An integrative approach to assess non-native iguana presence on Saba and Montserrat: Are we losing all native Iguana populations in the Lesser Antilles?,Animal Conservation

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An integrative approach to assess non-native iguana presence on Saba and Montserrat: Are we losing all native Iguana populations in the Lesser Antilles?
Animal Conservation ( IF 2.8 ) Pub Date : 2023-03-23 , DOI: 10.1111/acv.12869
M. P. van den Burg _{1,

2} , M. Goetz ₃ , L. Brannon _{3,

4} , T. S. Weekes ₄ , K. V. Ryan ₄ , A. O. Debrot _{5,

6}

Affiliation

Invasive alien species are among the main drivers of the ongoing sixth mass extinction wave, especially affecting island populations. Although the Caribbean is well-known for its high species richness and endemism, also for reptiles, equally important is the regional contribution of non-native species to island biodiversity. The Lesser Antilles encompass high genetic diversity in Iguana, though most native populations either have gone extinct or are declining following competitive hybridization with invasive non-native green iguanas. Here, we assessed non-native presence in two poorly-studied native melanistic Iguana iguana populations using available genetic tools and explored utilizing size-dependent body measurements to discriminate between native and non-native iguanas. Genetic samples from Saba and Montserrat were genotyped across 17 microsatellite loci with STRUCTURE, and multivariate analyses indicating non-native iguana presence only on Saba. This was corroborated by mtDNA and nDNA sequences, highlighting a non-native origin in Central America and the ABC islands. We identified preliminary evidence suggestive of hybridization. Morphological variation among size-dependent characteristics showed that non-native iguanas have significantly larger subtympanic plates than native iguanas. Non-native individuals also differed in scalation and coloration patterns. Overall, our findings demonstrate the need for continuous monitoring of non-native iguanas within remaining native Iguana populations in the Lesser Antilles, as those not directly threatened by non-native green iguanas are restricted to only 8.7% of the historic range. Although genetic data allow for the identification of non-native or hybrid iguana presence, this field-to-lab workflow is time-consuming. Rapid in-situ identification of non-native individuals is crucial for conservation management. In addition to patterns of scalation and coloration, we have highlighted the utility of size-dependent variables for rapid diagnosis. We urge regional partners to build morphometric databases for native Iguana populations allowing the quick detection of future incursions of non-native green iguanas and the rapid implementation of effective countermeasures during the early phase of invasion.

中文翻译：

评估萨巴岛和蒙特塞拉特岛非本地鬣蜥存在的综合方法：我们是否正在失去小安的列斯群岛的所有本地鬣蜥种群？

外来入侵物种是正在进行的第六次大规模灭绝浪潮的主要驱动因素之一，特别是对岛屿人口的影响。尽管加勒比地区以其物种丰富度和特有性而闻名，爬行动物也是如此，但同样重要的是非本地物种对岛屿生物多样性的区域贡献。小安的列斯群岛的鬣蜥拥有高度的遗传多样性，尽管大多数本土种群要么已经灭绝，要么在与入侵性非本土绿鬣蜥的竞争性杂交后数量下降。在这里，我们使用现有的遗传工具评估了两个研究不足的本地黑色鬣蜥种群中的非本地存在，并探索利用大小依赖的身体测量来区分本地和非本地鬣蜥。对萨巴岛和蒙特塞拉特岛的遗传样本进行了 17 个微卫星位点的基因分型，并进行了结构分析，多变量分析表明非本地鬣蜥仅存在于萨巴岛。mtDNA 和 nDNA 序列证实了这一点，强调了中美洲和 ABC 群岛的非本地起源。我们确定了暗示杂交的初步证据。尺寸依赖性特征的形态变化表明，非本地鬣蜥的鼓室下板明显大于本地鬣蜥。非本地个体的等级和着色模式也有所不同。总体而言，我们的研究结果表明，需要对小安的列斯群岛剩余本土鬣蜥种群中的非本土鬣蜥进行持续监测，因为那些未直接受到非本土绿鬣蜥威胁的物种仅限于历史范围的 8.7%。尽管遗传数据可以识别非本地或杂交鬣蜥的存在，但这种从现场到实验室的工作流程非常耗时。快速就地识别非本地个体对于保护管理至关重要。除了缩放和着色模式之外，我们还强调了大小相关变量在快速诊断中的实用性。我们敦促区域合作伙伴为本地鬣蜥种群建立形态测量数据库，以便快速检测非本地绿鬣蜥未来的入侵，并在入侵的早期阶段快速实施有效的对策。

更新日期：2023-03-23

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