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EAFES Symposium ES06-4

Struggle with the alien anole in a World Heritage Island, Ogasawara

Hiroo TAKAHASHI (JWRC)

The Ogasawara Islands are a group of volcanic islands located 1000km south of Tokyo, Japan. Its unique flora and fauna led to its recognition as a UNESCO's World Heritage Site. However, since its introduction to the two main islands in the 1970s and 80s, the invasive lizard, green anole (Anolis carolinensis), has caused extensive damage to the native insect fauna. A number of insect populations have declined and/or gone extinct due to anole predation. To reduce the ecological impact of the anole, a focused control project has been conducted since 2006. The ongoing project holds two strategies. Firstly, to prevent dispersal to anole-free islands, intensive trapping for the anole has been performed at harbor area of Chichijima Island, the primary site of ocean shipping. As a result of this effort, the anole density has decreased, thereby lowering the risk of transport off of the island. Secondly, to restore the damaged ecosystem, we have conducted regional anole exclusion efforts by developing a barrier system and installing it in an area of Hahajima Island. By intensive capturing effort, the anole density within the area has decreased to 10-20%, and the abundance and species richness of insects has subsequently increased. For the next phase of anole control, we are developing new methodologies to completely eradicate the invasive anole at a focal region and to detect individuals in areas of low anole density.


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