1
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Of mice and cats: interspecific variation in prey responses to direct and indirect predator cues. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03277-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Diagne C, Ballesteros-Mejia L, Cuthbert RN, Bodey TW, Fantle-Lepczyk J, Angulo E, Bang A, Dobigny G, Courchamp F. Economic costs of invasive rodents worldwide: the tip of the iceberg. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14935. [PMID: 36992943 PMCID: PMC10042159 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rodents are among the most notorious invasive alien species worldwide. These invaders have substantially impacted native ecosystems, food production and storage, local infrastructures, human health and well-being. However, the lack of standardized and understandable estimation of their impacts is a serious barrier to raising societal awareness, and hampers effective management interventions at relevant scales. Methods Here, we assessed the economic costs of invasive alien rodents globally in order to help overcome these obstacles. For this purpose, we combined and analysed economic cost data from the InvaCost database-the most up-to-date and comprehensive synthesis of reported invasion costs-and specific complementary searches within and beyond the published literature. Results Our conservative analysis showed that reported costs of rodent invasions reached a conservative total of US$ 3.6 billion between 1930 and 2022 (annually US$ 87.5 million between 1980 and 2022), and were significantly increasing through time. The highest cost reported was for muskrat Ondatra zibethicus (US$ 377.5 million), then unspecified Rattus spp. (US$ 327.8 million), followed by Rattus norvegicus specifically (US$ 156.6 million) and Castor canadensis (US$ 150.4 million). Of the total costs, 87% were damage-related, principally impacting agriculture and predominantly reported in Asia (60%), Europe (19%) and North America (9%). Our study evidenced obvious cost underreporting with only 99 documents gathered globally, clear taxonomic gaps, reliability issues for cost assessment, and skewed breakdowns of costs among regions, sectors and contexts. As a consequence, these reported costs represent only a very small fraction of the expected true cost of rodent invasions (e.g., using a less conservative analytic approach would have led to a global amount more than 80-times higher than estimated here). Conclusions These findings strongly suggest that available information represents a substantial underestimation of the global costs incurred. We offer recommendations for improving estimates of costs to fill these knowledge gaps including: systematic distinction between native and invasive rodents' impacts; monetizing indirect impacts on human health; and greater integrative and concerted research effort between scientists and stakeholders. Finally, we discuss why and how this approach will stimulate and provide support for proactive and sustainable management strategies in the context of alien rodent invasions, for which biosecurity measures should be amplified globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Diagne
- CBGP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Orsay, France
| | | | - Ross N. Cuthbert
- Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas W. Bodey
- School of Biological Sciences, King’s College, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | - Elena Angulo
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Orsay, France
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alok Bang
- Society for Ecology Evolution and Development, Wardha, India
| | - Gauthier Dobigny
- CBGP, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, IRD, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France
- Unité Peste, Institut Pasteur de Madagascar, BP 1274 Ambatofotsikely Avaradoha, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Franck Courchamp
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Orsay, France
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Adams MWD, Grant LS, Kovacs TGL, Liang SQT, Norris N, Wesley HE, Alessi MM, Banks PB. Commensal black rats
Rattus rattus
select wild vegetation over urbanised habitats. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maxim W. D. Adams
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Laura S. Grant
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Toby G. L. Kovacs
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Stephanie Q. T. Liang
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Nicholas Norris
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Hannah E. Wesley
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Megan M. Alessi
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
| | - Peter B. Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Sydney Camperdown New South Wales Australia
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White JG, Sparrius J, Robinson T, Hale S, Lupone L, Healey T, Cooke R, Rendall AR. Can NDVI identify drought refugia for mammals and birds in mesic landscapes? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 851:158318. [PMID: 36037901 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Refugia within landscapes are increasingly important as climate change intensifies, yet identifying refugia, and how they respond to climatic perturbations remains understudied. We use Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) developed during extreme drought to identify drought refugia. We then utilise camera trapping to understand the ecological role and importance of these refugia under fluctuating rainfall conditions. Ground foraging mammals and birds were surveyed annually from 2016 to 2019 whereby 171 remote-sensing cameras were deployed in the southern section of the Grampians, Australia. NDVI values were calculated during Australia's millennium drought, allowing the assessment of how NDVI calculated during extreme drought predicts drought refugia and the response of biodiversity to NDVI under rainfall fluctuations. Site occupancy of bird and mammal assemblages were dependent on NDVI, with areas of high NDVI during drought exhibiting characteristics consistent with refugia. Rainfall pulses increased site occupancy at all sites with colonisation probability initially associated with higher NDVI sites. Extinction probabilities were greatest at low NDVI sites when rainfall declined. Within mesic systems, remotely sensed NDVI can identify areas of the landscape that act as drought refugia enabling landscape management to prioritise species conservation within these areas. The protection and persistence of refugia is crucial in ensuring landscapes and their species communities therein are resilient to a range of climate change scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G White
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia.
