Non-invasive Species Research Articles

Calling time on alien plantscapes.

Both urban and rural environments around the globe have become dominated by alien plant species to the extent that plantscapes from one region or country have become difficult to distinguish from many others. This process of plant community homogenisation comes at a cost to cultural identity and undermines people's sense of place. Although invasive alien plant species have received considerable attention in recent decades, issues with non-invasive alien plant species have largely been ignored, and yet they contribute significantly to biotic homogeneity and impose an ever accumulating invasion debt: a debt that increases in proportion with their population sizes. By contrast, an abundance of native species in the places where people live is important for strengthening commitment to biodiversity conservation. Is there therefore sufficient evidence of harm from increasing numbers of non-invasive alien plants to justify local and central governments introducing measures to substantially reduce the proportion of non-invasive aliens in both urban and rural environments?

A rapid assessment of non-native fish distributions in two English river basins using environmental DNA

Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys are increasingly used to inform management decisions for non-native species, for example, by detecting the presence and plotting distributions of species that may be in too low abundance for easy detection by conventional means. A recently-developed nested PCR protocol was used to assess the distributions of three non-native fish species in two river basins of southern England (River Test, Hampshire; River Ouse, Sussex). These river basins were known to contain three non-native fishes, either in the recent past or currently: two invasive small-bodied fish species (topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus), as well as a currently non-invasive species predicted to become invasive under future climate conditions, pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus. Water samples were collected at locations from headwater streams to estuary. Pumpkinseed and sunbleak were both detected downstream of an angling venue in the Sussex Ouse catchment known to contain those species, with an upstream expansion of sunbleak suggested by the detection of eDNA at a few upstream locations. Neither sunbleak nor topmouth gudgeon was detected in water samples from the River Test catchment, suggesting that neither species has persistent populations in that river catchment.

The peroxidase response of Alternanthera philoxeroides (Alligator Weed) and Nasturtium officinale (Watercress) to heavy metal exposure.

We examined the effects of copper and lead on the antioxidant enzyme response of Alternanthera philoxeroides and Nasturtium officinale using a benchtop luminometer. Alternanthera philoxeroides is a nonnative invasive plant species that has spread throughout the wetland ecosystem in the southern part of the USA. Its invasion is facilitated by its ability to thrive in a wide range of abiotic conditions. Nasturtium officinale is an aquatic plant that is sensitive to relatively low amounts of pollution and is most commonly found in springs and shallow bodies of water. While A. philoxeroides tolerates organic pollution and heavy metals, N. officinale exhibits stress at low levels of pollution. Alternanthera philoxeroides antioxidant enzyme production was unaffected by increasing concentrations of both copper and lead. The antioxidant enzyme response of N. officinale showed a significant increase when plants were exposed to 10 and 25ppm lead. Endogenous peroxidase concentrations of the control plants were also compared showing that A. philoxeroides possessed a significantly higher concentration of peroxidases than N. officinale. We hypothesize that a higher endogenous peroxidase concentration may be a mechanism that hyperaccumulator plants use to tolerate inhospitable concentrations of copper and lead.

Patterns of understory invasion in invasive timber stands of a tropical sky island.

Current climate and land cover change threaten global mountaintops with increased spread of invasive species. Long-established plantations of invasive trees on these mountaintops can alter their surroundings, further increasing invader-facilitated invasion. Identifying the ecological conditions promoting such associations can help develop better management interventions. The Western Ghats's Shola Sky Islands (>1400 m MSL) host vast stretches of invasive tree plantations that sustain the colonization of other invasive woody, herbaceous, and fern species in their understories. Here, we analyzed vegetation and landscape variables from 232 systematically placed plots in randomly selected grids using non-metric multidimensional scaling and Phi coefficient approaches to examine patterns of association (positive interactions) between understory invasive species with specific invasive overstory species. We also conducted GLMM with zero inflation to determine the influence of environmental variables where such associations occur. We find that understory invasion of multiple species under the canopy of other invasives is widespread across the Shola Sky Islands. Stands of Eucalyptus host the colonization of 70% of non-native invasive species surveyed across the Shola Sky Islands. In particular, the Lantana camara invasion is strongly associated with Eucalyptus stands. We also found that climatic variables affect the colonization of understory woody invasive species, while invasion by exotic herbaceous species is associated with the density of road networks. Canopy cover impacts all invasives negatively, while fire incidence was negatively associated with invasion by Lantana spp. and the Pteridium spp. While the restoration of natural habitats primarily targets the highly invasive Acacia, less invasive Eucalyptus and Pinus are often not included. Our study suggests that retaining such invasive species in natural habitats, particularly protected areas, can hinder ongoing grassland restoration efforts by facilitating further invasions by multiple woody and herbaceous species.

