CONTENTCONTENTCONTENTCONTENT BUILDINGBUILDINGBUILDINGBUILDING

PROJECTPROJECTPROJECTPROJECT

In May 2006, Jamaica initiated a year

long IABIN funded project lead by the

Institute of Jamaica.

To date the I3N-JA Content Building

Project has achieved the following.

• Hosted a National IAS Workshop

to disseminate information on IAS

issues and train the users of the

database

• A database with 84 IAS and 300

records of occurrences

• Has produced and distributed

posters and brochures in IAS on

Jamaica

• Collaborated with national,

regional and international IAS

groups to develop local capacities

by improving the existing

database and training of resource

personnel.

CONTACTCONTACTCONTACTCONTACT INFORMATIONINFORMATIONINFORMATIONINFORMATION

Natural History Division

Institute of Jamaica

10-16 East Street

Kingston

Jamaica

Telephone: (876) 922-0620-6

Fax: (876) 922-1147

Email:

chm.nhd@cwjamaica.com iabin.chm@cwjamaica.com

Websites:

www.jamaicachm.org.jm www.iabin.net

IABIN

INVASIVES

INFORMATION

NETWORK

JAMAICA (I3N-JA)

Photo: Sean Townsend Ginger Lily

WHATWHATWHATWHAT ISISISIS I3N?I3N?I3N?I3N?

The IABIN Invasives Information

Network (I3N) is one of several

branches of an international organi-

zation known as the Inter – American

Biodiversity Information Network

(IABIN). IABIN has 29 official

member states. Jamaica joined in 2002.

The network in Jamaica is known as

the I3N-JA. I3N provides information

that will assist countries of the

Americas in decision making regard-

ing issues of biodiversity and human

development.

The I3N, through the work of

individuals and institutions gathers

information on invasive alien species.

Once all the information is compiled

into a database it will be much easier

for countries to share information and

resources that will assist in the control

and management of invasive species.

Jamaica’s effort at documenting

invasive species and their impacts is

known as the I3N Jamaica (I3N – JA).

THETHETHETHE ROLEROLEROLEROLE OFOFOFOF I3NI3NI3NI3N----JAJAJAJA

The I3N-JA is responsible for the sys-

tematic collection and documentation

of information on alien species which

is essential to the protection and

management of Jamaica’s biodiver-

sity.

The mandate of I3N-JA includes the

compilation of scattered data on inva-

sive alien species (IAS) in Jamaica to

standardized and interoperable data-

bases. Its vision is to improve the

quality of existing information on IAS

as well as facilitate resource sharing

and information accessibility within

the region and the rest of the Ameri-

cas.

The Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) is the

lead agency on IABIN Invasives In-

formation Network (I3N) Projects.

Our local data providers include the

UWI, JCDT, MOAL and NEPA.

I3NI3NI3NI3N----JAJAJAJA PilotPilotPilotPilot ProjectProjectProjectProject

Shortly after the initiation of I3N,

Jamaica became signatory to a pilot

project on IAS in February 2002. The

project achieved the following.

• Hosted a National Invasive

Species Workshop

• Administered a questionnaire to

determine the use of information

on IAS

• Developed an database with

information on 52 Jamaican IAS

• Generated a Cataloguer of the IAS

database accessible via the internet

• Increased public awareness of

Jamaican IAS through the

brochure ‘Alien Invaders in our

Environment’

• Documented the findings of the

project.

Photo: Karen McIntyre African Tulip Tree

Photo: Elizabeth Morrison Suckermouth Catfish

Photo: Aisha Bailey Wild Hops

SOCIETYSOCIETYSOCIETYSOCIETY

JAMAICANJAMAICANJAMAICANJAMAICAN

ECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEM

ECONOMYECONOMYECONOMYECONOMY

Invasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species and

JAMAICAN SOCIETYJAMAICAN SOCIETYJAMAICAN SOCIETYJAMAICAN SOCIETY

Black Rat (Ratttus rattus)

Populations were likely accidentally introduced on ships during the 17th

century.

Rats pose serious health risks to humans and other mammals. In Jamaica rats are well known for transmitting Eosinophillic Meningitis and Leptospirosis. In 2006 there was a 100%

increase in dogs infected with Leptospirosis and the Ministry of Health reported 326 laboratory

confirmed cases of Leptospirosis among humans.

Information Courtesy of theInformation Courtesy of theInformation Courtesy of theInformation Courtesy of the

FOLLOWINGFOLLOWINGFOLLOWINGFOLLOWING

Apart from changing the course of Jamaica’s natural history, IAS have influenced our society. Public health has been jeopardized by growing populations of exotic species. These organisms may transmit pathogens and diseases to humans as well as domesticated animals. Many domesticated animals can also become quite invasive and affect human health (eg. dogs and pigs). Invasive alien plants are also known for creating allergic reactions (eg. black wattle). IAS in Jamaica also threaten our society by affecting native species that serve as cultural icons (eg. Thiara snail and the Jamaican Bussu Festival). Socio-economics within local communities have also been affected by IAS. Jobs that depend on the sustainability of existing Jamaican biodiversity may be at risk.

