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Invasive species are a significant threat to native species of the United Arab Emirates, bringing about environmental and agricultural damage. Although the country is considered to be extremely arid and hard for foreign species to settle in, as of 2019, 242 invasive species had been found within the country. Invasive species typically danger endemic species through predation and competition. Of the major taxonomic groups, birds have the most invasive species, with 49%.

History

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The United Arab Emirates defines an invasive species as a non-native species of living organism whose introduction threatens local biodiversity.[1] The invasion of foreign species is considered a threat to native ecosystems within the country.[2] Although deserts are considered one of the least-invaded ecosystems in the world,[2] the United Arab Emirates has a significant amount of invasive species in the country. As of 2019, there were 272 invasive species in the country.[3] Invasive species within the United Arab Emirates are noted as having detrimental effects on endemic species by diminishing biodiversity.[4][5] For instance, a study for Plant Ecology journal found that sites containing invasive the species Neltuma juliflora had lower biodiversity and indigenous species were displaced.[6] The plant posed a threat to native vegetation such as Prosopis cineraria, and has been used as a shelter for unwanted insects, rodents, and reptiles.[7] The plant was originally introduced in Abu Dhabi in the 1970s to combat desertification, and seeds were eventually spread through livestock and reached other Emirates.[8]

The United Arab Emirates is noted for its harsh, arid climate, which makes the establishment and survival of invasive species hard. A 2015 study by the Journal of Threatened Taxa found that of a total of 146 invasive species, the highest percentage in the major taxonomic groups were birds (49%), followed by invertebrates (34%), plants, reptiles and amphibians (5%), mammals (4%), and freshwater fish (3%).[9]

Notable invasive species

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Birds

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Of bird species in the United Arab Emirates, 49% are invasive. The main vectors of entry were recorded as accidental introduction (41%) and escape from captivity (34%). The most common invasive bird species are Acridotheres tristis and Corvus splendens.[9]

Picture Common Name Species Name Introduction Control Measures Notes Ref.
House crow Corvus splendens Introduced through boarding ships and dhows. Spreads along coastal cities with human habitants. Physical capture and removal The species is native to the Indian subcontinent. They predate on native biodiversity and compete with native species for resources. [10]
Rose-ringed parakeet Psittacula krameri Introduced as escaped or released pets. Physical capture and removal The species is native to the Indian subcontinent. They cause significant damage to date palm plantations [11]
Common myna Acridotheres tristis Introduced as escaped or released pets. Physical capture and removal The species is native to Asia, particularly south, southeast, and east Asia. They compete with native species for resources. [12]

Invertebrates

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Invasive invertebrates constitute 34% of all invertebrate species in the United Arab Emirates. 32% of invasive vertebrates were recorded as "accidental introductions", while 68% had unknown vectors The majority of invasive vertebrates have become naturalized in their environments. For instance, fire ant Solenopsis geminata, endemic to Central America, has an adverse impact on local ecology through predation and competition.[9]

Picture Common Name Species Name Introduced Control Measures Notes Ref.
Red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Introduced through the importation of infected date palm trees. Strict quarantine measures at ports of entry, pheromone traps Red palm weevils are considered extremely damaging to date palm trees, with their larvae digging holes into the trunk, eventually weakening and killing the tree. This affects the production of dates and has a negative impact on the economy of the United Arab Emirates. Excessive uses of insecticides to kill the weevils have also resulted in the loss of beneficial native insects. [13]
Tropical Leatherleaf slug Laevicaulis alte Introduced through landscaping and agricultural activities. Chemical control through the use of insecticides This species is native to east and west Africa. They feed on agricultural and native plants and transmit diseases to plants and livestock through faeces. [14]
Surinam cockroach Pycnoscelus surinamensis Introduced through the import of goods. Chemical control through the use of insecticides and pheromone traps. The surinam cockroach is native to the Indo-Malayan region. They infest agricultural produce and are destructive towards plants. [15]

Mammals

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The main pathways for the introduction of invasive mammals are through accidental introduction (50%) and escape from captivity (50%). The most common mammalian invasive species are Felis domesticus, Canis familiaris, Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus and Mus musculus. All of the above species are disease vectors and considered extremely dangerous to native mammalian species.[9]

Picture Common Name Species Name Introduced Control Measures Notes Ref.
Feral cat Felis catus Introduced as escaped or released pets. Physical capture, trap–neuter–return programs Feral cats have been thought to have contributed towards the decrease in native species of reptiles, birds, and small mammals. They are widespread in urban areas and commonly feed on ground nesting birds. They also transmit diseases and threaten native wildcat species through hybridization. For instance, the Felis silvestris gordoni is threatened by genetic dilution due to interbreeding with feral cats. [16][9]
Feral dog Canis lupus familiaris Introduced as escaped or released pets. Physical removal Feral dogs chase and harm endemic species, which has resulted in changes in behaviour of native wildlife. They can also spread diseases such as rabies to animals and humans. [17]
Black rat Rattus rattus Introduced through cargo transport. Physical removal, thorough inspections of cargo Black rats originated from South Asia and are now distributed globally. They are considered pests by farmers as they consume a wife range of agricultural products and food. They threaten native species, such as by eating the eggs of seabirds. [18]

Plants

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Of the invasive species of plants in the country, 50% have an undetermined pathway into the country, and 25% each were determined to be accidental introductions and escapes from cultivation.[9]