Should Ipsdienol and Ipsenol Lures be Retained in a Generic Trap Lure Blend for Pine Bark and Woodboring Beetles (Coleoptera) in the Southeastern United States?

Abstract Trap lure blends that maximize the diversity of captured insect species help to reduce the costs of detection programs that target native and nonnative invasive species of bark and woodboring beetles. In 2007, the effects of the bark beetle pheromones ipsdienol and ipsenol on catches of beetles (Coleoptera) in multiple-funnel traps baited with ethanol + α-pinene were evaluated in a trapping study in one stand of mature loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., in northcentral Georgia. Ipsenol and/or ipsdienol increased catches of Acanthocinus obsoletus (LeConte) and Monochamus titillator (F.) (Cerambycidae), Ips avulsus (Eichhoff), Ips calligraphus (Germar), Ips grandicollis (Eichhoff) (Curculionidae), Temnoscheila virescens (F.), and Aulonium tuberculatum (LeConte) (Zopheridae) in traps baited with ethanol and α-pinene. However, catches of most species in traps baited with ipsenol + ipsdienol were the same as those baited with either ipsenol or ipsdienol alone. Only catches of I. avulsus were greatest in traps baited with both ipsdienol and ipsenol. Catches of Thanasimus dubius (F.) (Cleridae), Platysoma spp. (Histeridae), and Lasconotus spp. (Zopheridae) increased with the addition of ipsenol but decreased with the addition of ipsdienol. In contrast, catches of Orthotomicus caelatus (Eichhoff) (Curculionidae) increased with the addition of ipsdienol; attraction was interrupted by the addition of ipsenol. A number of trade-offs exist in retaining ipsdienol and/or ipsenol in the multicomponent pine lure blend for detection programs in Georgia.

Sweet chestnut forests under black locust invasion threat and different management: An assessment of stand structure and biodiversity

Sweet chestnut forests in Europe are impacted by management abandonment, non-native species invasions and diseases, among other factors. Understanding the effects of these factors is crucial for forecasting future biodiversity changes, as well as proposing appropriate planning and management strategies. We studied sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) dominated forests within three hilly landscapes (Euganean hills, Montello, and Berici hills) of north-eastern Italy. We surveyed 25 paired sweet chestnut and black locust dominated plots of 100 m2 representing coppice or over-aged stands. We collected and analysed data related to vascular plant composition and richness, soil physical features (moisture content, shear strength and penetration resistance), ammonia-oxidising archaea in the soil, and stand structure features. Composition of vascular plants differed significantly between the two forest types, without the influence of management regime. Soil characteristics did not change comparing forest types, management regimes and their interaction, except for soil moisture that was higher in coppice forests. Ammonia-oxidising archaea abundance was lower in sweet chestnut stands. Sweet chestnut and black locust forests have a similar stand structure. The management regime played a role in determining mean diameter, number of stems and deadwood volume. We suggest adopting a heterogeneous array of silviculture practices to achieve the highest variety of forest structures and plant composition in Mediterranean hilly landscapes, coupled with management practices aimed at black locust control.

Understanding and improving biosecurity among recreational anglers in Great Britain.

Recreational fishing with the principal motivation of leisure is associated with important economic, social and conservation values. Nonetheless, it is also a primary pathway for the introduction and spread of invasive non-native species and aquatic animal disease. Several studies have explored the overall biosecurity risk posed by recreational anglers based on self-reported behaviours and the awareness of biosecurity campaigns. Nonetheless, there has been little in-depth exploration of the characteristics of key stakeholders who are implementing biosecurity best practices and the barriers that prevent anglers from undertaking biosecurity measures in the field. This study addresses this knowledge gap using an online questionnaire to collect information on angler socio-demographic characteristics, voluntary biosecurity behaviour and barriers affecting the implementation of biosecurity best practices in Great Britain. The results indicated that cleaning behaviours vary considerably among anglers, with angling frequency and the number of pieces of equipment affecting how likely anglers were to clean and dry these items. High levels of disinfectant use were reported among anglers, potentially attributed to the concurrent advocation of disinfectant to prevent the spread of aquatic animal disease. Barriers affecting the implementation of correct cleaning behaviours included a combination of factors, such as practicality, disability, lack of available information and individual values. These findings illustrate the importance for fishery managers, water companies and policymakers to tailor prevention measures and facilities for anglers to maximise the practicality of biosecurity measures and encourage long-term implementation of best practices.

