Interrelations Between Seabirds and Introduced Animals
by
Robert D. Jones, Jr.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1011 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
and
G. Vernon Byrd[66]
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Adak, Alaska
Abstract
Animals introduced to insular seabird habitats are of both intentional and accidental origin. The results of the introductions—particularly of herbivores—cannot be predicted, but may range from severely destructive to beneficial. Herbivores are of both domestic and wild stocks of ungulates, hares, and rabbits. Rats are the most commonly introduced omnivore on a worldwide basis. In Alaska the commonest carnivore introduction has been the red fox (Vulpes fulva) and arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), and the first of these were made in the early 19th century by the Russian-American Company. These foxes nearly extirpated the Aleutian Canada goose (Branta canadensis leucopareia) from its nesting grounds. Black flies (Simuliidae), which are vectors of avian blood parasites, have been introduced to three of the Aleutian Islands.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss some influences of introduced animals, primarily mammals, on seabirds and their nesting habitat, with emphasis on the coasts of Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. Our discussion focuses on island introductions partly because a large proportion of seabirds choose island nesting sites, and because islands present ecosystems vulnerable to such introductions.