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Patterns of non-randomness in the composition and characteristics of the Taiwanese bird trade

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Abstract

The invasion pathway is composed of a sequential series of stages that need to be quantified separately in order properly to understand the invasion process. Here, we examine the composition and characteristics of bird species being sold in the pet bird market in Taiwan. The bird trade in Taiwan is of high volume and financially lucrative. The identity of species in this trade is vital for informing later stages (introduction, establishment, spread) of the invasion pathway. We conducted interviews and surveys of 72 outlets selling pet birds from seven cities across Taiwan, from which we identified 247 bird species (within 34 families) for sale. Of these, 170 bird species (from 27 families) are exotic to Taiwan. Using randomization tests, we show that nine families are significantly over-represented in the pet trade (Psittacidae, Muscicapidae, Timaliidae, Sturnidae, Turdidae, Estrildidae, Chloropseidae, Zosteropidae and Fringillidae), and three after sequential Bonferroni correction (Psittacidae, Muscicapidae and Sturnidae). Species that have been identified in Taiwanese pet shops tend to have a larger native geographic range, originate further from the equator, are smaller-bodied, and have more aesthetically-pleasing songs than expected by chance. The native ranges of pet shop species are more likely to be situated in the Indo-Malay and Palearctic biogeographic realms, while fewer species than expected derive from the Neotropic, Afrotropic and Nearctic realms. Our results show that bird species for sale in Taiwan are determined by the interaction of species availability and societal demands.

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Acknowledgments

This study received financial support from Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London. We thank C.J. Sha for help with species identification. We also thank Y. Wang and William Chi for providing information on the wild bird trade in Taiwan, and David Orme and Valerie Olson for supplying data on geographic ranges and body sizes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK

    Shan Su & Tim M. Blackburn

  2. Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Shan Su

  3. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, 5005, Australia

    Phill Cassey & Tim M. Blackburn

  4. Department of Botany and Zoology, Centre for Invasion Biology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

    Tim M. Blackburn

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  1. Shan Su
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Correspondence to Shan Su.

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Su, S., Cassey, P. & Blackburn, T.M. Patterns of non-randomness in the composition and characteristics of the Taiwanese bird trade. Biol Invasions 16, 2563–2575 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-014-0686-1

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