invasive alien species in seychelles : why and how to eliminate them ? : identification and management of priority species

Résumé

This book addresses conservation practitioners, island managers, scientists, naturalists and any person willing to learn more about invasive species and how to fight them. Part one provides information about invasive species and how they threaten ecosystems, public health, and the economy. It détails the importance of invasive species management to undertake ecological restoration on islands, and in the recovery of threatened species. It showcases the remarkable response Seychelles has made to invasive species and highlights the country's achievements in eradicating and controlling invasive vertebrates on islands. Strategies to prevent new invasions, and management technigues to contain, control or eradicate invasive species, or to mitigate their impacts, are described. Examples of methods to monitor biodiversity and to document ecosystem recovery are presented. Species in Seychelles of particular concern as invasive are listed. Part two provides detailed species accounts for the main invasive plants and animals in Seychelles (creepers, trees, bushes, aguatic plants, rats and other mammals, birds, reptiles, mosquitoes, snails, ants and other invertebrates). For each species, distribution maps, its ecology and the threats it poses, control and eradication attempts in Seychelles and the region, and detailed management recommendations and lessons learned are provided. Species accounts and a number of case-studies cover a total of 44 invasive species, half of which are among the 100 worst invasive species that affect many islands and countries worldwide. Key publications, websites, guides and toolkits are provided, as well as more than 600 bibliographical references. « Invasive Alien Species in Seychelles is a milestone in this remarkable struggle to protect native species and ecosystems from biological invasions. With a minimum of 47 eradications of many vertebrate species, Seychelles is among the world leaders (...) For no other nation is there such a comprehensive single volume describing ail aspects ofthe issue - history of the invasions, ecological and socioeconomic impacts, sociological and geographie context, and management efforts and their outcomes (...) It will be a required reference for invasion scientists. » Extract of the foreword from Prof. Daniel Simberloff, Institute for Biological Invasions, Universrty of Tennessee, USA « It is amazing how comprehensive this book is and how we are ail working on the same conservation problems. Thank you for creating this comprehensive resource for invasive species management. It will be useful for managers on islands around the world. » Jane Beachy, Ecosystem Restoration Program Manager, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, University of Hawaii « The achievements of Seychelles in terms of invasive species éradications, threatened species recovery and island restoration are exemplary, and set a high standard for the rest of the globe. » Dr Nick Holmes, Island Conservation, USA