Epidemiological consequences of the modification of the bird community in Reunion Island by invasive exotic species
This project focuses on the diversity and transmission dynamics of infectious agents associated with birds in Reunion Island. The results will provide essential knowledge for assessing the health risks associated with the introduction of invasive exotic species and the evolution of animal community structure in an island context.ontexte insulaire.
Tropical islands face considerable challenges in terms of development and environmental protection. Among the 724 animal species extinct in the last 400 years, approximately half were island species. For example, more than 90% of bird species inhabiting islands have disappeared. Oceanic islands are particularly vulnerable to biological invasions, climate change, and natural disasters. Emerging diseases also represent a major challenge in tropical islands, although the links between environmental changes and the transmission of infectious agents are poorly studied in these ecosystems. On Reunion Island, the composition of bird communities has been strongly affected since human arrival. Indeed, it is estimated that more than 50% of the island's native bird species have disappeared. Thus, bird communities are now composed of a mixture of endemic and introduced species.
