures to combat and control intro- ductions. Key words: alien birds, biological invasions, exotic species. Resumo Muitas espécies não nativas de aves têm sido introduzidas para além dos seus limites geográficos naturais, onde elas posteriormente podem estabelecer populações viáveis e tornarem-se invasoras. Muita atenção tem sido dedicada a estudos com introdução de aves na literatura, mas relativamente pouca atenção tem sido focada em introduções nos continentes tropicais. No presente trabalho, compilamos os dados publicados sobre os registros de espécies de aves não nativas introduzidas à vida selvagem no Brasil, com o objetivo de organizar e padronizar as informações disponíveis para facilitar futuros estu- dos nesse contexto. Um total de 59 espécies de aves foi considerado introduzido no Bra- sil. Há, ainda, uma espécie adicional que acreditamos ser um recente colonizador natural. As informações publicadas indicam que 14 espécies têm estabelecido ou provavelmente estabeleceram populações não nativas no Brasil, enquanto outras 10 espécies têm a possibilidade de estabelecerem populações não nativas. Nesse contexto, mapeamos a distribuição das espécies não nativas de aves no Brasil. Pesquisas adicionais são neces- sárias para confirmar a situação dessas espécies, bem como para estabelecer medidas práticas para combater e controlar as introduções. 1 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina. C.P. 10011, 86057-970, Palavras-chave: aves invasoras, invasões biológicas, espécies exóticas. Londrina, PR, Brasil. 2 Institute of Zoology – ZSL. Regent’s Park, London, United Kingdom, NW1 4RY. 3 Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program, King Saud University. P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 1145, Saudi Arabia. 4 Departamento de Biologia Animal e Vegetal, Universidade Estadual de Londrina. C.P. 10011, 86057-970, Londrina, PR, Brasil. * Corresponding author Priscila M. Fontoura, Ellie Dyer, Tim M. Blackburn, Mário L. Orsi Introduction data on records of non-native bird spe- All maps were created using ESRI cies introduced to the wild in Brazil, ArcMap GIS software version 9.3. Pimentel et al. (2001) and Cox (2004) summarizing what is known about the Species distributions were mapped estimate that as many as 500,000 spe- occurrence of these species. We also to the smallest area recorded, be that cies worldwide have been introduced used this information to classify the an individual park within a city, or at to the wild by humans in regions be- establishment status of these species state level. In order to identify areas of yond the limits of their natural geo- in the region to which they have been high non-native bird density, a species graphic ranges (such species are here- introduced. richness map was created by project- after termed “non-native”), where they ing the range maps onto a hexagonal may subsequently establish viable Methods grid of the world, resulting in a geo- populations and perhaps become inva- desic discrete global grid, defined on sive (for definitions and a description We performed a systematic search of an icosahedron and projected onto the of the invasion process, see Blackburn published books, papers and web da- sphere using the inverse Icosahedral et al., 2011). It is no surprise, there- tabases for records of non-native bird Snyder Equal Area projection. This fore, that this process of non-native species (as defined above) seen in a resulted in a hexagonal grid composed species introduction is recognized as a wild state (i.e. outside of captivity or of cells that retain their shape and area significant component of environmen- domesticity) in Brazil, using search (865.5 km2) throughout the country. tal change. Non-native species may terms in both Portuguese and English. prey on, parasitize, compete with and We used Google to search the internet Results hybridize with natives, and many are for the phrases “birds introduced in also considered agricultural pests and Brazil”, “exotic birds in Brazil”, “non- Fifty-five references including in- vectors of diseases related to humans native birds in Brazil”, “list of birds formation on non-native bird species (Lockwood et al., 2007; Pimentel, in Brazil”, “birds records in Brazil” were found, from which a total of 59 1997). Hence, invasions by non-na- and “birds community in Brazil”. We species had populations