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Biology of the Indian Mongoose in Puerto Rico
... Wolcott (1953 identified one bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) and two individuals of Eleutherodactylus coqui among these 98 stomachs, and listed the predated items grouped among all stomachs. However, Pimentel (1955) mentioned that amphibians were found in his sample of 315 predated items among all stomachs of his mongooses. Consequently, all individuals of frogs (L. ...
... The second and third most abundant prey in stomachs were Scolopendra subpinipes (centipedes, n = 38) and Cyrtopholis portoricae (tarantulas, n = 14). In agreement with Wolcott (1953), Pimentel (1955) documented that amphibians accounted for 1.1% (three frogs from 315 total prey) from his 56 mongooses and also estimated the density of mongooses from a coastal lowland dominated by tall pasture to be 2.5 individuals ha -1 , with an average area ('circular') of the home range of 97.5 m 2 (males: 125.6 m 2 , range 91.4-152.4 m 2 ; females: 81.4 m 2 , range 30.5-213.4 m 2 ). ...
... It was not until more than 30 years after the study by Pimentel (1955) and Seaman and Randall (1962) that the ecology of the mongoose in the PRA was described in more detail by Vilella and Zwank (1993) and Vilella (1998). Specifically, Vilella and Zwank (1993) conducted the first study on mongooses' ecology in the Guánica Forest, south-western PR (< 200 m asl). ...
In this chapter, the reader will notice that in the Puerto Rico Archipelago (PRA) – and probably elsewhere – we still lack information that would be valuable for the conservation and management of the vast majority of amphibians. For instance, we still have much to learn about the natural history, reproductive phenology, population biology, and dynamics of assemblages of species in a variety of environ- mental situations. We also lack information on the physiological responses of amphibians from the perspective of expected changes in climate, examples being shifts in elevational distribution and migration in response to sea-level rise and intrusion of salt water into coastal areas. Bridging the gap between herpetology and other disciplines (e.g. successional ecology, social sciences, and geographic information systems) is fundamental if we are to prioritize efforts towards the con- servation of amphibians and their ecosystems. Accordingly, we provide a brief description of land-use and changes in land-cover in PR and the VI through history, and summarize the anurans in the PRA. Note that whenever we use ‘VI’ as a stand-alone name in the text, we mean the USVI and BVI combined as a subset of islands in a geographical context. Finally, it is exciting that the earliest known fossil of an Eleutherodactylus (and the earliest fossil of any anuran in the Caribbean) – a humerus approximately 29 million years old – comes from PR. Even more exciting is our hope that this work will inspire current and future generations of herpetologists to conduct fruitful research on amphibians in the PRA and throughout the Caribbean.
... Although there is an abundance of studies on feral cats in the Pacific and a lengthy history of feral cats in Jamaica and the Caribbean, there has been no research on their spatial ecology in this region to date. Studies of introduced mongoose spatial ecology in the Caribbean have been limited mostly to Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and Grenada (Pimentel 1955;Quinn and Whisson 2005;Quinn et al. 2006;Berensten et al. 2020). In Jamaica, mongoose studies have focused on documenting their predatory behavior on the Jamaican Rock Iguana and a stomach content analysis of mongooses in the area (Lewis 1953;Lewis et al. 2011;van Veen and Wilson 2017). ...
... L. Herrera, Island Conservation, personal communication). Additionally, temporal variation of home ranges is reported for IAS, in particular seasonal weather patterns and breeding seasons for cats (Langham and Porter 1991;Recio and Seddon 2013;Strang 2018) and mongooses (Pimentel 1955;Hays and Conant 2003;Quinn and Whisson 2005) and prey availability for cats (Cruz et al 2014;Bengsen et al. 2016) are all found to influence IAS distribution. Studies of feral cats and mongooses have shown increased home range size of both sexes during the breeding season, as a result of searching for and having multiple mates as well as actively protecting their breeding territories (Hays and Conant 2003;Strang 2018;Berensten et al. 2020). ...
... In Hellshire Hills the main seasonal differences to note are the wet and dry seasons, which is tied to the hatching season of Jamaican Rock Iguanas, when this study was conducted. Breeding seasons of IAS in Hellshire Hills is unknown, however other Caribbean islands have reported mongoose breeding to take place during most of the year between February and September (Pimentel 1955 Nothing is known about the cat breeding season in the Caribbean, but they have been reported to breed for five to 12 months of the year in their studied ranges (Jones and Coman 1982;Cowan and Tyndale-Biscoe 1997;McCarthy et al. 2013;Fisher et al. 2015). These findings suggest our home range results could also vary seasonally. ...
Extinctions and population decline of species on islands are often attributed to invasive alien species (IAS). Predation from IAS, such as the Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata) drove the Critically Endangered Jamaican Rock Iguana (Cyclura collei) to near extinction. Historical and ongoing conservation efforts have restored the population to 500 to 600 adults today. Despite intensive control, IAS incursions into the core area remain common, preventing natural population recruitment. To improve our management and understanding of IAS, we investigated IAS spatial use within the range of the Jamaican Rock Iguana. Seventeen mongooses and cats were tracked with Very High Frequency (VHF) and Global Positioning System (GPS) transmitters for up to 72 days. Several spatial analyses were performed for all IAS, and home ranges were calculated for 13 individuals. Average 100% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) home range for VHF tracked mongoose and cats were 25.7 ha and 23.9 ha, respectively. Average 100% MCP, 95% Kernel Density Estimate (KDE), and 50% KDE home range estimates for GPS tracked cats were 78.2 ha, 80.3 ha, and 21.6 ha, respectively. Average IAS range length (distance between the two farthest points) was 979.2 m. Tracking tunnels were also utilized and revealed nearly equal numbers of mongoose tracks inside and outside the iguana core zone. Our results suggest the use of 100 m grid spacing for traps and the introduction of a buffer zone surrounding the core protected zone to restrict IAS incursions. The suggested modifications are expected to mitigate the effects of IAS on the Jamaican Rock Iguana population, improve hatchling survival, and facilitating natural population recruitment and growth.
... The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus; known hereafter mongoose) is a problematic invasive species among a number of Caribbean islands. Native to the Middle East and southern Asia the mongoose was first introduced to Jamaica near the end of the 19th century (Espeut 1882;Pimentel 1955). Mongooses were subsequently introduced to other Caribbean islands for biological control of rat populations in sugar cane plantations (Pimentel 1955). ...
... Native to the Middle East and southern Asia the mongoose was first introduced to Jamaica near the end of the 19th century (Espeut 1882;Pimentel 1955). Mongooses were subsequently introduced to other Caribbean islands for biological control of rat populations in sugar cane plantations (Pimentel 1955). Mongooses have been implicated in the declines and extinctions of several species of reptiles, amphibians and birds throughout the Caribbean (Pimentel 1955, Seaman and Randall 1962, Coblentz and Coblentz 1985. ...
... Mongooses were subsequently introduced to other Caribbean islands for biological control of rat populations in sugar cane plantations (Pimentel 1955). Mongooses have been implicated in the declines and extinctions of several species of reptiles, amphibians and birds throughout the Caribbean (Pimentel 1955, Seaman and Randall 1962, Coblentz and Coblentz 1985. Furthermore, they are recognized as a main reservoir for rabies virus (Everard and Everard 1992;Blanton et al. 2006). ...
Invasive predators are among the most detrimental biological invaders of island ecosystems. However, information detailing the effectiveness of trapping for these invasive species is often underreported. Here, we quantified the influence of environmental features on mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) trapping success across five forest types in eastern Puerto Rico. Specifically, we evaluated how canopy and understory cover, woody debris, proximity metrics, and elevation influenced the likelihood of capturing a mongoose at a trap location. The likelihood increased in habitats that were farther from rivers (P = 0.003), farther from recreation areas (P = 0.06), closer to trails (P = 0.11), and closer to coastal shoreline (P = 0.01). Optimizing capture success via trap placement can help reduce both trapping effort and costs. Thus, our results can be used to prioritize locations for future trapping as a means to improve capture success.
... The diet of H. javanicus has been reported as being remarkably broad, ranging from fruits, birds and reptiles and their eggs, and small mammals (Baldwin et al., 1952;Pimentel, 1955;Gorman, 1975;Nellis & Small, 1983;Hoagland et al., 1989). The species will also eat carrion (Creekmore et al., 1994), and has been observed salvaging edible material from the dung of large vertebrates (Haque, 1990). ...