| | - Jacinta Sparrius
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Tomas Robinson
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Susannah Hale
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Luke Lupone
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Tom Healey
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Raylene Cooke
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony R Rendall
- Deakin University, Geelong, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Hwy, Burwood 3125, VIC, Australia
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Salgado R, Barja I, Hernández MDC, Lucero B, Castro-Arellano I, Bonacic C, Rubio AV. Activity patterns and interactions of rodents in an assemblage composed by native species and the introduced black rat: implications for pathogen transmission. BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:48. [PMID: 36042784 PMCID: PMC9412813 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00152-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The degree of temporal overlap between sympatric wild hosts species and their behavioral interactions can be highly relevant to the transmission of pathogens. However, this topic has been scantly addressed. Furthermore, temporal overlap and interactions within an assemblage of wild rodents composed of native and introduced species have been rarely discussed worldwide. We assessed the nocturnal activity patterns and interactions between rodent taxa of an assemblage consisting of native species (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Abrothrix hirta, and Abrothrix olivaceus) and the introduced black rat (Rattus rattus) in a temperate forest from southern Chile. All rodent species in this study are known hosts for various zoonotic pathogens.
Results
We found a high nocturnal temporal overlap within the rodent assemblage. However, pairwise comparisons of temporal activity patterns indicated significant differences among all taxa. Rattus rattus showed aggressive behaviors against all native rodents more frequently than against their conspecifics. As for native rodents, agonistic behaviors were the most common interactions between individuals of the same taxon and between individuals of different taxa (O. longicaudatus vs Abrothrix spp.).
Conclusions
Our findings reveal several interactions among rodent taxa that may have implications for pathogens such as hantaviruses, Leptospira spp., and vector-borne pathogens. Furthermore, their transmission may be facilitated by the temporal overlap observed between rodent taxa.
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Invasive rat drives complete collapse of native small mammal communities in insular forest fragments. Curr Biol 2022; 32:2997-3004.e2. [PMID: 35709755 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.05.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
As tropical forests are becoming increasingly fragmented, understanding the magnitude and time frame of biodiversity declines is vital for 21st century sustainability goals. Over three decades, we monitored post-isolation changes in small mammal species richness and abundance within a forest landscape fragmented by the construction of a dam in Thailand.1,2 We observed the near-complete collapse of species richness within 33 years, with no evidence of a recolonization effect across repeatedly sampled islands. Our results further revealed a decline in species richness as island size decreased and isolation time increased, accelerated by the increasing dominance of the ubiquitous Malayan field rat, Rattus tiomanicus. This species was already hyper-abundant on smaller islands in the initial surveys (1992-1994, 66% of individuals) but became monodominant on all islands, regardless of island size, by the most recent survey (2020, 97%). Our results suggest that insular forest fragments are highly susceptible to rapid species loss, particularly due to the competitive nature of Rattus accelerating the rate at which extinction debts are paid. To mitigate these impacts, reducing the extent of habitat degradation, as triggered by fragmentation and exacerbated by isolation time, can help to sustain native biodiversity while averting Rattus hyper-abundance.
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Rendall AR, Sutherland DR, Baker CM, Raymond B, Cooke R, White JG. Managing ecosystems in a sea of uncertainty: invasive species management and assisted colonizations. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e02306. [PMID: 33595860 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Managing ecosystems in the face of complex species interactions, and the associated uncertainty, presents a considerable ecological challenge. Altering those interactions via actions such as invasive species management or conservation translocations can result in unintended consequences, supporting the need to be able to make more informed decisions in the face of this uncertainty. We demonstrate the utility of ecosystem models to reduce uncertainty and inform future ecosystem management. We use Phillip Island, Australia, as a case study to investigate the impacts of two invasive species management options and consider whether a critically endangered mammal is likely to establish a population in the presence of invasive species. Qualitative models are used to determine the effects of apex predator removal (feral cats) and invasive prey removal (rabbits, rats, and mice). We extend this approach using Ensemble Ecosystem Models to consider how suppression, rather than eradication influences the species community; and consider whether an introduction of the critically endangered eastern barred bandicoot is likely to be successful in the presence of invasive species. Our analysis revealed the potential for unintended outcomes associated with feral cat control operations, with rats and rabbits expected to increase in abundance. A strategy based on managing prey species appeared to have the most ecosystem-wide benefits, with rodent control showing more favorable responses than a rabbit control strategy. Eastern barred bandicoots were predicted to persist under all feral cat control levels (including no control). Managing ecosystems is a complex and imprecise process. However, qualitative modeling and ensemble ecosystem modeling address uncertainty and are capable of improving and optimizing management practices. Our analysis shows that the best conservation outcomes may not always be associated with the top-down control of apex predators, and land managers should think more broadly in relation to managing bottom-up processes as well. Challenges faced in continuing to conserve biodiversity mean new, bolder, conservation actions are needed. We suggest that endangered species are capable of surviving in the presence of feral cats, potentially opening the door for more conservation translocations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony R Rendall
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, Burwood Campus, Burwood, Victoria, 3125, Australia
| | - Duncan R Sutherland
- Conservation Department, Phillip Island Nature Parks, Cowes, Victoria, 3922, Australia
| | - Christopher M Baker
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Data Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Ben Raymond
- Australian Antarctic Division, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Kingston, Tasmania, 7050, Australia
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Raylene Cooke
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
| | - John G White
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3220, Australia
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O'Neill S, Short J, Calver M. The distribution, habitat preference and population dynamics of the pale field-rat (Rattus tunneyi) at Edel Land, Shark Bay, Western Australia: the role of refuges and refugia in population persistence. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/wr20005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
ContextThe pale field-rat (Rattus tunneyi) is a small native rat that formerly had a wide distribution throughout Australia. It has suffered substantial range contraction since European settlement and is now largely absent from arid and semiarid Australia. In this biome, it was known to persist only at two Western Australian locations: Edel Land, on the south-western shore of Shark Bay, and islands off the Pilbara coast.
