From Cultivation to Crisis: Invasive Guava on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Archipelago of Ecuador

Brewington, Laura; & McCleary, Amy L. (2009). From Cultivation to Crisis: Invasive Guava on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Archipelago of Ecuador. In Wolff, Matthias & Gardener, Mark (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2009 Galapagos Science Symposium (pp. 139-42). Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador: Charles Darwin Foundation.

Reference Type:
Book Chapter

Secondary Title:
Proceedings of the 2009 Galapagos Science Symposium

Series Title:

Author(s):
Brewington, Laura
McCleary, Amy L.

Editor(s):
Wolff, Matthias
Gardener, Mark

Series Author(s):

Year Published:
2009

Date Published:

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Start Page Number:
139-42

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Edition:

Series Volume:

Publisher:
Charles Darwin Foundation

City of Publication:
Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador

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DOI:

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Reference ID:
5037

Miscellaneous:

Abstract:

The Galapagos Islands are world renowned for having some of the most unique plants and animals on the planet, but in recent years rapid human population growth coupled with the introduction of non-native flora and fauna has resulted in increasing numbers of exotic species invasions. Previous studies of introduced species in the Galapagos have frequently focused on the biological mechanisms by which such organisms become invasive and are dispersed across the landscape. In this study we analyze the spatial pattern and extent of an exemplar invasive plant, common guava (Psidium guajava), to better understand how the spatial pattern of invasive plants is related to eradication and control policies, and perceptions of non-natives. Qualitative interviews of households and key informants were conducted around topics of land management decisions and combined with a land use/land cover (LULC) classification derived from satellite imagery. We find that the spatial pattern of guava on Isabela Island is related to eradication and control policies and differences in land management decisions due to multiple perceptions of introduced and invasive plants. More generally, our findings demonstrate that the costs and effects of invasive species are differentially distributed throughout the social and ecological landscapes of Isabela and potentially the archipelago.

Keyword(s):
Population and Environment

URL:

http://www.darwinfoundation.org/english/_upload/symposium-proceedings-final.pdf

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Citation:

Brewington, Laura; & McCleary, Amy L. (2009). From Cultivation to Crisis: Invasive Guava on Isabela Island in the Galapagos Archipelago of Ecuador. In Wolff, Matthias & Gardener, Mark (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2009 Galapagos Science Symposium (pp. 139-42). Puerto Ayora, Galapagos, Ecuador: Charles Darwin Foundation.