... To compliment its dietary habits, H. javanicus has broad habitat requirements. It is found in grasslands, agricultural habitats, woodlands, boulder fields, and riverine forest up to high altitudes (Pimentel, 1955;Hoagland et al., 1989;Vilella, 1989). The main constraint that this species has is that it is intolerant of low temperatures (Baldwin, 1954). ...
... The small Indian mongoose is a flexible breeder. It has a litter size of up to 4, and has an extended breeding season over most of the year in much of its native and introduced range, within which it can have 2 to 3 litters a year (Baldwin et al., 1952;Pearson & Baldwin, 1953;Pimentel, 1955;Prater, 1965;Gorman, 1976;Everard & Everard, 1985). In Mauritius it was found that mongooses timed their breeding to avoid the driest times of the year (Roy, 2001). ...
... The diet of H. javanicus has been reported as being remarkably broad, ranging from fruits, birds and reptiles and their eggs, and small mammals (Baldwin et al., 1952;Pimentel, 1955;Gorman, 1975;Nellis & Small, 1983;Hoagland et al., 1989). The species will also eat carrion (Creekmore et al., 1994), and has been observed salvaging edible material from the dung of large vertebrates (Haque, 1990). ...
... To compliment its dietary habits, H. javanicus has broad habitat requirements. It is found in grasslands, agricultural habitats, woodlands, boulder fields, and riverine forest up to high altitudes (Pimentel, 1955;Hoagland et al., 1989;Vilella, 1989). The main constraint that this species has is that it is intolerant of low temperatures (Baldwin, 1954). ...
... The small Indian mongoose is a flexible breeder. It has a litter size of up to 4, and has an extended breeding season over most of the year in much of its native and introduced range, within which it can have 2 to 3 litters a year (Baldwin et al., 1952;Pearson & Baldwin, 1953;Pimentel, 1955;Prater, 1965;Gorman, 1976;Everard & Everard, 1985). In Mauritius it was found that mongooses timed their breeding to avoid the driest times of the year (Roy, 2001). ...
... It breeds mainly in the increasing photoperiod and longest days (Gorman, 2009). Mongoose in Hawaii (Pearson and Baldwin, 1953), Puerto Rico (Pimental, 1955), and St. Croix (Nellis and Everard, 1983) have similar breeding seasons. Occurrence of monthly reproductive activity has been reported for the species from some other parts of the world (Nellis and Everard, 1983; Gorman, 2009). ...
... The breeding pattern of different wildlife species may vary in different regions of the world under local conditions. Some studies on small Indian mongoose have been conducted in islands where this species was introduced and reported to be a seasonal breeder (Pearson and Baldwin, 1953; Pimental, 1955; Gorman, 2009; Nellis and Everard, 1983). A small number of females may breed in any month (Nellis and Everard, 1983), fertile males occur in all months, however, the onset of ovulation in females is seasonal and probably in response to increasing photoperiod (Gorman, 2009). ...
... Breeding of mongoose has been reported to be seasonal, falling mainly during the period of increasing photoperiodicity and the longest days (Gorman, 2009). Mongoose in Hawaii (Pearson and Baldwin, 1953), Puerto Rico (Pimental, 1955), and St. Croix (Nellis and Everard, 1983) had similar breeding seasons. Monthly trends of reproductive activity occurring in small Indian mongoose already reported from some other parts of the world show that males exhibit a bimodal pattern with peaks in testicular size occurring in spring and early fall. ...
Small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus), a small carnivore, has a crucial role in the food web,
especially in agro- ecosystems where it serves as biological control agent for rodents, snakes, and some insects. In
Pakistan, the scientific studies on reproductive biology of this species, vital for its management perspective, are
scanty. We investigated male reproductive pattern of this species in Potohar Plateau by estimating concentrations of its
male reproductive hormones and studying cellular changes inside the testes. The concentrations of testosterone, FSH
(follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) were measured by using ELISA kits, while cellular
changes inside the testes were studied by using histological procedures. Testosterone concentrations were found
elevated from January till April and in August. The FSH levels were also elevated in January, February and March
while those of LH were higher in February, March and April. Sperm count was higher in April, June and September,
while diameter of seminiferous tubules was found greater in April and August. The study concludes that small Indian
mongoose male breeds twice a year with its breeding season ranging from February to April, and July to September (6
months).
... It breeds mainly in the increasing photoperiod and longest days (Gorman, 2009). Mongoose in Hawaii (Pearson and Baldwin, 1953), Puerto Rico (Pimental, 1955), and St. Croix (Nellis and Everard, 1983) have similar breeding seasons. Occurrence of monthly reproductive activity has been reported for the species from some other parts of the world (Nellis and Everard, 1983; Gorman, 2009). ...
... The breeding pattern of different wildlife species may vary in different regions of the world under local conditions. Some studies on small Indian mongoose have been conducted in islands where this species was introduced and reported to be a seasonal breeder (Pearson and Baldwin, 1953; Pimental, 1955; Gorman, 2009; Nellis and Everard, 1983). A small number of females may breed in any month (Nellis and Everard, 1983), fertile males occur in all months, however, the onset of ovulation in females is seasonal and probably in response to increasing photoperiod (Gorman, 2009). ...
... Breeding of mongoose has been reported to be seasonal, falling mainly during the period of increasing photoperiodicity and the longest days (Gorman, 2009). Mongoose in Hawaii (Pearson and Baldwin, 1953), Puerto Rico (Pimental, 1955), and St. Croix (Nellis and Everard, 1983) had similar breeding seasons. Monthly trends of reproductive activity occurring in small Indian mongoose already reported from some other parts of the world show that males exhibit a bimodal pattern with peaks in testicular size occurring in spring and early fall. ...
Small Indian mongoose (Herpestes javanicus), a small carnivore, has a crucial role in the food web, especially in agro-ecosystems where it serves as biological control agent for rodents, snakes, and some insects. In Pakistan, the scientific studies on reproductive biology of this species, vital for its management perspective, are scanty. We investigated male reproductive pattern of this species in Potohar Plateau by estimating concentrations of its male reproductive hormones and studying cellular changes inside the testes. The concentrations of testosterone, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) were measured by using ELISA kits, while cellular changes inside the testes were studied by using histological procedures. Testosterone concentrations
... However, short trapping period and limited number of trapping locations may have influenced our results. Our finding of 72% of females pregnant during a capture period from May-August agrees with Pimentel (1955), who found mongooses breeding in Puerto Rico from January to October. In Guanica Forest, groups of a female and her two young were seen occasionally during May and June. ...
... Mongooses were more numerous at lower elevations. This distribution probably reflects the mongooses's preference for open grasslands and savannas with nearby sources of water (Pimentel, 1955;Nellis and Everard, 1983). On other islands of the West Indies, mongooses also favor open, disturbed areas (Hoagland et al., 1989). ...
... Grassland areas created by periodic fires and overgrazing by goats are common at lower elevations. Pimentel (1955) found mongoose abundance in Puerto Rico to be lowest in forested areas, even when water supplies were abundant. Mongooses were most numerous in grassy regions, particularly near small streams in coastal lowlands. ...
Studied the biology of Herpestes auropunctatus where sympatric with the endangered ground-nesting Caprimulgus noctitherus in the Guanica Forest, Puerto Rico. Diet consisted primarily of orthopterans, coleopterans, and centipedes. A strong negative correlation was found between numbers of mongooses and singing Puerto Rican nightjars. Mongoose density was greatest <75m in coastal scrub forest. Nightjar density was greatest >75m in closed canopy dry limestone forest. Differences in habitat requirements of these two species may restrict range overlap, rather than predation by mongooses eliminating the nightjar from coastal areas and currently limiting the species to arid higher elevation areas. -from Authors
... Despite the accumulation of independent observations for the effects of introduced mongooses upon Caribbean and Pacific islands, few attempts have been made to quantitatively describe the magnitude of the ecological impact or relationships on the island's food web. Although studies on diet are limited, stomach and fecal content analyses reveal that mongoose feed on a wide variety of mostly small vertebrates and invertebrates (71-89%), and plant material 15-29% (Pimentel, 1955;Vilella, 1998), with dietary preferences differing by habitat (Gorman, 1975). However, stomach content analysis only reveals what the predator has consumed in the few hours prior to being captured and a more holistic view of their diet is needed. ...