AimsWe aimed to establish the extent of the species range at Edel Land, its habitat preference, the temporal stability of its populations with respect to rainfall, and threats to its persistence.
MethodsWe trapped at 54 sites to establish distribution and habitat preference, and re-trapped four of these sites at which R. tunneyi was present in each season for 2.5 years to establish trends in abundance.
Key resultsTrapping resulted in the capture of 45 R. tunneyi individuals across 17 of 54 sites (4104 trap-nights; 1.1% capture success). Rattus tunneyi typically occupied localised areas of dense shrubland, often in habitats with free water or near-surface moisture from drainage from high dunes allowing denser and taller vegetation and, at some sites, year-round growth of grasses or rushes. Regular re-trapping of four sites in each season (2002 – 2004) suggested a declining population, probably owing to a sequence of dry years.
Key conclusionsRattus tunneyi at Shark Bay occurred only in localised mesic refuges, apparently dependent on seepage from high dunes generated by major inputs of rainfall from infrequent cyclones or sequences of high-rainfall years.
ImplicationsThis isolated population is likely to be threatened by browsing by feral goats, opening up otherwise densely vegetated habitats of refuge areas, and their trampling of R. tunneyi burrows; by the depletion of grasses from herbivory by European rabbits; and by the long-term impact of a drying climate. It is unlikely to persist without effective on-going management, particularly of the goat population.
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9
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Coates TD. Circadian activity of the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) in South Central Victoria. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/am19048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) is one of the few Australian terrestrial mammals that is commonly active between dawn and dusk. The species has typically been considered cathemeral (active throughout the diel cycle) with variation in circadian activity dependant on proximate factors such as the risk of predation or competition with closely related taxa. Data from camera trapping over 8 years and across 79 sites in South Central Victoria confirmed the species was effectively diurnal throughout the region and that night activity was relatively uncommon. Activity generally tracked daily temperature cycles; lowest in the period prior to dawn and highest in the middle of the afternoon and is consistent with an energy conservation strategy linked to the species’ unusual diet. Other rodent taxa, including two widespread exotic species were strictly nocturnal yet there was little evidence to suggest that R. lutreolus activity was influenced by the presence or absence of other murids or the risk of predation.
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10
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Duron Q, Cornulier T, Vidal E, Bourguet E, Ruffino L. Combining live and lethal trapping to inform the management of alien invasive rodent populations in a tropical montane forest. NEOBIOTA 2020. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.63.53811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
On large inhabited islands where complete eradication of alien invasive rodents through the use of poison delivery is often not practical or acceptable, mechanical trapping may represent the only viable option to reduce their impact in areas of high biodiversity value. However, the feasibility of sustained rodent control by trapping remains uncertain under realistic operational constraints. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of non-toxic rat control strategies through a combination of lethal and live-trapping experiments, and scenario modelling, using the example of a remote montane rainforest of New Caledonia. Rat densities, estimated with spatially-explicit capture-recapture models, fluctuated seasonally (9.5–33.6 ind.ha-1). Capture probability (.01–.25) and home range sizes (HR95, .23–.75 ha) varied greatly according to trapping session, age class, sex and species. Controlling rats through the use of lethal trapping allowed maintaining rat densities at ca. 8 ind.ha-1 over a seven-month period in a 5.5-ha montane forest. Simulation models based on field parameter estimates over a 200-ha pilot management area indicated that without any financial and social constraints, trapping grids with the finest mesh sizes achieved cumulative capture probabilities > .90 after 15 trapping days, but were difficult to implement and sustain with the local workforce. We evaluated the costs and effectiveness of alternative trapping strategies taking into account the prevailing set of local constraints, and identified those that were likely to be successful. Scenario modelling, informed by trapping experiments, is a flexible tool for informing the design of sustainable control programs of island-invasive rodent populations, under idiosyncratic local circumstances.