Competition effect exerted by two nonnative invasive plant species on a native under contrasting conditions of resource availability

Competition effect exerted by two nonnative invasive plant species on a native under contrasting conditions of resource availability

Long-term trends and drivers of biological invasion in Central European streams

Rates of biological invasion continue to accelerate and threaten the structure and function of ecosystems worldwide. High habitat connectivity, multiple pathways, and inadequate monitoring have rendered aquatic ecosystems vulnerable to species introductions. Past riverine invasion dynamics were largely restricted to large rivers, leaving out smaller rivers that commonly harbour high freshwater biodiversity. Moreover, biodiversity time series have rarely been used to investigate invasions across larger spatial-temporal scales, limiting our understanding of aquatic invasion dynamics. Here, we used 6067 benthic invertebrate samples from streams and small rivers from the EU Water Framework Directive monitoring program collected across Central Europe between 2000 and 2018 to assess temporal changes to benthic invertebrate communities as well as non-native species. We assessed invasion rates according to temperature, precipitation, elevation, latitude, longitude, and stream type. Overall, average daily temperatures significantly increased by 0.02 °C per annum (0.34 °C in total) while annual precipitation significantly decreased by 0.01 mm per annum (−67.8 mm over the study period), paralleled with significant increases in overall species richness (12.3 %) and abundance (14.9 %); water quality was relatively stable. Non-native species richness increased 5-fold and abundance 40-fold, indicating an ongoing community shift from native to non-native species. The observed increase in invasions was stronger in low mountain rivers compared to low mountain streams, with the share of non-native species abundance and richness declining with increasing elevation and latitude but increasing with temperature. We found thermophilic non-native species invasion success was greatest in larger sized streams, at lower latitudes, lower elevations and higher temperatures. These results indicate that widespread environmental characteristics (i.e., temperature) could heighten invasion success and confer refuge effects (i.e., elevation and latitude) in higher sites. High altitude and latitude environments should be prioritised for prevention efforts, while biosecurity and management should be improved in lowland areas subject to greater anthropogenic pressure, where non-native introductions are more likely.

Comparison of the Allelopathic Potential of Non-Native and Native Species of Mediterranean Ecosystems.

Allelopathy is a frequent interaction between species in Mediterranean ecosystems and it is also one of the proposed strategies to explain the colonisation of invasive species. To confirm the importance of allelopathic potential as a mechanism of invasion of non-native species in Mediterranean ecosystems, it would be advisable to compare the allelopathic effects of non-native plants with native plants on the same target species and thus avoid overestimating the role of phytotoxicity in the invasion process. The main objective of this work was to compare the allelopathic activity of native species typical of Mediterranean ecosystems, classified as allelopathic, with the allelopathic activity of non-native species that may have an invasive character in these ecosystems. To this end, we selected three native species (Cistus ladanifer, Pistacia lentiscus, and Pistacia terebithus) and three non-native species (Acacia dealbata, Acer negundo, and Salix babylonica), and we analysed their effect on the species Lactuca sativa and the native species Lavandula stoechas and Echium plantagineum. The tests on L. sativa showed that all species have allelopathic activity. The tests on L. stoechas and E. plantagineum revealed that P. terebinthus exerted the greatest effect, being the only species that maintained an inhibitory effect at extract concentrations of 50% and 25% in all the analysed parameters, except in germination and cotyledon emergence for E. plantagineum. There were no significant differences in the effect on germination between non-native and native species, although significant differences were found in the effect on root size in the three analysed concentrations, with the native species producing greater inhibition. In conclusion, these species exert a negative effect on the selected native target species, but the negative effect of the native species is greater than that of the non-native species. These results indicate that it is important to compare the allelopathic effects of invasive and native species to correctly estimate the phytotoxic effect of invasive species on their invasiveness.

