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Assessing Intertidal Populations of the Invasive European Green Crab
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Scavenging with invasive species.

Thomas Newsome1, Rhys Cairncross1, Calum X Cunningham2

  • 1School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.

Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society
|December 26, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Invasive scavengers in Australia, like red foxes and feral cats, are common and reduce native scavenger diversity. Their presence alters ecosystems by monopolizing carcasses and impacting decomposition.

Keywords:
apex scavengerdecompositioninvasion meltdowninvasive speciesscavenging

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Invasive Species Biology
  • Conservation Science

Background:

  • Carrion is a vital food source, creating hotspots of animal activity globally.
  • Invasive scavengers are increasingly prevalent, yet their ecological impacts on decomposition and food webs remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review invasive scavenger activity in Australia.
  • Identify factors influencing invasive scavenger behavior at carcasses.
  • Highlight ecological effects of invasive scavengers on native ecosystems.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of 44 published studies on scavenging in Australia.
  • Identification of invasive vertebrate and arthropod scavenger species.
  • Analysis of factors influencing invasive scavenger prevalence and impact.

Main Results:

  • Six invasive vertebrate species (e.g., red foxes, feral cats) and four arthropod groups (beetles, flies, ants, wasps) were identified as common scavengers.
  • Higher proportions of invasive scavengers correlated with lower native scavenger diversity.
  • Invasive scavengers monopolize resources, outcompete natives, predate other species, and alter decomposition rates and nutrient cycling.

Conclusions:

  • Invasive scavengers significantly impact Australian ecosystems, reducing native biodiversity and altering fundamental ecological processes.
  • The availability of carcasses may exacerbate the negative impacts of invasive species.
  • Further research is needed to understand and mitigate the widespread effects of invasive scavengers globally.