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11
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Taillie PJ, Jolly SR, Bobay LR, Sneckenberger S, McCleery RA. Habitat use across multiple scales suggests resilience to rising seas for endangered island endemic compared to sympatric invasive species. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. J. Taillie
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - S. R. Jolly
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - L. R. Bobay
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - S. Sneckenberger
- South Florida Ecological Services Office United States Fish & Wildlife Service Vero Beach FL USA
| | - R. A. McCleery
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
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12
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Rogers AM, Griffin AS, Rensburg BJ, Kark S. Noisy neighbours and myna problems: Interaction webs and aggression around tree hollows in urban habitats. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Rogers
- The Biodiversity Research Group The School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
| | - Andrea S. Griffin
- Animal Behaviour and Cognition Lab, Conservation Science Research Group School of Psychology University of Newcastle Callaghan NSW Australia
| | - Berndt J. Rensburg
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
- Department of Zoology University of Johannesburg Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Salit Kark
- The Biodiversity Research Group The School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD Australia
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Puckett EE, Orton D, Munshi‐South J. Commensal Rats and Humans: Integrating Rodent Phylogeography and Zooarchaeology to Highlight Connections between Human Societies. Bioessays 2020; 42:e1900160. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 02/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily E. Puckett
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Memphis Memphis TN 38152 USA
| | - David Orton
- BioArChDepartment of ArchaeologyUniversity of York York YO10 5DD UK
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Moseby KE, McGregor H, Hill BM, Read JL. Exploring the internal and external wildlife gradients created by conservation fences. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:220-231. [PMID: 31310356 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Spillover effects are an expansion of conservation benefits beyond protected areas through dispersal of species that reside within. They have been well documented in marine but not terrestrial systems. To understand the effects on wildlife created by conservation fences, we explored the internal and external gradients of activity in mammal, reptile, and bird species at a conservation reserve in arid Australia that is fenced to exclude invasive rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), cats (Felis catus), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Two methods were used: counts of animal tracks along transects on sand dunes and captures at pitfall-trapping sites. In both cases, sites were spaced at different distances from the reserve fenceline inside and outside the reserve. We recorded a range of spillover, source-sink, step, and barrier effects that combined to create a zone within and around the reserve with fence-induced species-specific wildlife gradients. Two endemic rodents but none of the 4 mammal species reintroduced to the reserve showed positive spillover effects. Barrier effects, where activity was highest close to the fence, were recorded for the feral cat and native bettong (Bettongia lesueur), species that could not breach the fence. In comparison, some reptiles and native mammal species that could permeate the fence displayed source-sink effects; that is, their activity levels were reduced close to the fence likely due to constant emigration to the side with lower density. Activity of some reptiles was lowest at sites inside the reserve and gradually increased at outside sites with distance from the fence, a gradient likely related to trophic cascades triggered by predator exclusion. Our result shows that fenced reserves can create overlapping layers of species-specific gradients related to each species' ability to permeate the fence and its varying susceptibility to threats. Managers should be aware that these gradients may extend for several kilometers either side of the fence and that not all contained species will increase in abundance. Creating wider conservation benefits may require increased fence permeability and threat reduction outside the fence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E Moseby
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Arid Recovery, P.O. Box 147, Roxby Downs, SA, 5725, Australia
| | - Hugh McGregor
- Arid Recovery, P.O. Box 147, Roxby Downs, SA, 5725, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Brydie M Hill
- Arid Recovery, P.O. Box 147, Roxby Downs, SA, 5725, Australia
| | - John L Read
- Arid Recovery, P.O. Box 147, Roxby Downs, SA, 5725, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
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Limits to alien black rats (Rattus rattus) acting as equivalent pollinators to extinct native small mammals: the influence of stem width on mammal activity at native Banksia ericifolia inflorescences. Biol Invasions 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-019-02090-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Prevalence of Leptospira Infection in Rodents from Bangladesh. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16122113. [PMID: 31207905 PMCID: PMC6616592 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16122113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide, Leptospira infection poses an increasing public health problem. In 2008, leptospirosis was recognised as a re-emerging zoonosis of global importance with South-East Asia being one of the most significant centres of the disease. Rodents are thought to be the most important host for a variety of Leptospira serovars. Because Bangladesh offers a suitable humid climate for the survival of these pathogenic bacteria, the presence of rodents could be a serious risk for human infection, especially in peri-urban areas or locations where food is stored. In order to gain more understanding of the multi-host epidemiology, a prevalence study was conducted in Comilla, Bangladesh to determine the presence of pathogenic Leptospira species in rodents. Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and sequencing showed that 13.1% (61/465) of the trapped rodents were infected with pathogenic Leptospira. Sequencing of the qPCR products identified the presence of three species: Leptospira interrogans, Leptospira borgpetersenii, and Leptospira kirschneri. Rodents of the genus, Bandicota, were significantly more likely to be positive than those of the genus, Rattus and Mus. Our results confirm the importance of rodents as hosts of pathogenic Leptospira and indicate that human exposure to pathogenic Leptospira may be considerable, also in places where food (rice) is stored for longer times. This study emphasizes the need to improve rodent management at such locations and to further quantify the public health impacts of this neglected emerging zoonosis in Bangladesh.
