Program Results

Introduction to the event

Over the past 20 years, Amami Ōshima, Japan, has been gradually invaded by the urban-dwelling common house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus). Positively mediated by human activities, this gecko is now widespread throughout the island. Survey data on its spatial distribution across several time points since its invasion onto the island provide valuable material for invasion biology. Dr. Ho's team developed a species dispersal model that considers road networks as the route for the gecko’s dispersal via hitchhiking, and further integrates human population density and road level as indicators of traffic intensity, as well as land use type as a determinant of gecko settlement probability. Among various reasonable parameter combinations, the model that fully incorporates these factors predicted the spatio-temporal distribution of geckos that best matched the actual survey data, demonstrating that the model likely captures the mechanisms of the spread. Considering that Taiwan has also been invaded by the same gecko, the team will expand the model’s application in Taiwan and systematically collect relevant empirical data, hoping to provide mechanistic insights for biodiversity conservation and invasive species control in Taiwan.

Fig 1. The urban-dwelling gecko Hemidactylus frenatus, which is an invasive species in both Amami Ōshima and Taiwan.

Fig 2. Dr. Ho’s team conducting monthly gecko survey in Taipei.