... In St. John, mongooses relied heavily on brown pelican eggs (Pelecanus occidentalis) and consume a wide variety of herpetofauna species. Overall, mongoose diet assessed by SIA was shown to be more variable than previously quantified (Gorman, 1975;Pimentel, 1955;Vilella, 1998). The main strength of SIA is the ability to investigate the responses of individuals to determinant of survival such as food availability, competition, predation, and predation risk (Flaherty & Ben-David, 2010). ...
Novel species assemblages in tropical islands present ecologists with the opportunity to explore ecosystem function and faunal community resilience to invasive species. Introduced mammalian predators to islands have a disproportionately large role in species extinctions and their variation in patterns of foraging can influence the assembly of biological communities. In this article, I argue for the need for experimental studies to elucidate the role of invasive species within faunal assemblages in Puerto Rico with a focus on the introduced small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus). I conducted a preliminary assessment to define best possible study sites for obtaining an understanding of mongoose influence on Puerto Rico's terrestrial vertebrate food web. Mongoose occurrence and high species richness on sites with moderate habitat modification coincide on 3% of the island's land area, and mostly located on the southwest coastal dry forest. A deeper understanding of mongoose influence on Puerto Rico's terrestrial vertebrate food web is paramount for biodiversity management and to grasp community resilience to biotic invasion.
Resumen-Los ensamblajes noveles de especies en islas tropicales proveen la oportunidad de explorar la función de estos ecosistemas y la capacidad de recuperación de comunidades bióticas frente a la presencia de especies invasoras. Los mamíferos que han sido introducidos a ecosistemas de islas asumen un rol importante en las extinciones de especies. La variación en patrones de forrajeo de dichas especies pueden influir en el ensamblaje de las comunidades bióticas presentes en las islas. En este artículo, indago sobre la necesidad de estudios experimentales para dilucidar el rol de las especies invasoras dentro de las comunidades de fauna en Puerto Rico con un enfoque específico en la mangosta de la India (Herpestes auropunctatus). En este artículo presento una evaluación que identifica potenciales sitios de estudios a través de un análisis de los patrones espaciales de presencia de la mangosta y la riqueza de especies en la isla. La presencia de mangostas y riqueza de especies en sitios con modificación moderada del hábitat coinciden en el 3% de la superficie terrestre de la isla, y se encuentran principalmente en el bosque seco costero del suroeste. Un entendimiento sobre la influencia de la mangosta en la red trófica de vertebrados terrestres de Puerto Rico es primordial para el manejo de la biodiversidad y comprender la resiliencia de comunidades a la invasión biótica.
... It is thus possible that mongoose densities might be driven by local resource availability rather than island biodiversity or area. A major limitation when comparing mongoose densities estimated on different islands is the variety of sampling (e.g., removal, mark-recapture, distance sampling) and analytical methods used across studies (e.g., Pimentel 1955;Corn and Conroy 1998;Vilella 1998;Horst et al. 2001;Quinn and Whisson 2005;Johnson et al. 2016). The result is great variability among mongoose density estimates (0.19 to 9.0 mongooses/km 2 ; Berentsen et al. 2018) both among and within islands. ...
... While mongooses can breed year-round, they are considered seasonal breeders in the Caribbean islands, with a birth peak occurring between May and August followed by a six to eight weeks nursing period (Pearson and Baldwin 1953;Pimentel, 1955;Gorman 1976;Nellis and Everard, 1983;Coblentz and Coblentz 1985). The observed season-specific proportions of females either pregnant or actively nursing reported in this study further suggests that our summer survey thus took place during the birthing season, while we conducted our fall survey during females' post-lactation period. ...
The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is a non-native invasive species across the Caribbean and a rabies reservoir on at least four islands in the region. Although previous studies reported mongoose density estimates in their non-native range, the variability in trapping designs, study seasonality, and analytical methods among studies precludes direct comparisons. This study is the first to report mongoose densities for the island of St. Kitts, West Indies. Our objective was to quantify mongoose densities across four habitats characteristic for the island. High capture and recapture rates in this study resulted in detailed estimates of spatial heterogeneity in mongoose densities, ranging from 0.53 (CI95: 0.46–0.61) mongooses/ha in suburban habitat to 5.85 (CI95: 4.42–7.76) mongooses/ha in nearby dry forest. Estimates were robust to the estimation method used (correlation among methods, r > 0.9). Female-biased sex ratios estimated from fall season versus mostly unbiased sex ratios estimated from summer season suggests seasonality in capture success resulting from differences in sex-specific activity patterns of mongooses. We found no effect of habitat characteristics, at the scale of trap placements, associated with mongoose capture success.
... Mongooses have been found to carry and spread diseases such as rabies (Pimentel 1955;Everard and Everard 1992) and leptospirosis (Pimentel 1955). Mongooses have also been blamed for economic losses due to predation on livestock and game species (Seaman and Randall 1962;Cheke 1987). ...
... Mongooses have been found to carry and spread diseases such as rabies (Pimentel 1955;Everard and Everard 1992) and leptospirosis (Pimentel 1955). Mongooses have also been blamed for economic losses due to predation on livestock and game species (Seaman and Randall 1962;Cheke 1987). ...
... The adjustments of this species' interspecific relationships (i.e., prey switching) with the native biodiversity produced results counter to the human intentions. Initial accounts portray the mongoose as a severe predator of the black rat but afterward as a heavy predator of native ground-nesting birds, amphibians, and reptiles (Henderson 1991;Pimentel 1955). Moreover, there was an extraordinary recovery of the black rat population after predator-prey adjustments (Seaman and Randall 1962). ...
... Henderson (1991) describes at least seven extinctions of West Indian native amphibians and reptiles that were primarily attributable to the introduction of the mongoose, especially on the Lesser Antilles and smaller islands. Numerous accounts of the predation of native fauna (especially amphibians and reptiles) by the mongoose have been registered, as has its emergence as the major vector of rabies and leptospirosis in the area (Borroto-Páez et al. 2012;Pimentel 1955Pimentel , 2007. Pimentel et al. (2005) estimated that the mongoose causes around $50 million in damages per year in Puerto Rico and Hawaii due to public health effects and the predation of poultry, native birds, reptiles, and amphibians. ...
... The adjustments of this species' interspecific relationships (i.e., prey switching) with the native biodiversity produced results counter to the human intentions. Initial accounts portray the mongoose as a severe predator of the black rat but afterward as a heavy predator of native ground-nesting birds, amphibians, and reptiles (Henderson 1991;Pimentel 1955). Moreover, there was an extraordinary recovery of the black rat population after predator-prey adjustments (Seaman and Randall 1962). ...
... Henderson (1991) describes at least seven extinctions of West Indian native amphibians and reptiles that were primarily attributable to the introduction of the mongoose, especially on the Lesser Antilles and smaller islands. Numerous accounts of the predation of native fauna (especially amphibians and reptiles) by the mongoose have been registered, as has its emergence as the major vector of rabies and leptospirosis in the area (Borroto-Páez et al. 2012;Pimentel 1955Pimentel , 2007. Pimentel et al. (2005) estimated that the mongoose causes around $50 million in damages per year in Puerto Rico and Hawaii due to public health effects and the predation of poultry, native birds, reptiles, and amphibians. ...
Invasive species in the Southeast and Caribbean region include a wide variety of taxa and affect both terrestrial and aquatic systems. Wood-boring insect species, such as
ambrosia beetles and their microbial associates and symbionts, are easily introduced in solid wood packing material; the warm, humid climate facilitates their establishment in southern forests. The climate is also very hospitable to the establishment of new invasive plants, which pose a threat not only through their own ecological effects but also via other organisms (e.g., insects and pathogens) they may harbor upon arrival through international plant trade. In both the terrestrial and aquatic systems of the Southeast, numerous invasive animal species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish have, been introduced via the commercial pet trade, for which Florida is a major center of activity.
Compared to the continental Southeast, the ecosystems of the Caribbean islands of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, with their diverse sizes and respective levels of anthropogenic activities or land reserve statuses, experience unique environmental and economic effects of non-native invasive species.This chapter highlights invasive species issues of importance in the region, with separate coverage for the continental Southeast and the Caribbean islands.
... In general, we found both rat species had lower indices of relative abundance in coqui than in noncoqui plots, but only Pacific rats were significantly lower, on average by 17%. A possible explanation for this pattern is apparent competition between coquis and rats, or more specifically, that greater mongoose abundance in coqui plots resulted in greater mongoose predation on rats or rat avoidance of coqui plots (Barnum 1930;Barun et al. 2011;Doty 1945;Pimentel 1955;Seaman and Randall 1962;Walker 1945). We expected greater potential for apparent competition with the less-arboreal Pacific rats because they are more likely to interact with mongooses (Pimentel 1955;Shiels 2010;Walker 1945). ...