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Richardson JL, Silveira G, Soto Medrano I, Arietta AZ, Mariani C, Pertile AC, Carvalho Pereira T, Childs JE, Ko AI, Costa F, Caccone A. Significant Genetic Impacts Accompany an Urban Rat Control Campaign in Salvador, Brazil. Front Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2019.00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Short J, Copley P, Ruykys L, Morris K, Read J, Moseby K. Review of translocations of the greater stick-nest rat (Leporillus conditor): lessons learnt to facilitate ongoing recovery. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/wr19021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Greater stick-nest rats were widely distributed across southern Australia in pre-European times, but only survived as a single population on the Franklin Islands in South Australia. Conservation efforts since 1983 have included survey of the remaining population, establishment of a captive colony and subsequent translocations to both island and mainland sites. Translocations have met with mixed success, with four of 10 (three islands and one mainland site) successful and extant for 19–28 years, five unsuccessful (one island and four mainland sites) and one as yet indeterminate. Overall, the increase in number of populations, area of occupancy and extent of occurrence has been positive, and has resulted in a down-listing of conservation status. There are numerous plausible explanations for the lack of success at some sites, but few data to differentiate among them. These plausible explanations include: the release of stick-nest rats to habitats of poor quality; high levels of predation (perhaps hyperpredation) by native predators (chiefly monitors and predatory birds) in combination, at some sites, with predation by feral cats or foxes; and ineffective release protocols. Most extant populations have undergone substantial fluctuations over time, and some show apparent long-term declines in abundance, likely increasing their probability of local extinction over time. There is a need for regular ongoing monitoring – of stick-nest rats themselves, their habitat and their suite of potential predators – to aid interpretation of outcomes. A more experimental approach to future releases is required to adjudicate among competing explanations for such declines.
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Bridgman L, Innes J, Gillies C, Fitzgerald N, Rohan M, King C. Interactions between ship rats and house mice at Pureora Forest Park. NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2018.1464477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Bridgman
- School of Science, Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - John Innes
- Biodiversity and Conservation, Landcare Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Craig Gillies
- Department of Conservation, Biodiversity Group, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Neil Fitzgerald
- Biodiversity and Conservation, Landcare Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Maheswaran Rohan
- Department of Conservation, Biodiversity Group, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Carolyn King
- School of Science, Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter B Banks
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia
- PBB developed the idea
- PBB, AEB, RPP, and CRD wrote the article
| | - Andrea E Byrom
- Landcare Research, in Lincoln, New Zealand
- PBB, AEB, RPP, and CRD wrote the article
| | - Roger P Pech
- Landcare Research, in Lincoln, New Zealand
- PBB, AEB, RPP, and CRD wrote the article
| | - Chris R Dickman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sydney, in New South Wales, Australia
- PBB, AEB, RPP, and CRD wrote the article
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Carthey AJR, Banks PB. Naïve, bold, or just hungry? An invasive exotic prey species recognises but does not respond to its predators. Biol Invasions 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-018-1782-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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Pereira PF, Lourenço R, Mota PG. Behavioural dominance of the invasive red-billed leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea) over European native passerine-birds in a feeding context. BEHAVIOUR 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Behavioural dominance and aggressiveness may be crucial traits facilitating the establishment of invasive species. Few studies considered agonistic interactions between exotic and native bird species in feeding contexts, particularly when the exotic has social habits. We aimed to know if individuals of a social invasive species, the red-billed leiothrix Leiothrix lutea, are: more aggressive; the initiators of the first interaction; and dominant (i.e., won most interactions) over native opponents in a feeding context. We performed an experiment in a closed environment forcing dyadic interactions between an individual of a native species facing a leiothrix individual. We found that the leiothrix was the initiator in most experiments, being apparently dominant over natives. However, the invader was not more aggressive than natives. This can increase the risk of injury for natives because the leiothrix has a relatively larger body size. We discuss possible negative impacts of the leiothrix on native species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Filipe Pereira
- aResearch Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), University of Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- bDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- cICAAM — Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, LabOr — Laboratory of Ornithology, Universidade de Évora, Núcleo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Rui Lourenço
- cICAAM — Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, LabOr — Laboratory of Ornithology, Universidade de Évora, Núcleo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Paulo Gama Mota
- aResearch Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), University of Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
- bDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
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Sinclair A, Pech RP, Fryxell JM, McCann K, Byrom AE, Savory CJ, Brashares J, Arthur AD, Catling PC, Triska MD, Craig MD, Sinclair TJ, McLaren JR, Turkington R, Beyers RL, Harrower WL. Predicting and Assessing Progress in the Restoration of Ecosystems. Conserv Lett 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- A.R.E. Sinclair
- Beaty Biodiversity Research Centre; University of British Columbia; 6270 University Boulevard Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Roger P. Pech
- Landcare Research; P.O. Box 69040 Lincoln 7640 New Zealand
| | - John M. Fryxell
- Department of Integrative Biology; University of Guelph; N1G 2W1 Ontario Canada
| | - Kevin McCann
- Department of Integrative Biology; University of Guelph; N1G 2W1 Ontario Canada
| | | | - C. John Savory
- Netherham; Station Road, West Linton Peeblesshire EH46 7EL Scotland
| | - Justin Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management; University of California; Berkeley CA USA
| | - Anthony D. Arthur
- Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences; Department of Agriculture and Water Resources; 18 Marcus Clarke Street Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
| | | | - Maggie D. Triska
- School of Plant Biology; The University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Michael D. Craig
- Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, School of Plant Biology; The University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch Western Australia 6150 Australia
| | | | - Jennie R. McLaren
- Department of Biological Sciences; University of Texas at El Paso; El Paso TX 79902 USA
| | - Roy Turkington
- Beaty Biodiversity Research Centre; University of British Columbia; 6270 University Boulevard Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Botany; University of British Columbia; Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Rene L. Beyers
- Beaty Biodiversity Research Centre; University of British Columbia; 6270 University Boulevard Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - William L. Harrower
- Beaty Biodiversity Research Centre; University of British Columbia; 6270 University Boulevard Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Botany; University of British Columbia; Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences; University of British Columbia; Vancouver BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
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Nest Predation by Commensal Rodents in Urban Bushland Remnants. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156180. [PMID: 27295091 PMCID: PMC4905641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Exotic predators are a major threat to native wildlife in many parts of the world. Developing and implementing effective strategies to mitigate their effects requires robust quantitative data so that management can be evidence-based, yet in many ecosystems this is missing. Birds in particular have been severely impacted by exotic mammalian predators, and a plethora of studies on islands record predation of bird eggs, fledglings and adults by exotic species such as rodents, stoats and cats. By comparison, few studies have examined nest predation around mainland urban centres which often act as dispersal hubs, especially for commensal species such as rodents. Here, we experimentally examine nest predation rates in habitat patches with varying black rat (Rattus rattus) densities in Sydney, Australia and test whether these exotic rats have the effects expected of exotic predators using effect size benchmarks. In the case where black rats have replaced native Rattus spp., we expected that black rats, being more arboreal than native Rattus spp., would be a significant source of predation on birds because they can readily access the arboreal niche where many birds nest. We tested this idea using above-ground artificial nests to represent those of typical small bird species such as the New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae). We found that fewer eggs were depredated by rodents on sites where we removed black rats compared to unmanipulated sites, and that the effect size calculated from the total number of eggs surviving beyond the typical incubation period was similar to that expected for an exotic predator. Our results suggest that, although Australian birds have co-evolved with native Rattus species, in the case where black rats have replaced native Rattus species, exotic black rats appear to pose an additive source of predation on birds in remnant habitats, most likely due to their ability to climb more efficiently than their native counterparts. Management of these commensal rodents may be necessary to retain urban birdlife.
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Stuart AM, Prescott CV, Singleton GR. Can a native rodent species limit the invasive potential of a non-native rodent species in tropical agroforest habitats? PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2016; 72:1168-1177. [PMID: 26271625 DOI: 10.1002/ps.4095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about native and non-native rodent species interactions in complex tropical agroecosystems. We hypothesised that the native non-pest rodent Rattus everetti may be competitively dominant over the invasive pest rodent Rattus tanezumi within agroforests. We tested this experimentally by using pulse removal for three consecutive months to reduce populations of R. everetti in agroforest habitat, and assessed over 6 months the response of R. tanezumi and other rodent species. RESULTS Following removal, R. everetti individuals rapidly immigrated into removal sites. At the end of the study period, R. tanezumi were larger and there was a significant shift in their microhabitat use with respect to the use of ground vegetation cover following the perturbation of R. everetti. Irrespective of treatment, R. tanezumi selected microhabitat with less tree canopy cover, indicative of severely disturbed habitat, whereas R. everetti selected microhabitat with a dense canopy. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that sustained habitat disturbance in agroforests favours R. tanezumi, while the regeneration of agroforests towards a more natural state would favour native species and may reduce pest pressure in adjacent crops. In addition, the rapid recolonisation of R. everetti suggests this species would be able to recover from non-target impacts of short-term rodent pest control. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Stuart
- Crop and Environmental Sciences Division, International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AS, UK
| | - Colin V Prescott
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AS, UK
| | - Grant R Singleton
- Crop and Environmental Sciences Division, International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines
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Kluever BM, Gese EM, Dempsey SJ. The influence of wildlife water developments and vegetation on rodent abundance in the Great Basin Desert. J Mammal 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Rodent communities have multiple functions including comprising a majority of the mammalian diversity within an ecosystem, providing a significant portion of the available biomass consumed by predators, and contributing to ecosystem services. Despite the importance of rodent communities, few investigations have explored the effects of increasing anthropogenic modifications to the landscape on rodents. Throughout the western United States, the construction of artificial water developments to benefit game species is commonplace. While benefits for certain species have been documented, several researchers recently hypothesized that these developments may cause unintentional negative effects to desert-adapted species and communities. To test this idea, we sampled rodents near to and distant from wildlife water developments over 4 consecutive summers. We employed an asymmetrical before-after-control-impact (BACI) design with sampling over 4 summers to determine if water developments influenced total rodent abundance. We performed an additional exploratory analysis to determine if factors other than free water influenced rodent abundance. We found no evidence that water developments impacted rodent abundance. Rodent abundance was primarily driven by vegetation type and year of sampling. Our findings suggested that water developments on our study area do not represent a significant disturbance to rodent abundance and that rodent abundance was influenced by the vegetative community and temporal factors linked to precipitation and primary plant production. Our findings represent one of the 1st efforts to determine the effects of an anthropogenic activity on the rodent community utilizing a manipulation design.
