PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 20: Invasive Species
Wednesday, August 10, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal

Patterns of live vertebrate importation into the United States: a description of an invasion pathway.

Romagosa, Christina^*,1, ¹ Auburn University, Auburn, AL

ABSTRACT- A strategy for the prevention of new biological invasions, known as vector management, is directed at important transfer mechanisms, or vectors. Vector analysis, the first component of vector management, is a detailed description of the transfer mechanism of an organism from its native range to a new location. Although the live animal trade is an important pathway for the introduction of vertebrate species, little attention has been given to vertebrate import patterns into the United States. Live vertebrate import records give an estimate of the species legally transported to the United States through this vector. I obtained live vertebrate import data for the periods 1970–1971 and 1998–2002 for 5 taxonomic groups (amphibians, turtles, squamates, birds, and mammals) from US Fish and Wildlife Service import declaration forms. These data were used to quantify past and present import patterns of tetrapod groups to the United States and to assess the relationship between vertebrate import patterns and subsequent species introductions. Over 200 million vertebrates were imported annually from 1998-2002, compared to 95 million annually from 1970-1971. There was a substantial increase between the two time periods in the amount of amphibians and squamates imported; imports of turtles, mammals, and birds decreased. Among the pool of species imported to the United States during 1998-2002, birds and squamates were the most diverse taxonomic groups. Turtles were imported at the greatest proportion of global species and genera; proportions for all other taxonomic groups were approximately the same. Species-accumulation curves created for vertebrate imports and vertebrate introductions over the time period reflect an increase in trade and availability of new species for the live animal trade. Current patterns of vertebrate import suggest inequalities in trade restrictions among taxonomic groups, and a potential for increased introductions by this vector.

Key words: invasion pathway, vertebrate import, vector analysis