Three Thomasian scientists joined foreign researchers in sounding the alarm on potential invasive species that can threaten worldwide biodiversity, a new article published in Global Change Biology revealed.
Master of Science in Biology alumnus Arman N. Pili (now a research affiliate at Monash University), Department of Biological Sciences academic researcher Mae Lowe Diesmos, MSc, and Graduate School academic staff Arvin Diesmos, PhD joined eleven (11) scholars from different parts of the world in the study 鈥淔orecasting potential invaders to prevent future biological invasions worldwide.鈥� Biological invasions, include the introduction of foreign, i.e., alien species, into a given area, have been brought about by the 鈥渆ver-increasing and expanding globalization of trade and transport.鈥�
The study provided a quantitative invasion risk assessment tool based on invasion syndromes (i.e., generalizing typical attributes of invasive alien species). The researchers based on their work on the modelling of invasion syndromes of 466 amphibians and reptile species with invasion history, then used the data to forecast possible invasion for the rest of the 16,236 species worldwide.
Based on their findings, 鈥�160 amphibians and reptiles without known invasion history could be unintentionally transported and introduced in the future,鈥� with 57 posing a 鈥渉igh risk of establishing alien populations.鈥� Such introduction may happen through the accidental transport of fresh produce to a territory by travelers.
In a spinoff article published in The Conversation, Pili and co-researcher David Chapple warned that among the species that can invade Australian biodiversity are the Graceful Chameleon, Common European Viper, and American toad.
The new tool lends itself to 鈥渄eveloping a future-proof preventative biosecurity鈥� system globally.
Both Dr. Arvin and Asst. Prof. Mae Lowe Diesmos are scholars on the systematics, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
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