Genomic profiling of dioecious Amaranthus species provides novel insights into species relatedness and sex genes

BackgroundAmaranthus L. is a diverse genus consisting of domesticated, weedy, and non-invasive species distributed around the world. Nine species are dioecious, of which Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson and Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) J.D. Sauer are troublesome weeds of agronomic crops in the USA and elsewhere. Shallow relationships among the dioecious Amaranthus species and the conservation of candidate genes within previously identified A. palmeri and A. tuberculatus male-specific regions of the Y (MSYs) in other dioecious species are poorly understood. In this study, seven genomes of dioecious amaranths were obtained by paired-end short-read sequencing and combined with short reads of seventeen species in the family Amaranthaceae from NCBI database. The species were phylogenomically analyzed to understand their relatedness. Genome characteristics for the dioecious species were evaluated and coverage analysis was used to investigate the conservation of sequences within the MSY regions.ResultsWe provide genome size, heterozygosity, and ploidy level inference for seven newly sequenced dioecious Amaranthus species and two additional dioecious species from the NCBI database. We report a pattern of transposable element proliferation in the species, in which seven species had more Ty3 elements than copia elements while A. palmeri and A. watsonii had more copia elements than Ty3 elements, similar to the TE pattern in some monoecious amaranths. Using a Mash-based phylogenomic analysis, we accurately recovered taxonomic relationships among the dioecious Amaranthus species that were previously identified based on comparative morphology. Coverage analysis revealed eleven candidate gene models within the A. palmeri MSY region with male-enriched coverages, as well as regions on scaffold 19 with female-enriched coverage, based on A. watsonii read alignments. A previously reported FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) within A. tuberculatus MSY contig was also found to exhibit male-enriched coverages for three species closely related to A. tuberculatus but not for A. watsonii reads. Additional characterization of the A. palmeri MSY region revealed that 78% of the region is made of repetitive elements, typical of a sex determination region with reduced recombination.ConclusionsThe results of this study further increase our understanding of the relationships among the dioecious species of the Amaranthus genus as well as revealed genes with potential roles in sex function in the species.

Cultivated alien plants with high invasion potential are more likely to be traded online in China.

Biological invasions have become a worldwide problem, and measures to efficiently prevent and control invasions are still in development. Like many other parts of the world, China is undergoing a dramatic increase in plant invasions. Most of the currently 933 established (i.e., naturalized) plant species, of which 214 are categorized as invasive, have been introduced into China for cultivation. It is likely that many of those species are still being traded, particularly online, by plant nurseries. However, studies assessing whether naturalized and invasive species are currently being traded more or less than nonnaturalized aliens are rare. We extracted online-trade information for 13,718 cultivated alien plant taxa on 1688.com, the largest website for domestic B2B in China. We analyzed how the presence in online-nursery catalogs, the number of online nurseries that offerred the species for sale, and the product type (i.e., seeds, live plants and vegetative organs) differed among nonnaturalized, naturalized noninvasive, and invasive species. Compared to nonnaturalized taxa, naturalized noninvasive and invasive taxa were 3.7-5.2 times more likely to be available for purchase. Naturalized noninvasive and invasive taxa were more frequently offered as seeds by online nurseries, whereas nonnaturalized taxa were more frequently offered as live plants. Based on these findings, we propose that, to reduce the further spread of invasive and potentially invasive plants, implementation of plant-trade regulations and a monitoring system of the online horticultural supply chain will be essential.

First record of the non-indigenous Mollusca Okenia pellucida Burn, 1967 (Nudibranchia: Goniodorididae) in the Mediterranean basin

The Mediterranean Sea, a semi-closed basin, hosts a unique biodiversity. Since the opening of the Suez Canal and the increase in maritime traffic, it has become one of the regions of the world most impacted by invasions of non-native species, and harbors play an important role in this phenomenon: they are the gateways that offer non-native species a way of entry and diffusion. This paper reports the first records in the Mediterranean Sea of the Indo-Pacific species Okenia pellucida Burn, 1967 (Goniodorididae), from two localities in the Southern part of the basin. Seven specimens were collected in Regatta Bay, east of the port of Tripoli (Libya); four additional individuals have been reported from Il-Fekruna, Malta.

Recovery of insular seabird populations years after rodent eradication.

