Economic costs of biological invasions in Ecuador: the importance of the Galapagos Islands

A comprehensive analysis of the economic costs of biological invasions in Ecuador reveals that over 99% of reported costs, ranging from US$86.17 million to US$626 million between 1983 and 2017, are attributed to the Galápagos Islands. The study, utilizing the InvaCost database, identified feral goats (Capra hircus) as the costliest invasive species at US$20 million, followed by Aedes mosquitoes causing dengue fever. Mixed-taxa invasions accounted for 61% of robust costs, with national park authorities incurring the highest expenses. Notably, over 70% of invasive alien species in Ecuador lacked reported economic data, suggesting significant underestimation of actual impacts. The findings underscore the severe economic burden of biological invasions, particularly in mega-diverse regions like the Galápagos.

Ballesteros-Mejia, L., Angulo, E., Diagne, C., Cooke, B., Nuñez, M. A., & Courchamp, F. (2021). Economic costs of biological invasions in Ecuador: the importance of the Galapagos Islands. NeoBiota, 67, 375–400. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.67.59116