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Hollings T, Jones M, Mooney N, McCallum H. Disease-induced decline of an apex predator drives invasive dominated states and threatens biodiversity. Ecology 2016; 97:394-405. [DOI: 10.1890/15-0204.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Hollings
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Tasmania; Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
- Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis; School of Biosciences; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria 3010 Australia
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Tasmania; Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Nick Mooney
- Independent consultant; Richmond Tasmania 7025 Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- Griffith School of Environment; Griffith University; Nathan Queensland 4111 Australia
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Lazenby BT, Mooney NJ, Dickman CR. Detecting species interactions using remote cameras: effects on small mammals of predators, conspecifics, and climate. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00522.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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Banks PB, Smith HM. The ecological impacts of commensal species: black rats, Rattus rattus, at the urban–bushland interface. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/wr15048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Exotic species have had devastating impacts worldwide and are a major threat to native wildlife. Human commensal species (hereafter commensals) are a special class of exotic species that live largely off the resources associated with human activity. The encroachment of commensals from an urban area into surrounding bushland has been frequently overlooked as an important component of urban impacts, even though human-commensals are common to many urban regions globally. In this review, we present theoretical and empirical evidence for the processes and outcomes occurring when exotic commensal species encroach into native bushland. Specifically we ask when, how and why exotic commensal species encroach into bushland, what determines whether they establish, and what are the ecological consequences. We focus on the black rat, Rattus rattus, arguably the archetypal commensal species with a cosmopolitan distribution and the greatest potential for ecological damage of all the commensal rodents. We expect that the processes that we outline apply to other commensal species more broadly. We argue that commensals are in fact natives of the urban milieu and only become alien when they encroach into peri-urban bushland. We propose that the mechanisms of this encroachment will be different from those of other, non-commensal exotic species because urban areas act as dispersal hubs to overcome many of the barriers of invasion that other exotic species face. We suggest that resource supplementation by urban areas creates a great potential for promoting encroachment, invasion as well as impact. However, biotic and abiotic barriers to invasion are still relevant for commensals, highlighting the need to maintain the integrity of ecosystems and wildlife populations in urban edges so as to prevent commensal incursion. We examine how commensal black rats affect wildlife via three fundamental mechanisms, namely, predation, disease transfer and competition for resources, and also consider their possible positive impacts acting as functional replacements for lost natives. We conclude the review with an outline of research priorities and future directions that are essential for progressing our understanding of the ecology of commensal species.
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Influence of microhabitat structure and disturbance on detection of native and non-native murids in logged and unlogged forests of northern Borneo. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467414000558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract:Understanding the habitat preferences of native and non-native species may offer valuable insights into the mechanisms favouring invasion of disturbed habitats. This study investigated the determinants of trap-site detection probability of three native (Maxomys surifer, Maxomys whiteheadi and Leopoldamys sabanus) and one invasive (Rattus rattus) species of terrestrial murid (Muridae) in logged and unlogged forests of northern Borneo. We established four and two trapping grids in repeatedly logged and unlogged forest, respectively, for a total of 500 sampled trap sites. From these, we obtained 504 detections of the four species over 3420 trap nights. For each species, probability of detection was modelled as a function of both the structural components and disturbance level of the forest patch measured around each trap site. Each of the four species showed contrasting microhabitat preferences: M. surifer favoured increased canopy closure and intermediate ground and understorey vegetation cover; M. whiteheadi preferred increased ground vegetation cover and canopy height; L. sabanus favoured sites with larger amounts of coarse woody debris and less leaf litter; and R. rattus was associated with increased ground vegetation cover. Within logged forest, detection probabilities of the three native species did not vary significantly with level of patch disturbance, whereas that of the invasive R. rattus increased markedly in more degraded sites. This latter finding will have increasingly important implications when considering the rapid degradation of forests in the region, and the resulting expansion of suitable habitat for this competitive species.
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Abstract
Multiple invasive species have now established at most locations around the world, and the rate of new species invasions and records of new invasive species continue to grow. Multiple invasive species interact in complex and unpredictable ways, altering their invasion success and impacts on biodiversity. Incumbent invasive species can be replaced by functionally similar invading species through competitive processes; however the generalized circumstances leading to such competitive displacement have not been well investigated. The likelihood of competitive displacement is a function of the incumbent advantage of the resident invasive species and the propagule pressure of the colonizing invasive species. We modeled interactions between populations of two functionally similar invasive species and indicated the circumstances under which dominance can be through propagule pressure and incumbent advantage. Under certain circumstances, a normally subordinate species can be incumbent and reject a colonizing dominant species, or successfully colonize in competition with a dominant species during simultaneous invasion. Our theoretical results are supported by empirical studies of the invasion of islands by three invasive Rattus species. Competitive displacement is prominent in invasive rats and explains the replacement of R. exulans on islands subsequently invaded by European populations of R. rattus and R. norvegicus. These competition outcomes between invasive species can be found in a broad range of taxa and biomes, and are likely to become more common. Conservation management must consider that removing an incumbent invasive species may facilitate invasion by another invasive species. Under very restricted circumstances of dominant competitive ability but lesser impact, competitive displacement may provide a novel method of biological control.