Seabirds have been particularly affected by invasive non-native species, which has led to the implementation of numerous eradication campaigns for the conservation of these keystone and highly vulnerable species. Although the benefits of eradication of invasive non-native species for seabird conservation have been demonstrated, the recovery kinetics of different seabird populations on islands after eradication remains poorly evaluated. We conducted long-term monitoring of the number of breeding pairs of seven seabird species on a small atoll, Surprise Island, New Caledonia (southwestern tropical Pacific). Marine avifauna of the island were surveyed yearly 4 years before to 4 years after rodent eradication (conducted in 2005), and we conducted multiple one-time surveys from ∼10 years before and ∼15 years after eradication. We sought to determine how different seabird species responded to the eradication of invasive rodents in an insular environment. Three species responded positively (two- to 10-fold increase in population size) to eradication with differences in lag time and sensitivity. The number of breeding pairs increased (effect sizes = 0.49-0.95 and 0.35-0.52) for two species over 4 years post-eradication due to immigration. One species had a longer (at least 5 years) response time than all others; breeding pairs increased for over 10 years after eradication. Long-term sampling was necessary to observe the responses of the seabird populations on the island because of the delayed response of a species to eradication not visible in the first years after eradication. Our results confirmed the positive effects of eradication of invasive non-native species on seabirds and emphasize the importance of mid- and long-term pre- and posteradication surveys to decipher the mechanisms of seabird recovery and confirm the benefits of eradication for conservation purposes.

Phytosanitary Rules for the Movement of Olive (Olea europaea L.) Propagation Material into the European Union (EU).

Phytosanitary legislation involves government laws that are essential to minimize the risk of the introduction and diffusion of pests, especially invasive non-native species, as a consequence of the international exchange of plant material, thus allowing us to safeguard agricultural production and biodiversity of a territory. These measures ensure compliance with adequate requirements relating to the absence of pests, especially of harmful quarantine organisms through inspections and diagnosis tests of the consignments to ascertain the presence of the pests concerned. They also regulate the eradication and containment measures that are implemented in the eventuality of an unintentional introduction of these organisms. In the present contribution, the current plant protection legislation for the exchange of plants or propagation material within the European Union or for export to foreign countries, represented by Regulation (EU) 2016/2031, has been reviewed, with a particular focus on the olive tree (Olea europaea L.). Furthermore, a brief summary of the main olive tree pests transmissible with the propagation material is also reported, indicating their current categorization with respect to the relative quarantine status.

Plant–soil interactions in the native range of two congeneric species with contrasting invasive success

The aim of this study was to compare plant–soil interactions in the native range of two congeneric European species differing in their invasive success in the world: a globally invasive Cirsium vulgare and non-invasive C. oleraceum. We assessed changes in soil nutrients and soil biota following soil conditioning by each species and compared performance of plants grown in self-conditioned and unconditioned soil, from which all, some or no biota was excluded. The invasive species depleted more nutrients than the non-invasive species and coped better with altered nutrient levels. The invasive species had higher seedling establishment which benefited from the presence of unconditioned biota transferred by soil filtrate. Biomass of both species increased in soil with self-conditioned soil filtrate and decreased in soil with self-conditioned whole-soil inoculum compared to unconditioned filtrate and inoculum. However, the increase was smaller and the decrease greater for the invasive species. The invasive species allocated less biomass to roots when associated with harmful biota, reducing negative effects of the biota on its performance. The results show that in the native range the invasive species is more limited by self-conditioned pathogens and benefits more from unconditioned mutualists and thus may benefit more from loss of effectively specialized soil biota in a secondary range. Our study highlights the utility of detailed plant-soil feedback research in species native range for understanding factors regulating species performance in their native range and pinpointing the types of biota involved in their regulation.

Preventing and controlling nonnative species invasions to bend the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss

The Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity recognizes that addressing nonnative species is one of six principal actions needed to bend the curve in freshwater biodiversity loss. This is because introduction rates of nonnative species continue to accelerate globally and where these species develop invasive populations, they can have severe impacts on freshwater biodiversity. The most effective management measure to protect freshwater biodiversity is to prevent introductions of nonnative species. Should a nonnative species be introduced, however, then its early detection and the implementation of rapid reaction measures can avoid it establishing and dispersing. If these measures are unsuccessful and the species becomes invasive, then control and containment measures can minimize its further spread and impact. Minimizing further spread and impact includes control methods to reduce invader abundance and containment methods such as screening of invaded sites and strict biosecurity to avoid the invader dispersing to neighbouring basins. These management actions have benefitted from developments in invasion risk assessment that can prioritize species according to their invasion risk and, for species already invasive, ensure that management actions are commensurate with assessed risk. The successful management of freshwater nonnative species still requires the overcoming of some implementation challenges, including nonnative species often being a symptom of degraded habitats rather than the main driver of ecological change, and eradication methods often being nonspecies specific. Given the multiple anthropogenic stressors in freshwaters, nonnative species management must work with other restoration strategies if it is to deliver the Emergency Recovery Plan for freshwater biodiversity.