... A possible explanation for this pattern is apparent competition between coquis and rats, or more specifically, that greater mongoose abundance in coqui plots resulted in greater mongoose predation on rats or rat avoidance of coqui plots (Barnum 1930;Barun et al. 2011;Doty 1945;Pimentel 1955;Seaman and Randall 1962;Walker 1945). We expected greater potential for apparent competition with the less-arboreal Pacific rats because they are more likely to interact with mongooses (Pimentel 1955;Shiels 2010;Walker 1945). Our results support this because Pacific rat abundances were lower in coqui plots. ...
With the increasing rate of species being introduced to areas outside of their native ranges, non-natives are likely to interact in ways that influence each other’s populations. The high densities of invasive coqui frogs (Eleutherodactylus coqui) in Hawaii have been hypothesized to increase non-native mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) and rat (Rattus spp.) abundances, and in turn increase bird nest depredation rates. We compared the relative abundances of rats and mongooses and artificial bird nest predation rates at 12 sites that had plots with similar habitat invaded and not invaded by coqui frogs across the island of Hawaii. We interpret our results considering mongoose and rat stomach analyses and camera trap data collected to monitor coqui scavengers. We found that coqui presence was associated with 30% greater mongoose abundance and 17% lower Pacific rat (R. exulans) abundance. Based on our diet analyses and scavenging data, both mongooses and rats consume coquis, but mongooses were the most important consumers of coquis, which may have contributed to their increase in coqui plots. We speculate that coquis are competing with rats for invertebrate prey due to reduced Pacific rat abundance and greater amounts of fruit in rat stomachs collected in coqui-invaded compared to uninvaded plots. We did not observe any difference in bird nest predation rates in coqui-invaded and uninvaded plots. Our results suggest that the coqui invasion may increase or decrease non-native mammal populations, and non-native amphibians may serve as both novel prey and competitors to non-native mammals.
... The term "auropunctatus" means "golden points" and refers to the speckled, gold-colored tips of the pelage. Mongooses are terrestrial and diurnal (Baldwin et al. 1952) and occupy terrestrial burrows, including spaces beneath large boulders and likely spaces around roots and logs as well as natural cracks in lava substrates in Hawaii (Pimentel 1955a;Hinton and Dunn 1967). They are opportunistic generalists and feed on a variety of prey items, including insects, lizards, rats, crustaceans, human refuse, seeds, birds, bird eggs, vegetable matter, and carrion (Williams 1918;Spencer 1950;Baldwin et al. 1952;Wolcott 1953;Kami 1964;Vilella and Zwank 1993;Vilella 1998;Horst et al. 2001;Pitt et al. 2015). ...
... Throughout their native range, mongooses are found in open, forested, and scrub habitats (Shekhar 2003). Pimentel (1955a) suggested that because mongooses are poor climbers they avoid forest habitats, but in many Caribbean regions they have expanded their range to include broad expanses of subtropical dry forest and subtropical rainforest (Vilella 1998;Horst et al. 2001). In addition, their introduced range includes agricultural land and urban areas (Spencer 1950;Baldwin et al. 1952). ...
The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is a diurnal opportunistic omnivore native to parts of the Middle East, India, and Asia (Corbet and Hill 1992; Lekagul and McNeely 1977; Veron et al. 2007). Much of what is known about the species comes from records of populations where they were introduced to control rodents on sugarcane plantations (predominantly the Caribbean Islands and Hawaii) rather than their native range (Horst et al. 2001). In published research, the introduced mongoose is alternately, and often synonymously, identied as H. auropunctatus or H. javanicus. However, research by Veron et al. (2007) suggests that H. auropunctatus and H. javanicus are distinct taxa with unique biogeographic ranges: H. auropunctatus from the Middle East to Myanmar and H. javanicus from Myanmar and east, throughout Southeast Asia. Myanmar represents the eastern and western limits of H. auropunctatus and H. javanicus, respectively (Veron et al. 2007). Given documentation by Espeut (1882) that the mongoose’s introduced to the Caribbean, and later Hawaii, originated from Calcutta, India, it is now generally accepted that the mongoose species introduced to North America is H. auropunctatus.
... Mongooses are diurnal and occupy almost every part of tropical islands. Although their preferred habitat is dense grasses (Pimentel 1955, Vilella andZwank 1993), they will also inhabit mature dry forest, montane rain forest, disturbed dry forest-scrub, cattle pastures, cane fields, coastal areas, and urban areas (Pimentel 1955, Coblentz and Coblentz 1985, Vilella 1998. As opportunistic feeders, they consume a diverse diet and take advantage of anthropogenic food sources (Coblentz andCoblentz 1985, Quinn andWhisson 2005). ...
... Depending on the island, the mongoose breeding season can vary from a few months to year-round (Hays and Conant 2007). For Puerto Rico, Pimentel (1955) noted that the breeding season ranged from January to October and observed 2 peak times for the birth of litters: March-April and July-August. ...
The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is an invasive species and rabies reservoir in Puerto Rico. In the continental United States, terrestrial wildlife rabies is primarily managed by the National Rabies Management Program (NRMP) of the United States Department of Agriculture through oral rabies vaccination (ORV); the distribution of the vaccine baits is influenced by the population density of the target species. TheNRMPuses a density index for estimating raccoon (Procyon lotor) population density to guide bait distribution. In Puerto Rico, a wildlife rabies vaccination program does not exist and vaccination of domestic animals is limited and not compulsory. To acquire information on density and other population dynamics, we compared a mongoose density index (MDI) adapted from the NRMP raccoon density index (RDI) to 3 other methods (2 types of capture–mark–recapture [CAPTURE and MARK] and spatially explicit capture–recapture [SECR]) for estimating density that incorporate modeling procedures on detection probabilities, and examined the spatial distribution of mongooses within our study plots. We used the RDI trapping protocol modified for mongooses to livetrap mongooses in El Yunque National Forest (El Yunque) and Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge (Cabo Rojo) in fall of 2011 and spring of 2012 resulting in 4 trapping sessions. The MDI estimates were consistently less than those from other methods for estimating mongoose densities. The MDI detected a greater mongoose density during the wet season (0.55 mongooses/ha) than the dry season (0.34 mongooses/ha) at Cabo Rojo, consistent with all 3 other density estimation methods. Overall, the correlation coefficient between MDI and the other calculation methods was
... Few studies on mongoose HR have been conducted in Puerto Rico, employing a variety of field methods and estimators 5,22,23 , and no ecological data is available for free-roaming domestic dogs (FRDD) on the island. Traditional capture-mark-recapture (CMR) and VHF radio telemetry are relatively inexpensive with respect to materials, yet they tend to be time and labor intensive and may not provide fine scale movement data required for accurate HR estimates and resource selection studies. ...
The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is the primary terrestrial wildlife rabies reservoir on at least four Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, mongooses represent a risk to public health, based on direct human exposure and indirectly through the transmission of rabies virus to domestic animals. To date, the fundamental ecological relationships of space use among mongooses and between mongooses and domestic animals remain poorly understood. This study is the first to report mongoose home range estimates based on GPS telemetry, as well as concurrent space use among mongooses and free roaming domestic dogs (FRDD; Canis lupus familiaris). Mean (± SE) home range estimates from 19 mongooses in this study (145 ± 21 ha and 60 ± 14 ha for males and females, respectively) were greater than those reported in prior radiotelemetry studies in Puerto Rico. At the scale of their home range, mongooses preferentially used dry forest and shrubland areas, but tended to avoid brackish water vegetation, salt marshes, barren lands and developed areas. Home ranges from five FRDDs were highly variable in size (range 13–285 ha) and may be influenced by availability of reliable anthropogenic resources. Mongooses displayed high home range overlap (general overlap index, GOI = 82%). Home range overlap among mongooses and FRDDs was intermediate (GOI = 50%) and greater than home range overlap by FRDDs (GOI = 10%). Our results provide evidence that space use by both species presents opportunities for interspecific interaction and contact and suggests that human provisioning of dogs may play a role in limiting interactions between stray dogs and mongooses.
... reported hunting together, and kinship is thought to influence the extent to which individual 388 mongoose associate (Pimentel 1955;Nellis and Everard 1983;Quinn 2004). In the context of 389 infectious disease dynamics, it is crucial that contact definitions correspond to the mode of 390 transmission for the disease of interest. ...