classified as tive species often result in significant also searched papers published in 16 non-native in Brazil. Of these, two losses of economic value, biological journals (Acta Biológica Paranaense, species (Chloris chloris and Carduelis diversity and function of the affected Acta Scientiarum Biological Scienc- carduelis) were introduced to neigh- ecosystems (Hulme et al., 2009; Wit- es, Atualidades Ornitológicas, Biota bouring countries (Argentina and tenberg and Cock, 2001). Neotropica, Boletim CEO, Boletim do Uruguay) and subsequently expanded One of the best-studied taxa in re- Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Bul- their distributions into Brazil, and one spect of the invasion process is birds letin of the International Council for species (Corvus albus) was probably (Blackburn et al., 2009). Almost Bird Preservation, Comunicações do a ship-assisted vagrant. The remaining 1,000 bird species have been intro- Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia da 56 species were non-native species re- duced to the wild in areas beyond PUCRS, Cotinga, Iheringia, Orni- corded in a wild state in Brazil follow- their natural range limits, while more tologia Neotropical, Papéis Avulsos ing the escape or release of individu- than 400 appear to have established de Zoologia, Revista Brasileira de als from captivity. A further species viable non-native populations (Dyer Biologia, Revista Brasileira de Orni- (Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis) and Blackburn, unpubl. data). How- tologia, Revista Brasileira de Zoolo- was identified as a recent arrival in ever, most studies of non-native birds gia, The Wilson Bulletin) from 1975 Brazil, but one that may have arrived have concerned translocations by Eu- to 2011. We also obtained one as yet there following natural colonization ropeans to and from their colonies in unpublished record through personal of South America from Africa. other temperate zones (notably North communication with Ricardo Castil- The 59 non-native bird species re- America, South Africa, Australia, ho. We considered all records of non- corded as established or probably es- New Zealand), and to islands around native species seen in a wild state, re- tablished non-native population (E) or the world (e.g. in the Mascarenes, Ha- gardless of whether or not the species possibly established non-native popu- waiian Islands, Caribbean). Relatively went on to establish a self-sustaining lation (P) in Brazil are as follows: few studies have considered translo- population. Agapornis personata (Reichenow, cations by non-Europeans or to conti- We used the descriptions of the dis- 1887) – The Yellow-Collared Love- nents in the tropical belt (Drake et al., tributions of the 14 non-native bird bird is native to north-eastern Tanza- 1989; Pysek, 1995; Rodríguez, 2001; species with established or probably nia (Forshaw, 1977). A breeding pair Pysek et al., 2008). There is little sys- established populations, and the 10 was seen in São Paulo in 2000, but a tematic information on the occurrence non-native bird species with possi- lack of subsequent records suggests of non-native bird species in Brazil. bly established populations in Brazil that establishment did not occur in Therefore, we compiled published to map their extents of occurrence. the area (Figueiredo, 2010). Individ- 166 Volume 8 number 3 september - december 2013 Non-native bird species in Brazil uals of captive origin were also ob- in Brazil in the States of Pará, Mato The Peach-Fronted Parakeet occurs served in 2005 in Curitiba (Straube Grosso, Maranhão, Bahia, Minas Ge- naturally in Brazil from Amazonas et al., 2009). rais and São Paulo (Sick, 1997). Oren south to Parana (Sick, 1997). Figuei- Agapornis roseicollis (Vieillot, 1818) (1984) recorded attempts to introduce redo (2010) recorded escaped or re- – The Rosy-Faced Lovebird occurs it to Fernando de Noronha Island in leased individuals in 2007 and 2009 naturally in south-western Africa the 1960s, but without success. in the city of São Paulo. Gagliardi (Forshaw, 1977). Individuals originat- Amazona rhodocorytha (Salvadori, (2011) recorded this species as also ing from captivity were observed in 1890) – The Red-Browed Amazon introduced, although not common, in the wild in the city of Curitiba in 2003 occurs in Brazil from Alagoas to Rio Rio de Janeiro State.