INTERACCIONES POSITIVAS ENTRE UN ÁRBOL INVASOR, EL PIRUL, Y LA AVIFAUNA DE MÉXICO
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29105/bys9.17-226Keywords:
biodiversity, conservation, dispersal, invasive exotic, ecological interaction, mutualism, Schinus molleAbstract
Exotic species can become invasive when they spread without human intervention and negatively affect biodiversity. This is the case of the pirul (Schinus molle), a South American tree that was introduced to Mexico almost five centuries ago and invaded degraded areas in the central section of the country, where it interferes with the recovery of native vegetation. However, this invasive species could benefit local fauna, and to determine whether this is possible, we focused on interactions between these trees and birds. The interactions between the pirul and birds were recorded between 2012 and 2024 performing direct observations on trees established in different regions of Mexico. A total of 150 bird species, 143 native and seven exotic, were recorded interacting with the pirul. These interactions benefit birds, and this implies a dilemma for conservation biology because, while the pirul contributes to maintain the avifauna in degraded areas, it also threatens plant biodiversity. Therefore, the management and control of this biological invasion should balance its ecological value with the environmental risks it represents.
Downloads
References
Alfaro-Reyna, T., F. Arellano-Martín, C. Aguirre-Gutiérrez, J. Delgado-Balbuena. 2023. Dispersores de semillas y su influencia en la invasión del pirul (Schinus molle) en el centro-norte de México. Abanico Agroforestal. 5: 1-16. https://doi.org/10.37114/abaagrof/2023.8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37114/abaagrof/2023.8
Avendaño-González, M., E. Badano, J.E. Ramírez-Albores, J. Flores, J.A. Flores-Cano. 2016. Differential allelopathy between genders of an invasive dioecious tree on desert plants. Botanical Sciences. 94(2): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.522 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17129/botsci.522
CONABIO (Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad). 2023. Información sobre especies invasoras en el Sistema nacional sobre Biodiversidad. CONABIO, México. https://www.biodiversidad.gob.mx/especies/invasoras
CONAFOR (Comisión Nacional Forestal). 2014. Schinus molle L. SIRE (Sistema de Especies Forestales): CONAFOR, CONABIO-PRONARE. http://www.conafor.gob.mx:8080/documentos/docs/13/1000Schinus%20molle.pdf
Corkidi, L., S. Cacho, A, Búrquez. 1991. Dispersión del pirú (Schinus molle L., Anacardiaceae) por aves en Teotihuacán, México. Acta Botánica Mexicana. (15): 17-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21829/abm15.1991.617
Franssen, A. S., J.J. Kells. 2007. Control strategies for common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) in no-tillage cropping systems. Weed Technology. 21:18-22. 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1614/WT-04-212.1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1614/WT-04-212.1
Guerra-Coss, F., E. Badano, I.E. Cedillo-Rodríguez, J.E. Ramírez-Albores, J. Flores, F. Barragán-Torres, J.A. Flores-Cano 2021. Modelling and validation of the spatial distribution of suitable habitats for the recruitment of invasive plants on climate change scenarios: an approach from the regeneration niche. Science of the Total Environment. 777: 146007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146007
Iponga, D.M., S.J. Milton, D.M. Richardson. 2009. Reproductive potential and seedling establishment of the invasive alien tree Schinus molle (Anacardiaceae) in South Africa. Austral Ecology. 34: 678-687. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.01975.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.01975.x
IUCN (International Union for Conservation Nature and Natural Resources). 2025. Invasive alien species and climate change. IUCN. Gland, Swirtzeland. https://iucn.org/resources/issues-brief/invasive-alien-species-and-climate-change
Lee, S., S. Woo, E. Kim. 2021. Differential effect of inter- and intraspecific competition on the performance of invasive and native Taraxacum species. Plant Species Biology. 36(2): 187-197. https://doi.org/10.1111/1442-1984.12301 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1442-1984.12301
Loss, S.R., T. Will, P.P. Marra. 2013. The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife of the United States. Nature Communications, 4: 1396. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2380 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2380
Martínez-González, R.E., F.M. Huerta-Martínez, C. Neri-Luna, L. Barrientos-Ramírez. 2023. Etnobotánica de los barrios antiguos de Guadalajara, Jalisco, México: el uso de plantas medicinales. Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas. 23: 75-110. https://doi.org/10.37360/blacpma.24.23.1.6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37360/blacpma.24.23.1.6
Rai, P.K., J.S. Singh. 2020. Invasive alien plant species: their impact on environment, ecosystem services and human health. Ecological Indicators. 111:106020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.106020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.106020
Ramírez-Albores, J.E., E. Badano. 2013. Perspectiva histórica, sociocultural y ecológica de una invasión biológica: el caso del pirul (Schinus molle L., Anacardiaceae) en México. Boletín de la Red Latinoamericana para el Estudio de Especies Invasoras. 3(1): 4-15.
Ramírez-Albores, J.E., E. Badano. 2021. Alien species as counterpart of a megadiverse country as Mexico. Management of Biological Invasions. 12(4): 828-845. https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2021.12.4.04 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2021.12.4.04
Ramírez-Albores, J.E., M. Avendaño-González, E. Badano. 2015. El pirul, el árbol que vino del sur. CONABIO. Biodiversitas. 118:6-11.
Ramírez-Albores, J.E., G. Bizama, R.O. Bustamante, E.I. Badano. 2020. Niche conservatism in a plant with long invasion history: the case of the Peruvian peppertree (Schinus molle, Anacardiaceae) in Mexico. Plant Ecology and Evolution. 153: 3-11. https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2020.1562 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5091/plecevo.2020.1562
Ramírez-Albores, J.E., D.M. Richardson, V.M. Stefenon, G. Bizama, M. Pérez-Suárez, E. Badano. 2021. A global assessment of the potential distribution of naturalized and planted populations of the ornamental alien tree Schinus molle. NeoBiota. 68: 105-126. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.68.68572 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.68.68572
Richardson, D.M., N. Allsopp, C.M. D’Antonio, S.J. Milton, M. Rejmanek. 2000 Plant invasions the role of mutualisms. Biological Reviews. 75: 65–93. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0006323199005435 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1999.tb00041.x
Villavicencio-Nieto, M.A., B.E. Pérez-Escandón. 2010. Plantas tradicionalmente usadas como plaguicidas en el estado de Hidalgo, México. Polibotánica. 30: 193-238.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Jorge E. Ramírez-Alvores, Francisco A. Guerra-Coss, Ernesto I. Badano
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
