Alien species recorded in the United Arab Emirates: an initial list of terrestrial and freshwater species

Main Article Content

Pritpal Soorae
Salim Javed
Shaikha Al Dhaheri
Majid Al Qassimi
Maher Kabshawi
Anitha Saji
Shahid Khan
Sabitha Sakkir
Rashed Al Zaabi
Shakeel Ahmed
Junid N. Shah
Ahmed Ali

Abstract

Little is documented on the alien terrestrial and freshwater species in the United Arab Emirates. To address this, an assessment of terrestrial and freshwater alien species was conducted using various techniques such as a questionnaire, fieldwork data, networking with relevant people, and a detailed literature review. The results of the initial assessment show that there are 146 alien species recorded in the following seven major taxonomic groups: invertebrates 49 species, freshwater fish five species, amphibian one species, reptiles six species, birds 71 species, mammals six species and plants eight species. To inform decision makers a full list of the 146 species identified in this assessment is presented.

 

Article Details

Section
Data Papers
Author Biographies

Pritpal Soorae, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Pritpal Soorae is Unit Head of the Terrestrial Assessment & Monitoring unit and works mainly on reptiles, amphibians, alien species and wildlife trade issues.

 

Salim Javed, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Salim Javed is Manager of the Terrestrial Assessment & Conservation section and his interests lie mainly in avian ecology and telemetry studies.

 

Shaikha Al Dhaheri, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Shaikha Al Dhaheri is Executive Director of the Terrestrial Marine & Biodiversity Sector and has worked on species conservation and ecology as part of her MSc and PhD.

 

Majid Al Qassimi, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Majid Al Qassimi is Director of the Terrestrial Biodiversity Department and is a veterinarian by training and who oversees the large ungulate ex-situ and re-introduction programs.

 

Maher Kabshawi, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Maher Kabshawi is Unit Head of the Threatened Species and Habitat unit and whose main interest lies in desert plants.

 

Anitha Saji, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Anitha Saji is an entomologist by training and has worked extensively on UAE invertebrates and besides finding new species to science has a wasp named after her.

 

Shahid Khan, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Shahid Khan is an ornithologist who works on avian projects within the Terrestrial Assessment & Monitoring unit.

 

Sabitha Sakkir, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Sabitha Sakkir is a botanist who oversees the botanical side of the Terrestrial Assessment & Monitoring unit and has considerable experience in UAE’s desert vegetation and in conducting large-scale ecosystem surveys.

 

Rashed Al Zaabi, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Rashid Al Zaabi whose main interest lies in mammalogy, coordinates the mammalian assessment and monitoring activities of the Terrestrial Assessment & Monitoring unit.

 

Shakeel Ahmed, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Shakeel Ahmed is an ornithologist who works both on avian ecology and mammal monitoring and assessment. He also oversees the camera-trapping program.

 

Junid N. Shah, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Junid N. Shah holds a PhD in Wildlife Sciences and is an ornithologist by training and has done extensive wild bird monitoring within the UAE and also involved in various biodiversity surveys within Abu Dhabi Emirate.

 

Ahmed Ali, Terrestrial Biodiversity Sector, Environment Agency-ABU DHABI, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Ahmed Ali has recently joined the Terrestrial Assessment & Monitoring unit and besides working on herpetology is an authority on using drones and other modern technologies for wildlife monitoring and assessment.

 

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