Study of the impact of parrots as invasive species on house sparrow populations in the province of Málaga

Máster en Gestión Ambiental y Biodiversidad                Alumna: Marta de Luna Martínez

Asignatura: Comunicación y Divulgación de la Ciencia

STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF PARROTS AS INVASIVE SPECIES ON HOUSE SPARROW POPULATIONS IN THE PROVINCE OF MÁLAGA

Marta de Luna Martínez

Alumna del Máster en Gestión Ambiental y Biodiversidad

Universidad de Córdoba

q42lumam@uco.es

Abstract

The presence of invasive species in the national territory has increased in the last decade in parallel with the development of an increasingly globalized international market in which commercial borders seem to be diluted.

Species trafficking has found in this market model a multitude of ways and mechanisms to be able to locate, acquire and transport any species under a melting pot of different national regulations in which bureaucratic confusion and a legal vacuum on many occasions have only increased the problem.

This article presents the study carried out in the municipality of Malaga to analyze the real impact on the populations of house sparrow (Paser domesticus) caused by the presence of new communities of four invasive species of what are commonly called parrots (Myiopsitta monachus, Psittacula krameri, Poicephalus senegalus and Pionus maximiliani).

The study includes the experimental design followed as well as the conclusions obtained. It aims to offer a rigorous initial diagnosis that allows future outbreaks to be designed based on real knowledge of the situation.

Keywords: invasive species, parrots, house sparrow, interspecific interaction.

1. Introduction

Since 1986, more than a million psittacines, commonly known as parrots (Argentine parrots, Kramer's parrots, Senegalese parrots and chocleros parrots) have legally entered Spain to be sold as pets. Some 190,000 specimens were Argentine parrots, coming from Uruguay and Argentina, where they are considered an agricultural pest and entire flocks were captured to be sold in Spain as pets. About 63,000 specimens were Kramer's parrots, originating in Pakistan and Senegal. Once on Spanish soil, the parrots learned to open their cages and escaped or were directly released by their owners, due to the shouting that they organize inside the houses.

Among the species described, it is intuited that the Kramer's parrot is the most aggressive and that its presence can affect all the autochthonous species that nest in holes; it can live about 20 years and is considered one of the hundred most dangerous invaders in Europe.

According to a census carried out by the SEO/Birdlife organization in 2015, carried out in 45 Spanish municipalities, the presence of some 20,000 Argentine parrots and some 3,000 Kramer's parrots has been calculated. The provinces with the greatest presence are Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga.

The present study focuses on the municipality of Malaga, a place where in recent years a decrease in the populations of house sparrow has been observed and aims to analyze in detail how the presence of the aforementioned parrots in areas shared by both species may be affecting.

2. Experimental design

The methodology selected to carry out the experimental phase has been a correlational study in which the effect of the presence of invasive species of parrots (Myiopsitta monachus, Psittacula krameri, Poicephalus senegalus and Pionus maximiliani) on local populations will be analyzed. of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in the province of Malaga.

Hypothesis statement:

Does the presence of the described invasive species affect the reduction in the number of house sparrow populations in the city of Malaga?

Once the bibliographic search (detailed at the end of this publication) has been carried out, in order to try to answer the question posed, a methodological design has been developed that includes the following phases:

-        Initial phase:

Identification of house sparrow roosts in the city of Malaga.

Identification of areas where there is presence of any of the invasive species described.

-         Delimitation of study areas:

Delimitation of areas where sparrow populations exist in the presence of any of the invasive species described. Count of individuals

Delimitation of areas with presence of sparrow populations and absence of parrots. Count of individuals.

• Conclusions:

Analysis of the obtained results.

Design development:

Initial phase: preparation of a map of roosts of house sparrows and invasive species of parrots in the city.

- Location of house sparrow and parrot roosts in the city of Malaga.

For the location of the aforementioned populations, we have had the collaboration of the local SEO/Birds group, Delegations of the Ministry of the Environment and the Environment and Water Agency, the Department of Zoology of the University of Malaga and the Parks Area and City Hall Gardens. Prior to the development of the study, collaboration agreements are signed with the aforementioned entities that offer us information from which an updated census of the species in the city can be carried out.

Once the information received from such entities has been analyzed, a census is also carried out to quantify and locate the updated roosts. The following methods are used:

- Fixed observers during established time intervals that count the birds seen and heard.

- Reproduction of the recording of the song (playback) to induce a response and document their residence.

- Use of ornithological networks, which provides an indication of abundance, composition and richness.

Once the information received from such entities has been analyzed, a census is also carried out to quantify and locate the updated roosts. The following methods are used:

- Fixed observers during established time intervals that count the birds seen and heard.

- Reproduction of the recording of the song (playback) to induce a response and document their residence.

- Use of ornithological networks, which provides an indication of abundance, composition and richness.

These variables are: a) presence of trees and bushes, b) nearby water areas and c) presence of crops.

Note: We highlight the importance of considering such variables as they have a direct influence on local sparrow populations.

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