Accelerated avian invasion into the Mediterranean region endangers biodiversity and mandates international collaboration

Abstract1. Despite posing a serious threat to global biodiversity, national and internationalmanagement efforts have not been able to limit the spread of most invasivespecies. In highly dispersive species, local invasions may be followed by regionalrange expansion that crosses international borders. In such cases, independentmanagement efforts of the invading population may be futile unless internationalcollaboration is practiced.2. We focus on the ongoing human-mediatedinvasion of the common mynaAcridotheres tristis into the Mediterranean basin, a region rich in overall numbersof species and endemic species, where common mynas have been introducedinto a handful of countries. Some introductions were followed by subsequentrange expansions into neighbouring countries. This species poses major threatsto the biodiversity of the Mediterranean which is already susceptible to biodiversityloss as the result of ongoing land use and climate changes. Withoutaction, this species and possibly others similar to it, could have severe consequencesfor native ecosystems.3. Policy implications. Given the regional scope of its invasion in the Mediterraneanbasin, common myna management requires an international collaboration tosuccessfully prevent additional introductions and range expansions and to avoidaccelerating threats to Mediterranean biodiversity, already at risk as a result of ongoing changes in land use and climate. We argue that international reciprocaltransfer of information and the development of regional mitigation are essentialfor the successful management of the invasion of the common myna and otherspecies into the Mediterranean.