Impacts of introduced species on the biota of an oceanic archipelago: the relative importance of competitive and trophic interactions

Introduced species have disproportionately impacted native biota on oceanic islands through trophic interactions, such as predation and herbivory, rather than competitive interactions. A literature review of the Ogasawara (Bonin) Islands revealed that while introduced competitors (e.g., rats, lizards) negatively affected some native plants and bees, these species were also subjected to severe predation or herbivory by other invasive organisms. Thus, trophic interactions emerged as the dominant driver of ecological disruption in this remote archipelago, underscoring the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate cascading effects on island ecosystems.

Sugiura, S. (2016). Impacts of introduced species on the biota of an oceanic archipelago: the relative importance of competitive and trophic interactions. Ecological Research, 31(2), 155–164. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-016-1336-0