Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis in Europe – indigenous or introduced?

Abstract

Sincemany years now it is rumoured that the inland European cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis was introduced by Dutchmen from China to Holland in the 16th century to perform cormorant fishing in Europe and thus has to be classified an Invasive Alien Species (IAS). Although this hypothesis is not based on scientific evidence it has already been referred to in scientific literature. To check its plausibility, this review confronts three essential aspects of the introduction hypothesis with German sources mainly from the Middle Ages and historical reports on European cormorant fishing. The analyses show that there is no evidence for the introduction of birds from China. Instead, a medieval breeding record as well as regular appearance of the cormorant in religious and secular literature from the Middle Ages show that the bird was at least temporarily well-known in deeper inland regions of the German-speaking area. The results raise strong doubts about the hypothesis of Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis being an introduced alien species.