Picture Common Name Species Name Introduced Control Measures Notes Ref.
Mesquite Tree Neltuma juliflora (formerly known as Prosopis juliflora) Through importation. Cutting and physical removal. The species is native to Central America and has been introduced to several wadi environments in the United Arab Emirates, competing with native species. The plant is particularly damaging to endemic species such as Prosopis cineraria. [19][7]
Spiny sandbur Cenchrus echinatus Through the import of soil and non-native plant species. Chemical control. Native to the Americas, this plant grows amongst date palm plantations and compete with native species. [20]
Shoreline Sea Purslane Sesuvium portulacastrum Introduced as an ornamental plant. Local extinction. Native to Florida, the United States. Sea Purslanes compete with native species. [21]

Reptiles

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Of reptile species in the United Arab Emirates, 5% are invasive. Many of those are the result of human abandoning of animals. In one instance, a Stigmochelys pardalis was found on the Bul Sayeef Island in Abu Dhabi during a routine biodiversity check, with researchers noting it was most likely an abandoned pet.[9]

Picture Common Name Species Name Introduced Control Measures Notes Ref.
Green iguana Iguana iguana Introduced through intentional release or escape from captivity. Education campaigns. Native to Central America, the Green iguana displace native reptile species, introduce diseases, and negatively impact agriculture in the United Arab Emirates. [22]
Ball python Python regius Introduced through intentional release or escape from captivity. Public awareness, licensing the species and monitoring sales. Ball pythons predate on native rodent and bird species. [23]
Red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans Introduced through intentional release or escape from captivity. Regulating the trade of red-earned sliders and conducting regular inspections of freshwater habitats. Red-eared sliders predate on native invertebrates, freshwater fish, and amphibians. They also transmit diseases to the native populations. [24]

Notes

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  1. ^ United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change & Environment 2022, p. 9.
  2. ^ a b El-Keblawy & Al-Rawai 2007, pp. 24.
  3. ^ United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change & Environment 2022, p. 10.
  4. ^ Asem et al. 2021, pp. 911–920.
  5. ^ Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  6. ^ El-Keblawy & Al-Rawai 2007, pp. 29.
  7. ^ a b Issa & Dohai 2008, p. 235.
  8. ^ Howari et al. 2022, p. 682.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Soorae et al. 2015, pp. 7910–7921.
  10. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 27.
  11. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 28.
  12. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 29.
  13. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 13.
  14. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 16.
  15. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 15.
  16. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 36.
  17. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 35.
  18. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 39.
  19. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 5.
  20. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 7.
  21. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 9.
  22. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 24.
  23. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 25.
  24. ^ Soorae et al. 2018, p. 26.

References

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  • Soorae, Pritpal; Javed, Salim; Alzaabi, Rashed; Al Dhaheri, Shaikha; Mehairbi, Al; Khan, Shahid; Omari, Al; Saji, S; Kabshawi, R; Ahmed, K (May 2018). A GUIDE TO THE ALIEN SPECIES OF THE UAE - THEIR PATHWAYS, MEANS OF INTRODUCTION & CONTROL METHODS. Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. ISBN 978-9948-10-165-9.
  • The UAE National Invasive Species Strategy & Action Plan 2022-2026 (PDF) (Report). United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change & Environment. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  • El-Keblawy, Ali; Al-Rawai, Awatif (2007). "Impacts of the Invasive Exotic Prosopis Juliflora (Sw.) D. C. on the Native Flora and Soils of the UAE". Plant Ecology. 190 (1). Springer: 23–35. ISSN 1385-0237. JSTOR 40212896. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  • Asem, Alireza; Schuster, Rolf; Eimanifar, Amin; Lu, Hao; Liu, Chunwei; Wu, Xiaofang; Yao, Liping; Meng, Xinyu; Li, Weidong; Wang, Peizheng (2021). "Impact of Colonization of an Invasive Species on Genetic Differentiation in New Environments: A Study on American Artemia franciscana (Crustacea: Anostraca) in the United Arab Emirates". Journal of Ocean University of China. 20 (4): 911–920. doi:10.1007/s11802-021-4675-6. ISSN 1672-5182.
  • Howari, Fares M.; Sharma, Manish; Nazzal, Yousef; El-Keblawy, Ali; Mir, Shajrat; Xavier, Cijo M.; Salem, Imen Ben; Al-Taani, Ahmed A.; Alaydaroos, Fatima (2 March 2022). "Changes in the Invasion Rate of Prosopis juliflora and Its Impact on Depletion of Groundwater in the Northern Part of the United Arab Emirates". Plants. 11 (5): 682. doi:10.3390/plants11050682. ISSN 2223-7747. PMC 8912357. PMID 35270152.
  • Issa, Salem; Dohai, Bassam (2008). "GIS Analysis of Invasive Prosopis juliflora Dynamics in Two selected Sites from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)". Canadian Journal of Pure & Applied Sciences. 2 (1). SENRA Academic Publishers: 235–242. ISSN 1715-9997. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  • Soorae, Pritpal; Javed, Salim; Dhaheri, Shaikha Al; Qassimi, Majid Al; Kabshawi, Maher; Saji, Anitha; Khan, Shahid; Sakkir, Sabitha; Zaabi, Rashed Al; Ahmed, Shakeel; Shah, Junid N.; Ali, Ahmed (26 October 2015). "Alien species recorded in the United Arab Emirates: an initial list of terrestrial and freshwater species". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 7 (12): 7910–7921. doi:10.11609/JoTT.o4352.7910-21.
  • THE STATE OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES BIODIVERSITY FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (Report). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
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