Invasive species threats to seabirds

Seabirds are one of the most threatened bird groups on the planet, with approximately 30% at risk of extinction. The primary cause of population decline and extinction are non-native species introduced to islands, such as mammals, and which subsequently prey on seabirds or damage habitats. These “invasive species” are impacting 46% of seabird species and over 170 million individual seabirds globally. Of seabirds impacted, 66% are currently listed as globally threatened on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, highlighting the urgent need to remove the threat of invasive species to prevent seabird extinctions. In this chapter we discuss these impacts in detail, including a brief history of invasion processes that have led to this global problem. We also describe emerging invasive species threats and investigate how climate change will further exacerbate the impacts of invasive species on seabirds. We conclude this chapter with a discussion on the successful management and reduction of invasive species, which have resulted in substantial conservation gains for seabirds and whole island ecosystems worldwide.