Small Indian mongooses (Urva auropunctata) are the primary terrestrial wildlife rabies reservoir on Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Grenada, where they represent a risk to public health through direct human exposure and through transmission of rabies virus to domestic animals that have close association with humans. Historically rabies virus was introduced via domestic dogs and then later shifted into mongoose populations on Puerto Rico and other islands, yet domestic dog-mongoose ecological interactions have been understudied throughout the Caribbean. In this study, we derived daily activity patterns from baited camera traps, and investigated the use of proximity and GPS tracking data acquired concomitantly from mongooses and free-ranging domestic dogs (FRDD) to characterise intra- and interspecific contacts and estimate contact rates. Our results highlight that although mongooses and FRDD are both relatively active in late afternoon, close interspecific contacts only occurred among 4% of collared mongoose-dog dyads, were infrequent (range: 0 - 0.19; median = 0 contacts per day), and were spatially restricted to road and forest edges. Mongooses were only documented to contact feral FRDD, whereas no mongoose contacts with stray FRDD were detected. The space use by stray FRDD and association to humans may play a role in limiting direct contacts with mongooses and the associated risks of rabies virus cross-species transmission. Intraspecific contacts were documented among 11% of collared mongoose-mongoose dyads, occurred at a rate ranging between 0 - 0.57 (median = 0) contacts per day, and took place within wildlands. Intraspecific contacts were documented among 30% of collared dog dyads, at rates ranging between 0 - 3.37 (median = 0) contacts per day, which was more frequent contact than observed for collared mongooses (chi^2 = 8.84; DF =2; P = 0.012). All dog-dog contacts occurred in proximity to human residential development and involved both stray-stray and stray-feral FRDD collared dyads. Feral FRDD may represent a rabies virus vector between mongooses and FRDD living close to humans. Home range overlap was a significant predictor of contact rates (P < 0.001) among intra- and interspecific dyads of both species and may represent a useful proxy for contact between species that also overlap in daily activity patterns. Transitional areas between wildlands and human residential development could represent hotspots for infectious disease transmission between mongooses and feral FRDDs. Characterization and quantification of contact rates in mongooses and FRDDs across the wildland-urban gradient across wet and dry seasons could help to inform animal rabies control strategies on Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands with enzootic mongoose rabies.
... The fact that most grounddwelling amphibians in the Puerto Rico region (e.g., Eleutherodactylus karlschmidti, E. richmondi, E. lentus, Peltophryne lemur) have either experienced declines or disappeared, including those in otherwise undisturbed forest, indicates that predation by the mongoose could be the cause. This is further supported by the fact that the mongoose, originally in lowland areas, invaded upland forested habitats after 1951 (Pimentel 1955) and before 1993 (Viella 1998), coincident with declines of initially the lowland species (P. lemur) followed by the upland forestdwelling species (E. ...
... These rare observations of foraging or hunting behaviors in these invasive predators raise even more concerns about the threats they can pose to local wildlife. Although previous work in the Caribbean region has addressed the impacts of the mongoose (Hedges & Conn, 2012;Pimentel, 1955;Pimentel et al., 1984;Schools et al., 2022), they expressly dismissed or underestimated its ability to climb trees, although it has been observed raiding nests in trees in other regions (Roy, 2001). In the Dominican Republic, the mongoose has been recorded preying on a threatened bird in its nest (cavity) 2 m high on boulders forming the bank of an abandoned pit mine (Townsend, 2006). ...
We report unusual foraging events in two of the most invasive terrestrial predators in the world that are well established in the Caribbean islands: the Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata), locally known as jurón, and the Domestic Cat (Felis catus). The former is well known to be a ground-dwelling species, whereas the latter usually avoids water. We documented tree-climbing in the mongoose and semi-aquatic hunting in a domestic cat. The observations were recorded in southern Dominican Republic, on the island of Hispaniola.
... Under colonial rule, deforestation accelerated with the establishment of large-scale monocultures of sugarcane, indigo, tobacco, and coffee (McClintock, 2003). Mice (Mus musculus), rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), domestic cats (Felis catus), a variety of ungulates were introduced soon after European arrival, and in the late 19th Century, mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) were also introduced (Long, 2003;Pimentel, 1955;Woods and Ottenwalder, 1992). These taxa could have impacted endemic rodents via predation, direct competition, and negative impacts on native plants (Grouard et al., 2013;Street, 1962). ...
We present eight new radiocarbon dates for endemic and invasive rodents from Trouing Jérémie #5, a paleontologically-rich sink hole on the Tiburon Peninsula, Haiti. This includes new dates for two species that have been previously directly dated ( Isolobodon portoricensis and Brotomys voratus) as well as three endemic rodents which have no previous direct radiometric dates ( Plagiodontia velozi, Hexolobodon phenax, and Rhizoplagiodontia lemkei). The radiocarbon date for P. velozi, the largest of these species, is from the very early Holocene (10,995 ± 190 calendar years before present; Cal BP). Specimens of medium-bodied species, H. phenax and R. lemkei date to the mid-Holocene, while specimens of smaller-bodied I. portoricencis and B. voratus have dates falling in the Late-Holocene. These dates confirm that several of the extinct rodent species coexisted with the first humans, who arrived on the island ca. 6000 years ago. In contrast, murid Rattus specimens date to the last few centuries. Rats arrived with Europeans in the late 15th or early 16th Century and a radiocarbon date of ca. 500 Cal BP for one individual suggests that they likely spread quickly across the island. Collectively, these dates establish that vertebrate accumulations at Trouing Jérémie #5 span the Holocene. Remains from this site may provide a useful time sequence for future work examining ecological change across the Holocene as well as regional extirpation patterns.
... Mongoose populations on USVI maintained similar weights ( Table 2) as mongooses in Puerto Rico: male mongooses (n = 144) from Puerto Rico had a mean weight of 601 grams (453-964 gram range), and female mongooses (n = 135) had a mean weight of 453 gram (312-680 gram range) [26]. Mongooses are opportunistic scavengers, and the dense human population on St. Thomas with the availability of human food waste, could explain the larger size of both male and female mongooses on this island ( Table 2). ...
Mongooses, a nonnative species, are a known reservoir of rabies virus in the Caribbean region. A cross-sectional study of mongooses at 41 field sites on the US Virgin Islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas captured 312 mongooses (32% capture rate). We determined the absence of rabies virus by antigen testing and rabies virus exposure by antibody testing in mongoose populations on all three islands. USVI is the first Caribbean state to determine freedom-from-rabies for its mongoose populations with a scientifically-led robust cross-sectional study. Ongoing surveillance activities will determine if other domestic and wildlife populations in USVI are rabies-free.
... Introduction of the small Indian mongoose has been strongly correlated with the extirpation or extinction of many species of reptiles, birds and mammals on several islands worldwide, and notably in the Caribbean (reviewed in Berentsen et al. 2018). Moreover, the species poses a public health risk as a potential host of the causative agents of rabies (Berentsen et al. 2015;Everard and Everard 1988;Johnson et al. 2016), leptospirosis (Everard et al. 1976;Pimentel 1955;Shiokawa et al. 2019), salmonellosis (Miller et al. 2015), or bartonellosis (Jaffe et al. 2018, as well as a potential reservoir for parasites (Cheng et al. 2018). Understanding the dispersal ability of the species is then a major conservation objective considering the risk that this species represents to autochthonous ecosystems. ...
The small Indian mongoose has been introduced into several important hotspots of biodiversity and is considered the wild carnivore with the greatest negative impact on autochthonous ecosystems. Understanding the introduction and dispersal history of the species is crucial in any effort to conserve global biodiversity. We investigated the genetic structure and diversity of the small Indian mongoose, with a focus on the Caribbean region, using genetic data from 496 individuals. We performed molecular genetic analyses using two mitochondrial and eleven newly designed microsatellite markers. We compared our results with historical records and scenarios inferred from the literature. Consistent with historical records, molecular results suggest multiple introduction events into Jamaica from India, as well as the subsequent introduction of the species from Jamaica into Grenada and Puerto Rico. Our results also suggest new scenarios for other introduced populations. For instance, the introduction history of the species into Guadeloupe may be more complex than previously thought, sharing a common origin with the populations of Jamaica, Trinidad and Guyana. In addition, microsatellite data reveal a strong structuration of the populations within the West Indian islands, including nearby islands within the Guadeloupean archipelago, highlighting the lack of dispersal events between islands after the initial introductions. Conversely, the absence of structure inside each island indicates the high dispersal ability of the small Indian mongoose within these islands. These results and the newly developed microsatellite markers represent valuable tools to identify the origin of potential new introductions.
