DAMA: the global Distribution of Alien Mammals database

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Biogeography
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Human activities have led to the global spread of numerous mammal species beyond their native ranges.
• Understanding the distribution and invasion dynamics of alien mammals is crucial for ecological and conservation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a comprehensive global database detailing the distribution of alien mammal species.
• To provide data on invasion stage, pathways, and introduction methods for each alien mammal range.

Main Methods:

• Compiled data from 827 diverse sources, including scientific literature, reports, and online databases.
• Developed alien range maps for 230 established alien mammal species using the IUCN mapping framework.
• Collected information on invasion stage, pathway, introduction method, and date for each alien range.

Main Results:

• The DAMA database includes 2,726 range polygons across 199 countries and 11 zoogeographic realms.
• Rodentia, Cetartiodactyla, and Carnivora are the most represented orders among introduced mammals.
• Most alien mammal ranges are on islands, have progressed to the invasion stage, and were introduced after 1500 AD.

Conclusions:

• DAMA provides the most up-to-date global overview of alien mammal distribution.
• The database serves as a valuable tool for investigating invasion ecology across biogeographical regions.
• Acknowledges and aims to mitigate literature biases towards well-studied regions.