Scientists say Galápagos Islands biosecurity under threat
An international team of scientists has made a worrying prognosis for biosecurity on the Galápagos Islands. Together with partners in the United Kingdom and the United States, researchers from the group of Ecuadorian volcanic islands located near the equator in the Pacific Ocean studied the disease threat mosquito populations pose to the islands' unique wildlife. Their findings show that a mosquito species is capable of transmitting West Nile virus (WNV), a potentially lethal disease for wildlife. In light of this heightened threat, the team conclude that more care needs to be taken in terms of biosecurity. Birds are the most common target of WNV, but mammals, including humans and reptiles, can also be affected. The virus can be directly linked to declines in several bird populations. Although WNV has recently invaded South America, thankfully it has yet to reach the Galápagos Islands. However, recent studies have shown that a type of mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus) that could be carrying the disease has been hitching rides to the Galápagos on airplanes. Professor Andrew Cunningham from the Zoological Society of London, in the United Kingdom says: 'We now know that mosquitoes capable of carrying West Nile virus have a route onto the Galápagos, and once there, the virus could also spread into the local mosquito population. This means there is potential for large impacts on endemic species. There is no doubt that West Nile virus poses a serious threat to the survival of the Galápagos' iconic wildlife.' The team proved that the Culex quinquefasciatus mosquito was capable of carrying WNV by carrying out tests on their capacity to transmit different strains of the virus at various temperatures. The study team suggest that work such as strict insect control measures on aircraft and ships moving between the mainland and islands, needs to be done on mainland Ecuador to stop the disease reaching the islands. Dr Simon Goodman from the University of Leeds says: 'Piece by piece we are building up a comprehensive picture of the disease ecology in Galápagos and what could happen if WNV were to reach the islands. Once WNV has been introduced onto the Galápagos, it would be much harder to contain. Therefore the best strategy is to have strict preventive measures to reduce the chance of the disease reaching the islands in the first place.' With a population of around 23,000, the Galápagos Islands and its surrounding waters form a national park as well as a biological marine reserve. They are known the world over for their unique flora and fauna, famously observed by Charles Darwin in the 1800s. Gillian Eastwood, another study author from the Zoological Society of London, says: 'Whilst WNV does not yet exist in Galápagos, it is important to envisage what future disease scenarios could be by looking at how this particular virus would interact within this unique ecosystem. Evaluating the role that mosquitoes could play is therefore vital. This recent part of our work is however only one aspect to understanding potential WNV transmission on the Islands; it remains to see how severely Galapagos wildlife might be affected but all precautions should be taken.'For more information, please visit:University of Leeds:http://www.leeds.ac.uk/
Countries
Ecuador, United Kingdom, United States