Ecological and Range Traits Differ Between Invasive and Non-Invasive Myna Species, and What This Suggests About Their Success and Potential for Future Diversity

This research examines how ecological and morphological traits differ between invasive and non-invasive Acridotheres myna species, and how these variations influence invasion success and adaptive potential. By integrating ecological theory with empirical data, the study explores the biological mechanisms that allow certain bird species to thrive in new environments while others remain restricted to native habitats. The paper provides an extensive review of existing literature on invasive mynas’ ecological impacts—such as resource competition, habitat alteration, and disease transmission—and contrasts these with the stabilizing ecological roles of native mynas. It establishes how specific ecological and range-related features, such as habitat flexibility, dispersal ability, and behavioural adaptability, contribute to the invasive myna’s success in colonizing new regions.

Methodologically, the study draws on quantitative data from the AVONET database to analyse traits like wing length, body mass, beak depth, range size, and habitat density across invasive and non-invasive species. Using Mann–Whitney U and Spearman’s correlation tests, the author investigates statistical relationships between these traits to identify predictors of invasion potential. The results reveal that invasive mynas exhibit significantly larger range sizes and stronger correlations between body mass and wing length—traits that support greater dispersal and adaptability. Conversely, non-invasive mynas display weaker morphological integration and are more confined to specific habitats. Interestingly, while some traits like beak depth and habitat density did not show significant variation, the patterns of integration between multiple traits suggest that invasive species possess coordinated adaptations enhancing their ecological flexibility and flight efficiency.

The findings underscore that invasive mynas’ success stems from both ecological generalism and morphological integration—traits that enable them to exploit urban environments and outcompete native birds. The research concludes that understanding these linked traits can help predict future invaders and design more targeted conservation strategies. Despite limitations such as a small sample size and limited literature on non-invasive mynas, the paper makes a meaningful contribution by bridging morphological data with invasion ecology, offering insight into how evolutionary adaptability drives species success in a changing global environment.