Alien species pathways to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

A comprehensive analysis of alien species pathways to the Galápagos Islands reveals that 1,579 terrestrial and marine species have been introduced by humans, with nearly all becoming established. The study identifies intentional introductions, primarily of plants, as a significant but declining threat due to strengthened biosecurity measures. However, unintentional introductions via plant material, transport vehicles, and commodities like fruit and vegetables pose an increasing risk, particularly as tourism expands. The research collated extensive data on human activity pathways, including tourist movements, cargo, and biosecurity interceptions, highlighting the close correlation between human population growth and the frequency of alien species arrivals. Effective management of these invasion pathways is critical to preserving the biodiversity of this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Toral-Granda, M. V., Causton, C. E., Jäger, H., Trueman, M., Izurieta, J. C., Araujo, E., Cruz, M., Zander, K. K., Izurieta, A., & Garnett, S. T. (2017). Alien species pathways to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Plos One, 12(9), e0184379. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184379