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An impact assessment of the alien lizard Plestiodon japonicus (Scincidae, Reptilia) on a threatened island population of the native lizard P. latiscutatus at an early phase of the biological invasion

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Abstract

On the island of Hachijojima, central Japan, a formerly abundant population of native lizard, Plestiodon latiscutatus has become endangered by predation from an alien weasel (Mustela itatsi). Recently, an alien lizard, P. japonicus, became established on the island. The impact of the alien lizard and current distribution of the native lizard were assessed by field surveys and DNA analyses. The native lizard was sparsely distributed in the western part of the island. The alien lizard occurred in the northeastern region of the island. Between these regions, several hybrid populations were identified, including some with non-F1 genotypes, suggesting that introgression is occurring. The distribution of the weasel was examined based on field observations, allowing us to estimate predator impacts on both lizard species. We found evidence that the weasel was present throughout the entire island, suggesting that the alien lizard was able to become established despite the presence of the weasel. This indicates that the alien lizard is likely to expand its habitat range and that introgression may spread. We conclude that P. latiscutatus populations will become increasingly endangered by the synergism of genetic introgression from P. japonicus and predation pressure from the weasel.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to anonymous reviewers for critical reading and valuable comments on our manuscript. We also thank J. Motokawa and T. Hikida for providing us with specimens in their care, M. Hasegawa for providing us with several related papers and field notes, S. Nakajima, R. Mizusawa, H. Takahashi, K. Kikuchi, H. Takasu, K. Osawa, and several other local residents of Hachijojima for their assistance during our field work, and K. Suzuki and A. Tominaga for assisting with the molecular experiments. This study was financially supported by 2009 Funding To Promote Creative Research (Second Term) by the National Institute for Environmental Studies, 2011 Funding To Research Projects By Young Scientists (First Term) by the Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, and 22nd PRO NATURA Foundation to T. Okamoto, and the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant from The Japan Science Society and a grant from Fujiwara Natural History Foundation to T. Kuriyama.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan

    Taku Okamoto

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan

    Takeo Kuriyama

  3. Invasive Alien Species Research Team, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8506, Japan

    Koichi Goka

Authors
  1. Taku Okamoto
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  2. Takeo Kuriyama
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  3. Koichi Goka
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taku Okamoto.

Appendix

Appendix

List for specimens collected for this study (TO, TK = private collection of Taku Okamoto; KUZ = Kyoto University Museum Zoological Collection).

  • Site 1 (Mitsune-eigo, N33°8′40″ E139°47′5″ 70 m alt.): TK-0910PJHA022–25; TK-091003; TK-091005–06; TK-100701–17; TK-1008HA04–10; TO-09319–20; TO-10019–20; TO-10036–37; TO-10044–46; TO-10057–58; TO-10063; TO-10066–67; TO-10088–92; TO-10097; TO-10111; TO-10119; TO-10121–25; TO-10134.

  • Site 2 (Mitsune-eigo, N33°8′30″ E139°47′31″ 48 m alt.): TO-10017–18; TO-10039.

  • Site 3 (Aosa-ne, Mitsune-eigo, N33°09′19″ E139°46′31″ 15 m alt.): TO-10064; TO-10068; TO-10099–101; TO-10106–09; TO-10126; TO-10132–33.

  • Site 4 (Debana, Mitsune-eigo, N33°9′24″ E139°45′18″ 71 m alt.): TK-091013; TK-100721–22; TO-10007; TO-10135–37.

  • Site 5 (Southern side of Mt. Kando, Mitsune, N33°7′36″ E139°47′48″ 44 m alt.): TO-09392–93; TO-10031; TO-10051.

  • Site 6 (Climbing trail of Mt. Hachijo-Fuji, Mitsune, N33°7′33″ E139°47′13″ 140 m alt.): TK-091012; TO-09339; TO-10059.

  • Site 7 (Southern side of Mt. Hachijo-Fuji, Okago, N33°7′13″ E139°46′50″ 126 m alt.): TK-091011; TO-10138.

  • Site 8 (Higata, Okago-eigo, N33°8′16″ E139°44′21″ 62 m alt.): TK-100718–20; TO-09420–21; TO-09423; TO-10014; TO-10033–34; TO-10060; TO-10065; TO-10072–73; TO-10094–95; TO-10128–31; TO-10142.

  • Site 9 (Chidori, Okago, N33°6′6″ E139°46′40″ 16 m alt.): TK-0910PLHA002–03.

  • Site 10 (Kashitate, N33°4′21″ E139°47′48″ 147 m alt.): TK-0910PLHA004–05; TK-0910PLHA009; TK-1008HA01–03; TO-09380–81; TO-10053; TO-10117; TO-10139.

  • Site 11 (Nakanogo, N33°4′03″ E139°48′44″ 132 m alt.): TK-0910PLHA001; TK-0910PLHA006–08.

The pure sample of P. japonicus, collected in eastern or southern Kyushu, Japan (Site A): KUZ R46921, KUZ R50385, KUZ R58312, KUZ R60367–68, KUZ R60147, KUZ R60433, KUZ R61615–17.

The pure sample of P. latiscutatus, collected in April 1996 at Tobata, Mitsune, Hachijojima (Site B): KUZ R35273, KUZ R35278, KUZ R35283–85, KUZ R35287, KUZ R35290–91.

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Okamoto, T., Kuriyama, T. & Goka, K. An impact assessment of the alien lizard Plestiodon japonicus (Scincidae, Reptilia) on a threatened island population of the native lizard P. latiscutatus at an early phase of the biological invasion. Biol Invasions 15, 2029–2037 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-013-0429-8

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