... Cell carrying capacities used in this study were derived directly from habitat-specific mongoose density estimates from field studies in the Caribbean, ranging from 0.19 to 9.0 mongooses/hectare [32,33,48,[64][65][66]. This difference in reported mongoose densities is attributable to (1) differences among Caribbean islands associated with island biogeography, (2) habitat-specific differences in resource availability, and (3) differences in experimental design and analysis methods among published studies. ...
We applied the model-guided fieldwork framework to the Caribbean mongoose rabies system by parametrizing a spatially-explicit, individual-based model, and by performing an uncertainty analysis designed to identify parameters for which additional empirical data are most needed. Our analysis revealed important variation in output variables characterizing rabies dynamics, namely rabies persistence, exposure level, spatiotemporal distribution, and prevalence. Among epidemiological parameters, rabies transmission rate was the most influential, followed by rabies mortality and location, and size of the initial infection. The most influential landscape parameters included habitat-specific carrying capacities, landscape heterogeneity, and the level of resistance to dispersal associated with topography. Movement variables, including juvenile dispersal, adult fine-scale movement distances, and home range size, as well as life history traits such as age of independence, birth seasonality, and age- and sex-specific mortality were other important drivers of rabies dynamics. We discuss results in the context of mongoose ecology and its influence on disease transmission dynamics. Finally, we suggest empirical approaches and study design specificities that would provide optimal contributing data addressing the knowledge gaps identified by our approach, and would increase our potential to use epidemiological models to guide mongoose rabies control and management in the Caribbean.
... However, the species is known to be a threat to marine turtles (Engeman, Addison & Griffin, 2016) and bird populations on several islands in its native range (Ellis et al., 2007) and is thus suspected to impact bird and reptile communities in regions where it has been introduced (Hayes et al., 2004;Hayes, 2006;Ourly, 2006). Finally, both species might be vectors of various pathogens, such as rabies (Everard & Everard, 1988;Arjo et al., 2005;Puskas et al., 2010;Beasley et al., 2012;Vos et al., 2012;Berentsen et al., 2015;Johnson et al., 2016), nematode-mediated pathologies (Beltr an-Beck, Garc ıa & Gort azar, 2012) and bacterial infections (Pimentel, 1955;Everard, Green & Glosser, 1976;Miller et al., 2015;Cheng et al., 2018;Jaffe et al., 2018;Shiokawa et al., 2019). ...
The introduction of exotic species is one of the major causes of the decline of global biodiversity. Tropical insular ecosystems, including many biodiversity hotspots, are particularly threatened by biological invasions. Two wild carnivores have been introduced in the Caribbean, the northern raccoon Procyon lotor and the small Indian mongoose Urva auropunctata. Understanding the spatial distribution and activity patterns of both species is crucial for conservation purposes. Here we used camera trap data to model single‐season occupancy and detection of these two species on two Caribbean islands, Guadeloupe and Martinique. Our survey highlighted the broad distribution of both species on these islands, with the exception of the northern raccoon population in Martinique which appears very limited. Moreover, spatio‐temporal co‐occurrence with other bird and mammal species revealed that the northern raccoon and the small Indian mongoose face few or no competitors. Finally, our models show that the occupancy of both species was not influenced by any variable tested (i.e. elevation, precipitation, temperature and land cover) and that the probability to detect small Indian mongooses was influenced by land cover and camera model. These results highlight the potential of both the northern raccoon and the small Indian mongoose to have a significant impact on the native ecosystems in these hotspots of biodiversity and demonstrate the necessity to develop conservation actions towards control and limitation of these invasive carnivores.
... *Mongoose locations were plotted on a map and the area calculated manually using a compensating polar planimeter. **Linear range reported by Stone and Keith (1987), Tomich (1969) and Pimentel (1955). Post hoc area calculated by using the equation: A= π r 2 , where r = 1/2 the linear distance reported. ...
The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is an opportunistic omnivore introduced to sugar producing islands primarily to control rat (Rattus spp.) populations, yet is now considered an invasive pest species on multiple Caribbean islands. Data on home range estimates of mongooses in Puerto Rico and other regions are limited. We fitted 24 mongooses (15 males and nine females) with very high frequency (VHF) radio collars at the Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge in southwestern Puerto Rico and tracked them via radio telemetry for up to six months. The raw mean (SE) minimum convex polygon home range among 24 mongooses was 45.03 (8.30) hectares. The mean (SE) fixed kernel 95% estimate was 38.37 (5.78) hectares, and the 50% core area estimate was 7.89 (1.29) hectares. Our home range estimates are similar to previous estimates in the Caribbean and other islands, but larger than those reported from their native range in India. Our study adds new information to the small body of literature available on mongoose home ranges and is one of the few studies conducted in a lowland dry semi-deciduous forest in southwestern Puerto Rico. Additional research on mongoose home ranges in suburban/rural habitats, as well as in agricultural areas, would provide valuable information for the management of wildlife disease and damage conflicts associated with mongooses in the Caribbean region.
... Bait preference trials have been conducted (Berentsen et al. 2014(Berentsen et al. , 2017, and recent research suggests rodents (primarily black rats, Rattus rattus) are a primary bait competitor (Berentsen et al. 2017). In Puerto Rico, mongooses breed throughout the year, but two birth pulses (March-April and July-August) are typically observed with two to four pups per litter (Pimentel 1955). ...
The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is a rabies reservoir in areas of the Caribbean including Puerto Rico, but no rabies vaccination program targeting this host exists. We used two derivatives of iophenoxic acid (IPA) to evaluate placebo oral rabies vaccine bait uptake by mongooses in southwestern Puerto Rico. We hand-distributed baits at an application rate of 200 baits/km2 at three, 400 ha, sites during autumn 2016 and spring 2017. Each site contained 90-100 cage traps in a 100 ha central trapping area. We used ethyl-IPA as a biological marker during the autumn and methyl-IPA during the spring. We live captured mongooses for 10 consecutive days, beginning 1 wk following bait application. We obtained a serum sample from captured mongooses and analyzed the sera for ethyl- and methyl-IPA by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. During autumn 2016, 63% (55/87) mongooses sampled were positive for ethyl-IPA. In spring 2017, 69% (85/123) of mongooses were positive for methyl-IPA. Pooling seasons, accounting for recaptures between years, and disregarding marker type, 74% (133/179) unique mongooses were positive for IPA biomarker, indicating bait consumption during either the autumn, spring, or both trials. We conclude that distributing baits at an application rate of 200 baits/km2 is sufficient to reach over 60% of the target mongoose population in dry forest habitats of Puerto Rico.
... In addition, mongoose carries human and animal diseases also, including rabies and human Leptospira bacterium. 10,11 Injecting poisoning rats with brodifacoum, leg trapping, live chicken bait, mongoose proof fence, thallium sulfate, sodium monofluroacetate and strychnine sulfate is good for controlling mongoose. 12,13 Mongooses are highly susceptible to diphacinone LD 50 0.2mg/kg BW). ...
... On Croatian islands it is harmful to the wild fowl and it damages vegetables, figs, grapes as well as poultry (Tvrtković & Kryštufek, 1990). Additionally, it carries human and animal diseases, including rabies and human Leptospira bacterium (Pimentel, 1955;Nellis & Everard, 1983). Contrary to what might be expected, the residents on the island of Mljet like the mongoose and they do not see it as a pest. ...
Regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species creates the framework for the prevention, minimization, and mitigation of the harmful effects of invasive alien species on biodiversity in the European Union. Commission Implementing Regulations 2016/1141 and 2017/1263 delivered the list of invasive alien species of Union concern (“the Union list”). Out of 49 species on the Union list, 17 species are present in Croatia. They include five plants (Plantae), three crustaceans (Crustacea), two freshwater fishes (Actinopterygii), one reptile (Rep-tilia), one bird (Aves), and five mammals (Mammalia). Their systematics and biology, native and introduced range, history of introduction, introduction pathway to Croatia, impact in the introduced range, including any known impacts in Croatia, are presented. Furthermore, their distribution in Croatia, based on the available data, is shown on the distribution maps.