Status, threats and the conservation of endemic species in the Yarlung Zangbo river basin

The Yarlung Zangbo river extends through the southern area of the Tibet Plateau at the highest elevation of any large river in the world. It supports many unique and endemic species, but global warming, proposed and existing hydropower developments, and the invasion of non-native species are significant threats to its native aquatic biodiversity. Some endemic species, including fishes (Glyptosternum maculatum, Schizothorax oconnori, Schizothorax macropogon, Schizophygopsis younghusbandi, Ptychobarbus dipogon and Oxygymnocypris stewartii), water birds (Grus nigricollis and Haliaeetus albicilla) and mammals (Lutra lutra), have experienced great ecological and physical challenges. To ensure a sustainable development pathway, some specific conservation measures should be undertaken, including the establishment of natural reserves in sensitive areas, and more research and ecological monitoring. This study is a significant reference and example for managers developing strategies to conserve aquatic biodiversity in large, highaltitude river basins within mountainous settings.

Review of fish community, stressors and conservation in the Rondegat River (South Africa)

Anthropogenic change is a major threat to dwindling freshwater biodiversity. We present and synthesise available information regarding the fish community, ecology, threats and conservation options within The Cape Fold Ecoregion (CFE) of South Africa. The CFE is a particularly vulnerable region, with many range-restricted species and highly fragmented native fish ranges. The Rondegat River in the Olifants-Doring River System of the Western Cape province is of notable conservation value, as it hosts populations of important endemic CFE species despite being at risk from non-native invasive species, climate change, and agriculture intensification. This river is unique, being the site of the first alien fish eradication programme of its kind in South Africa. The recovering Rondegat River imperilled cyprinid assemblage is used to frame the manner in which future environmental change may continue to disturb the ecology of the system. Conservation options and priorities are discussed in the context of a southern hemisphere Mediterranean-climate freshwater system

Impacts of wild pigs on acorn availability as a food source for native wildlife

Context Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a non-native invasive species that causes millions of dollars in damage each year to agriculture in the United States of America, destroys native plant communities, and competes with native wildlife for seasonally available pulse resources such as acorns. Despite many anecdotal observations and diet studies suggesting wild pigs reduce acorn availability for other wildlife species, no studies have comparatively examined acorn consumption among species in a natural environment (i.e. competition). Aims Our objective was to estimate the consumption of acorns by wild pigs relative to that of other native wildlife species. Methods We established 40 monitoring stations beneath acorn-producing trees in a 3406-ha study area in eastern Alabama with an approximate density of 9 pigs/km2. At each monitoring station, we placed five acorns on a 1-m × 1-m sand pad and positioned a game camera to record acorn fate during 2-week intervals once a month from September to February 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. Cameras were set to capture images once every minute continuously during the survey period. Additionally, we constructed acorn traps from 18.9-L plastic buckets to estimate the timing and relative amounts of acorns that were potentially available for consumption at each monitoring station. Key results From approximately 7.3 million camera images, we observed 15 wildlife species consuming 707 acorns over the 2 years. Aside from animal consumption, acorn fate was categorised as lost due to flooding (n = 153), remaining on the sand pad at time of camera failure (n = 720), or not consumed during the sampling period (n = 536). Key conclusions Top acorn consumers were squirrel (Sciurus spp.), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), raccoon (Procyon lotor), and wild pig. In the 2018–2019 sampling period, wild pigs consumption accounted for 23.4% (n = 87) of the total consumed acorns. After wild pig removal efforts were initiated in the summer and autumn of 2019, wild pigs consumed only 7.2% (n = 24) of consumed acorns. Implications Wild pigs consume a significant number of acorns and likely reduce the availability of this pulse resource for other native wildlife species and may potentially influence oak regeneration.