If you've worked on islands, especially islands that have never been connected to continents, you've probably noticed that new construction projects often lead to an increase of invasive species in the area. As a scientist, what measures can you suggest to mitigate increases in invasive species abundance in recently disturbed habitats? I'm thinking especially about terrestrial invertebrates (I work mostly on ants and land snails), but it would be interesting to hear people's thoughts who work on different systems as well. If you have any references that you think would be relevant, I'd love to see them! Thanks!
Don't allow boats to land, no bags taken onto the island and cordon off development areas. That's what happens here in New Zealand on protected islands
In French Polynesia, to reduce the spread of Wasmannia auropunctata, they ask to clean the construction equipments (excavators, backhoe loaders) when they move to islands free of little fire ants. The dirt and soil you can find on the engines can bring a lot of invertebrates, of course a lot of invasive ants. And check the material such as the wood, to stop the spread of introduced saproxylic beetles.
All physical constructions for small/isolated island supposed (must be) to be going through a meticulous EIS/Environmental Impact Studies first, wherein prerequisite measures to mobilize and demobilize heavy equipment and construction materials are academically defined and legally decided.
If you answer the question succinctly, then any human presence will lead to disruptions in these archaic ecosystems. They are very sensitive to any form of anthropogenic impact.
Regards, Sergey Viktorovich Pushkin
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