... In addition, mongoose carries human and animal diseases also, including rabies and human Leptospira bacterium. 10,11 Injecting poisoning rats with brodifacoum, leg trapping, live chicken bait, mongoose proof fence, thallium sulfate, sodium monofluroacetate and strychnine sulfate is good for controlling mongoose. 12,13 Mongooses are highly susceptible to diphacinone LD 50 0.2mg/kg BW). ...
... Mongooses are now pests throughout Puerto Rico. Besides impacts on native fauna (Pimentel 1955), especially endangered Puerto Rican parrots (Amazona vittata; Engeman et al. 2006a), mongooses are a primary rabies reservoir in Puerto Rico (Everard & Everard 1988, 1992. ...
A wide array of sizes, ecosystems, cultures, and invasive wildlife are represented among inhabited islands. Here, six cases from the United States of America (US) are selected to illustrate the high diversity of invasive animal management issues and objectives. We outline the background, define the problems and management objectives. We identify the management approaches and discuss the results and influences as they specifically relate to inhabited islands. The examples are: (1) Gambian giant pouched rats on Grassy Key, Florida; (2) coqui frogs on Kaua’i, Hawai’i; (3) feral swine on Cayo Costa Island, Florida; (4) rodents and monitor lizards on Cocos Island, Guam; (5) black spiny-tailed iguanas (ctenosaurs) on Gasparilla Island, Florida; and (6) mongooses on Puerto Rico. The outcomes of the programs are discussed, particularly in relation to the impact of human habitation on success.
... Herpestes auropunctatus is an opportunistic predator with an extremely generalized diet. On Puerto Rico (Wolcott, 1953;Pimentel, 1955), of 315 prey items, 1.1% were amphibians and 17. 1% were reptiles; only 21.3'%. were vertebrates, of which reptiles accounted for 80.l%. ...
Island ecosystems are, in general, more vulnerable to change than are those on continents, and the West Indies are no exception. In the past 155 years a minimum of 7-12 extinctions and 12-13 extirpations of amphibians and reptiles have occurred in the West Indies. In the Lesser Antilles (and other small islands), most extirpations can be attributed to the introduction of alien predators (primarily the mongoose, but also cats and dogs). Certain species appear more sensitive to predator introductions than others (e.g., teiid lizards of the genus Ameiva and colubrid snakes of the genera Alsophis and Liophis). On mongoose-infested islands, other factors were investigated (human population density, island area, physiographic complexity), but none absolved the mongoose as the primary agent of extirpation. In the Greater Antilles, although introduced predators have had a negative impact, extinctions due to habitat destruction appear more likely due to the potentially stenoecious adaptation of many taxa (e.g., tree crown-, buttress-, and bromeliad-dwelling species).
... Studies on Okinawa Island (Ogura et al., 2001) and the island Viti Levu in Fiji (Gorman, 1976) have shown a single reproductive peak period (period with high ratio of pregnancy) in captured female mongooses. In contrast, 2 distinct peaks have been reported in Hawaii (Pearson and Baldwin, 1953), Puerto Rico (Pimentel, 1955), and St. Croix (Nellis and Everard, 1983); in Grenada, 3 distinct peaks were observed by Nellis and Everard (1983). In the areas where 2 or 3 distinct reproductive peaks were observed, there was an interval of 3 to 4 months between reproductive peaks, and females were able to reproduce 2 or 3 times a year. ...
The small Indian mongoose acts as a biological control agent for rodents, snakes, and many insects in agroecosystems. Its reproductive physiology has been studied mostly from its introduced range. We investigated the reproductive pattern of the female small Indian mongoose on the Potohar Plateau, i.e. its native range. We found a male:female ratio of 0.67 (n = 52); only 16% of the live-trapped females were found to be pregnant. Elevated estradiol and progesterone levels were found during March to May. LH levels showed 2 peaks: the first during March (25.5 mIU/mL) and the second in September (29.8 mIU/mL); however, FSH levels were almost the same. Light microscopic sections (H & E stained) of the ovary showed mature Graafian follicles during February, corpora lutea (early gestation) during March, and maintenance of prominent corpora lutea inside the ovary during April (late gestation period); however, during June, no corpora lutea were observed in the ovary, indicating the lactational phase. Average litter size was 2.83 ± 0.14 (by visual observation), 3 ± 0.24 (by counts of placental scars), and 3.2 ± 0.37 (by counts of developing embryos). The study concludes that the small Indian mongoose breeds twice a year in its native range.
... In this newly established region, climates, are significantly cooler, with temperatures in January lower than 10°C -which represent known isoterm limits of species distribution (Nellis & McManus 1974;Ebisu & Whittow, 1976). Although primary motive of introduction was reduction of rats on the sugar cane plantations or biological control of poisonous snakes populations that threatened the local residents, mongooses, being generalist species, started to prey on many local native species (Pimentel, 1955;Gorman, 1975;Cavallini & Serafini, 1995;Watari et al., 2008). In the last few decades, the small Indian mongoose has been spreading along Adriatic cost in Croatia and Monenegro and in the mainland of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Barun et al., 2008;Ćirović et al., 2010). ...
Spreading of small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) along Adriatic coast is well described in recent literature. However, data about its presence and spreading in mainland of Bosnia and Herzegovina are scarce. In this paper new records about distribution of small Indian mongoose in the region of Eastern Herzegovina are presented. This region is characteristic as the species was introduced few decades ago. These records confirm extension of this species' range towards southeast along Trebišnjica river. Excluding valley of Neretva river were species was already recorded recently small Indian mongose is present in whole area of Popovo polje. Total distribution area of the small Indian mongoose in Bosnia and Herzegovina is 262.5 km2. So far there are no data about its presence in western from Neretva river. Having in mind that this is an invasive species, establishment of population monitoring and assessment of the impact which small Indian mongoose has on local fauna must be set as biodiversity conservation priorities in the future.
The small Indian mongoose (Urva auropunctata) is a rabies reservoir on several Caribbean Islands including Puerto Rico. In the continental United States, oral rabies vaccination (ORV) has been used to control and locally eliminate rabies viruses targeting meso-carnivores including raccoons (Procyon lotor), grey foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and coyotes (Canis latrans), and has more recently been proposed to mitigate and control mongoose rabies in Puerto Rico. A fundamental understanding of the population density of the target species is an important factor in planning bait application rates prior to ORV operations. In Puerto Rico, most ecological studies on mongooses have been restricted to the rainforest region in the northeastern portion of the island. We calculated population density estimates for mongooses at seven sites representing four habitat types in Puerto Rico. We marked 445 unique mongooses across 593 capture events during 12,530 trap days during 2016–2021. Mean (SE, 95% CI) population densities were greater in closed to open broadleaved evergreen forest habitat (0.79 ±0.13, 0.67–0.92 mongooses/ha) compared to grasslands (0.43 ± 0.10; 0.35–0.55 mongooses/ha), rainfed croplands (0.26 ±0.10, 0.18–0.38 mongooses/ha), and shrub/herbaceous habitat (0.19 ±0.05, 0.15–0.25 mongooses/ha). We did not detect seasonal variation in mongoose population density (0.48 [0.06; 0.35–0.62] and 0.39 [0.06; 0.27–0.50] mongooses/ha measured in the wet (May–November) and dry (December–April) seasons, respectively. Multiple ORV applications may be needed annually for adequate population immunity, particularly in habitats with high mongoose population densities and rapid population turnover.
Few studies have been conducted on the biogeography and phylogenetic relationships of Neotropical forest lizards (Diploglossidae) because of incomplete taxon sampling, conflicting datasets, and low statistical support at phylogenetic nodes. Here, we enhance a recent nine-gene dataset with a genomic dataset of 3,232 loci and 642,775 aligned base pairs. The resulting phylogeny includes 30 diploglossid species, 10 of the 11 genera, and the three subfamilies. It shows significant support for all supra-specific taxa in either maximum likelihood or Bayesian analyses or both. With this well-supported phylogeny, we further investigate the historical biogeography of the group and how diploglossids reached the Caribbean islands. Our analyses indicate that Antillean diploglossid lizards originated from at least two overwater dispersals from South America. Our tests for the strength of convergent evolution between morphologically similar taxa support the recognition of a soil and a tree ecomorph. In addition, we propose grass, ground, rock, and swamp ecomorphs for species in this family based on ecological and morphological data and analyses.