• Institute of Jamaica

• Jamaica Clearing-House Mechanism

• University of the West Indies

• Jamaica Conservation and Development

Trust

• Jamaica Gleaner

• The Nature Conservancy

• Convention on Biological Diversity

• Williamson M., 1996. Biological

Invasions. New York: Springer.

• CAB International

• United States Geological Survey

• Museum Victoria

CONTACTCONTACTCONTACTCONTACT INFORMATIONINFORMATIONINFORMATIONINFORMATION

Jamaica Clearing House Mechanism Natural History Division Institute of Jamaica 10-16 East Street

Kingston Jamaica

Telephone: (876) 922-0620-6

Fax: (876) 922-1147

Email: chm.nhd@cwjamaica.com iabin.chm@cwjamaica.com Website: www.jamaicachm.org.jm

Photo: Museum Victoria

Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Impacts of Invasive Alien Species

Biological InvasionsBiological InvasionsBiological InvasionsBiological Invasions

andandandand

JAMAICAN JAMAICAN JAMAICAN JAMAICAN

ECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEMECOSYSTEM

ECONOMYECONOMYECONOMYECONOMY

andandandand

SOCIETYSOCIETYSOCIETYSOCIETY

Clearing-House

Mechanism

Institute of Jamaica

Natural History Division

The Effects ofThe Effects ofThe Effects ofThe Effects of

BIOLOGICAL INVASIONSBIOLOGICAL INVASIONSBIOLOGICAL INVASIONSBIOLOGICAL INVASIONS Invasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species and

JAMAICAN ECOSYSTEMJAMAICAN ECOSYSTEMJAMAICAN ECOSYSTEMJAMAICAN ECOSYSTEM Invasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species andInvasive Alien Species and

JAMAICAN ECONOMY JAMAICAN ECONOMY JAMAICAN ECONOMY JAMAICAN ECONOMY

Australian Redclaw (Cherax quadricarinatus)

Introduced to Jamaica in 1995 for the purposes of fisheries improvement.

Native to Australia

Escaped the confines of ponds in St. Elizabeth and first sited in the Black River.

Resilience and ability of Cherax to grow in slightly saline waters gives population a competitive

advantage over native Macrobrachium spp. which are gradually being displaced from the Black River.

Mock Orange (Pittosporum undulatum)

Introduced to the Blue Mountains in 1883 as an ornamental plant.

Native to Australia

Mock orange has an approximate density of 71 stems per acre.

Manual labour, equipment and ranger supervision cost approximately JA$430,000 to remove a mere 20 acres of Pittosporum undulatum from the Blue

Mountains.

Biological invasions result from the movement of a species outside of its native range consequent to intentional or accidental human action (Williamson, 1996). When such species pose a threat to natural biodiversity and/or human societies they are referred to as invasive alien species (IAS). The establishment of IAS is a complex but common phenomenon in many parts of the world. In fact, IAS are considered the second greatest threat posed to biodiversity globally. However, in evolutionarily isolated ecosystems, such as islands, IAS possibly are THE greatest threat to our ecosystems. In developing countries such as Jamaica, the livelihood of its people are extremely vulnerable to the disturbance of the environment on which they depend. In Jamaica some 84 IAS are recognized and all have caused some change to the habitats or surrounding human communities they invade. The impacts of IAS in Jamaica span four main areas: • ECOLOGY • ECONOMICS • HEALTH • HERITAGE/CULTURE Understanding how these organisms influence our environment and society is the first step to mitigating the dangers caused by biological invasions.

Jamaica is known for its high endemicity and distribution of native flora and fauna. These ecosystems are very sensitive to the sudden ecological changes brought about by invasive species. IAS affect ecosystems by-: • Altering the physio-chemical features of

a habitat (e.g. sucker-mouth catfish) • Introducing pathogens and diseases (e.g. rats and mice) • Increasing inter-specific competition (e.g. Australian Redclaw) • Increasing predation (e.g. Wolf Cichlid) There have been several instances observed of the gradual displacement of native flora and fauna around the island due to the introduction of alien species.

It is estimated that damage caused by invasive species worldwide total US$1.4 trillion (5% of global economy). As with many other countries, IAS have affected Jamaica’s economy in two main ways: Invasive species; often with little or no economic benefit, have displaced flora and fauna with commercial and recreational significance. Such an effect has been specially noted in large and small scale agriculture and aquaculture in Jamaica (eg. coffee berry borer, water hyacinth). There have been growing campaigns on the education, protection, eradication and management of IAS in Jamaica. These efforts are often very costly, diverting budgets of government, NGO’s and industrial agencies to curtailing the effects of alien species in our natural environment (eg. green mussel, ginger lily).

Photo: Sean Townsend Photo: Elizabeth Morrison