Understanding the Impact of Invasive Species on Threatened and Endangered Species to Improve ESA Protection Efforts
Research Location:
Pacific Islands
Conservation Partner:
Defenders of Wildlife
Student Researcher
Nhu-Lan Pho, Major: Biology, Major: Environmental PolicyFaculty Mentor
Dr. Matthias LeuProject Description
Invasive species are considered one of the greatest threats to native biodiversity globally , having disproportionately negative direct and indirect impacts on threatened and endangered Angiosperms, Anthropods and Mollusks. Rising to the top of the list of threats inhibiting Endangered Species Act (ESA) recovery efforts, understanding the cascading direct and indirect impacts invasive species on threatened and endangered species is an urgent priority. Building upon research led by Dr. Matthias Leu in collaboration with researchers from Millersville University and Defenders of Wildlife, the goal of this student research project is to understand and document the negative interactions of invasive species (e.g., predation, competition, habitat modification, etc.) on all threatened and endangered species listed under the ESA that reside on the Pacific Islands (Hawaiian, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands) and the U.S. mainland.
Our specific objectives are to 1.) identify all threatened & endangered Pacific species threatened by invasive species at the time of listing, 2.) define and quantify the occurrence of interactions between invasive and threatened and endangered species, 3.) identify how interactions between invasive and threatened and endangered species differ by taxa on Pacific Islands (e.g., birds, mammals, flowering plants, insects, etc.), 4.) determine if trends exist in changes of interactions between invasive species and threatened and endangered species over time, 5.) identify potential conservation management strategies to mitigate or reverse the negative interactions of invasive species on Pacific Island T&E species, and 6.) determine the native range of invasive species affecting threatened and endangered species.
Results from this research will help promote national efforts to mitigate the impacts of invasive species on Pacific Island and mainland threatened and endangered species and continue to improve ESA recovery efforts. This research also provides insights into how international commerce potentially influenced the import and distribution of invasive species in North America over the past five decades.