We investigated the occurrence and diet of the Altai weasel (Mustela altaica), a “Near Threatened”
mammal, in Bunjosa Game Reserve, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The species occurrence was
confirmed by direct field sightings (live and kill), and indirect signs (pugmarks, burrows, fecal droppings,
and reported sightings by local community). During one-year study period (September 2015-August
2016), a total of 28 individuals of the species were sighted in the field including 18 live and 10 dead
specimens. In addition, 93 fecal samples of the species were collected and analyzed for investigating its
diet composition and identification of its prey species. Analysis of scats revealed its diet comprising of
both vertebrates and invertebrates along with some proportion of vegetation. The weasel most frequently
consumed arthropods (26%), followed by mammals (21%), birds (9 %) and least reptiles (2 %), along
with consuming vegetation (23 %). The prey species in the overall diet of the species were five different
orders of arthropods, two species of mammals (rodents) and birds (domestic hen and pigeon), while
among plant food it consumed seeds and twigs of wild mulberry, Japanese fruit, wild fig and cucumber.
The study concludes that Altai weasel in Bunjosa Game Reserve occurs at an elevation range between
1773 m to 1875 m, and consumes most frequently insects, followed by small mammals, birds and reptiles,
along with seeds and twigs of some wild plant species
Invasive alien species represent one of the major factors of global loss of biodiversity and disruption of natural ecosystems. The small Indian mongoose, Urva auropunctata, is considered one of the wild carnivore species with the greatest negative impact on global biodiversity. Understanding of the factors underpinning the species’ distribution and potential dispersion in a context of climate change thus appears crucial in the conservation of native ecosystems. Here we modelled the current and future climatically favourable areas for the small Indian mongoose using Ecological Niche Modelling based on data sets filtrated in environmental spaces. Projections from these models show extensive current favourable geographical areas, covering continental and insular regions within tropical and sub-tropical latitudes. Moreover, predictions for 2050 reveal that climate change is likely to expand current favourable areas north of the current favourable spaces, particularly in Eastern Europe. This climate-induced expansion is particularly worrisome given that the species is already spreading in the Balkan region. Our projections suggest that it is very likely that the small Indian mongoose will have an increasing influence on ecosystems and biodiversity in Europe by 2050.
Biological control in Paraguay starded in the 1980s with the use of baculovirus for augmentative biocontrol of the soybean caterpillar and application of parasitoids to control the sugarcane borer. Since 2000, organic prodution has stimulated use of biocontrol. Also in 2000, large-scale prospecting for natural enemies and microbial control agents in crops such as cotton, maize, bean, peanut, sesame, soybean and sugarcane was initiated. Many natural enemies found during these prospecting activities are currently used in conservation biocontrol programmes. Several entomopathogenic and phytopathogenic agents have beeb registrtered and used in Paraguay.
The breeding characteristics of female feral small Asian mongooses on the island of Okinawa are herein described. Based on the analysis of head and body lengths and sexual maturity, it was found that most females whose head and body lengths were under 240mm on Okinawa were sexually immature females. Moreover, it was observed that the females attained puberty at a head and body length range of 240mm to 255mm, and attained sexual maturity at approximately 265mm, in those females demonstrating comparatively rapid growth. The results from captive females of each reproductive status suggested that the mating season begins predominantly in February, the prime parturient season is from April to September, and the lactational season continues until November. The annual changes in the rate of pregnant females showed only one peak, indicating that most females produce one litter per year and the rate of pregnancy calculated from February to November, when pregnant females were trapped, was 32.3%. The number of fetuses varied from one to three, and averaged 2.15, and the number of placental scars ranged from one to five, and averaged 2.54. It appears that five embryos can implant in the uterus at once; however, the results of the strength of placental scars and the range of the number of fetuses indicated that several embryos might be lost if as many as four or five embryos implanted.
In October 2000, a program was begun in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan to eradicate the small Asian mongoose, Herpestes javanicus. Of the small Asian mongooses captured on Okinawajima Island between January 1999 and March 2003, a total of 2,618 animals were examined and 1,434 ticks were collected from 499 of the animals. Of the total collected, 1,317 ticks were identified as Amblyomma testeudinarium, Haemaphysalis flava, H. formosensis, H. hystricis, and Ixodes granulatus. The dominant species was I. granulatus, which was the only species for which specimens at all developmental stages were collected. The remaining 117 ticks could not be identified. Following the introduction of the small Asian mongoose from India in 1910, the number and range of the mongoose have increased on Okinawajima Island. As the mongoose seems to have become one of the important host species for ticks on this island, it is important to control this non-native species from an epidemiology perspective.
The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) is an invasive pest species responsible for damage to native avian, reptile, and amphibian species on Hawaii, Croatia, Mauritius, and several Caribbean Islands, among other regions. Mongoose control has been pursued through a variety of means, with varying success. One toxicant, diphacinone, has been shown to be effective in mongooses and is co-labeled in a rodenticide bait for mongoose control in Hawaii; however, preliminary observations indicate low performance as a mongoose toxicant due likely to poor consumption. We evaluated the efficacy and palatability of 10 commercial rodenticide baits, technical diphacinone powder, and two alternative acute toxicants against mongooses in laboratory feeding trials. We observed poor acceptance and subsequent low overall mortality, of the hard grain-based pellets or block formulations typical of most of the commercial rodenticide baits. The exception was Tomcat® bait blocks containing 0.1% bromethalin, an acute neurotoxin, which achieved up to 100% mortality. Mortality among all other commercial rodenticide formulations ranged from 10 to 50%. Three-day feedings of 0.005% technical diphacinone formulated in fresh minced chicken achieved 100% mortality. One-day feedings of para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP), a chemical that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, achieved 100% mortality at concentrations of 0.10 to 0.15%. Bait acceptance of two sodium nitrite formulations (similar toxic mode of action as PAPP) was relatively poor, and mortality averaged 20%. In general, commercially produced rodenticide baits were not preferred by mongooses and had lower mortality rates compared to freshly prepared meat bait formulations. More palatable baits had higher consumption and achieved higher mortality rates. The diphacinone bait registered for rat and mongoose control in Hawaii achieved 20% mortality and was less effective than some of the other commercial or candidate fresh bait products evaluated in this study.
The small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus, was intentionally introduced throughout the tropics over the past 140 years. This pervasive omnivore continues to have an impact on the structure of food webs throughout the world, and may be exerting top-down controls to ecosystems on islands throughout the Caribbean. Critical examinations of mongoose diets are scarce; therefore, their trophic role is poorly understood. To preliminarily estimate the degree to which H. auropunctatus is exerting trophic control on the ecological processes of this region, we examined the stable isotopic signature (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) from the hair of mongoose trapped in southern St. John, United States Virgin Islands (USVI). Results suggest geographic differences in consumption by mongoose inhabiting similar localities. In addition, mongoose captured at the peninsular Yawzi Point show consumption differing among ages, with older individuals likely relying more heavily on marine-derived nutrients. This preliminarily suggests that the invasive mongoose may be differentially exerting pressure on native marine herpetofauna, and that this behavior may increase throughout the life of the predator. This is the first study to systematically examine mongoose in the Caribbean using stable isotopes, and so will hopefully serve as a springboard for additional isotopic studies of this invasive predator in order to fully elucidate its impact on native fauna throughout the Caribbean.
Contents
16.1 Introduction 381
16.2 Assessing impacts of rodents and other vertebrate invaders 385
16.3 Accounts of some important vertebrate invaders 38616.3.1 Norway rant (Rattus norvegicus) 38616.3.2 Roof Rat (Rattus rattus) 38716.3.3 Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans) 38816.3.4 House mouse (Mus Musculus) 38816.3.5 Nutria (Myocastor coypus) 38916.3.6 Gambian giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) 39016.3.7 Feral swine (Sus scofa) 39016.3.8 Small Indian Mongoose (Herpestes javanicus) 39116.3.9 Rock pigeon (Columba livia) 39216.3.10 House sparrow (Passer domesticus) 39316.3.11 European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 39316.3.12 Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) 39416.3.13 Brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) 39516.3.14 Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) 39616.3.15 Coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) 39716.3.16 Sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) 39716.3.17 European and Asian carp (Cyprinidae) 398
16.4 Offshore Threats 399
16.5 Discussion 400
Acknowledgements 401
References 401
The fossil record of the earth shows that faunal and floral extinctions increased dramatically during certain periods. These “paleo” upheavals like those at the end of Permian and Cretaceous have long provided the punctuations that geologists and paleontologists use to divide the geological periods. A challenging question in conservation science is whether the processes affecting extinction rates today are helpful in interpreting extinction in the past and, conversely, whether prehistoric extinctions are useful for understanding recent extinctions.
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