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Invasive alien species disrupt spatial and temporal ecology and threaten extinction in an insular, small mammal community. Biol Invasions 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-014-0717-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Capizzi D, Bertolino S, Mortelliti A. Rating the rat: global patterns and research priorities in impacts and management of rodent pests. Mamm Rev 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dario Capizzi
- Regional Park Agency - Latium Region; Via del Pescaccio 96 00166 Rome Italy
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Department of Agriculture, Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA), Entomology & Zoology; University of Turin; Via L. da Vinci 44 10095 Grugliasco (TO) Italy
| | - Alessio Mortelliti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology ‘Charles Darwin’; University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’; Viale dell'Università 32 00185 Rome Italy
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Competitive naïveté between a highly successful invader and a functionally similar native species. Oecologia 2014; 175:73-84. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2874-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Fukasawa K, Miyashita T, Hashimoto T, Tatara M, Abe S. Differential population responses of native and alien rodents to an invasive predator, habitat alteration and plant masting. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20132075. [PMID: 24197409 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2013.2075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive species and anthropogenic habitat alteration are major drivers of biodiversity loss. When multiple invasive species occupy different trophic levels, removing an invasive predator might cause unexpected outcomes owing to complex interactions among native and non-native prey. Moreover, external factors such as habitat alteration and resource availability can affect such dynamics. We hypothesized that native and non-native prey respond differently to an invasive predator, habitat alteration and bottom-up effects. To test the hypothesis, we used Bayesian state-space modelling to analyse 8-year data on the spatio-temporal patterns of two endemic rat species and the non-native black rat in response to the continual removal of the invasive small Indian mongoose on Amami Island, Japan. Despite low reproductive potentials, the endemic rats recovered better after mongoose removal than did the black rat. The endemic species appeared to be vulnerable to predation by mongooses, whose eradication increased the abundances of the endemic rats, but not of the black rat. Habitat alteration increased the black rat's carrying capacity, but decreased those of the endemic species. We propose that spatio-temporal monitoring data from eradication programmes will clarify the underlying ecological impacts of land-use change and invasive species, and will be useful for future habitat management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Fukasawa
- Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem, National Institute for Environmental Studies, , 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, , 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan, Japan Wildlife Research Center, , 3-3-7 Kotobashi, Sumida-ku, Tokyo 130-8606, Japan, Biodiversity Center of Japan, Ministry of the Environment, , 5597-1 Kenmarubi, Kamiyoshida, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0005, Japan, Naha Nature Conservation Office, Ministry of the Environment, , Okinawa Tsukansha Building 4F, 5-21 Yamashita-cho, Naha, Okinawa 900-0027, Japan
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Potential resource competition between an invasive mammal and native birds: overlap in tree cavity preferences of feral raccoons and Ural owls. Biol Invasions 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-013-0583-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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38
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Spicer Rice E, Silverman J. Submissive behaviour and habituation facilitate entry into habitat occupied by an invasive ant. Anim Behav 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Kroeger I, Liess M, Dziock F, Duquesne S. Sustainable control of mosquito larvae in the field by the combined actions of the biological insecticide Bti and natural competitors. JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY : JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR VECTOR ECOLOGY 2013; 38:82-89. [PMID: 23701611 DOI: 10.1111/j.1948-7134.2013.12012.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Integrated management of mosquitoes is becoming increasingly important, particularly in relation to avoiding recolonization of ponds after larvicide treatment. We conducted for the first time field experiments that involved exposing natural populations of the mosquito species Culex pipiens to: a) application of the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti), b) the introduction of natural competitors (a crustacean community composed mainly of Daphnia spp.), or c) a combined treatment that involved both introduction of a crustacean community and the application of Bti. The treatment that involved only the introduction of crustaceans had no significant effect on mosquito larval populations, while treatment with Bti alone caused only a significant reduction in the abundance of mosquito larvae in the short-term (within 3-10 days after treatment). In contrast, the combined treatment rapidly reduced the abundance of mosquito larvae, which remained low throughout the entire observation period of 28 days. Growth of the introduced crustacean communities was favored by the immediate reduction in the abundance of mosquito larvae following Bti administration, thus preventing recolonization of ponds by mosquito larvae at the late period (days 14-28 after treatment). Both competition and the temporal order of establishment of different species are hence important mechanisms for efficient and sustainable mosquito control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Kroeger
- Department of System Ecotoxicology, UFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
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40
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Bytheway JP, Carthey AJR, Banks PB. Risk vs. reward: how predators and prey respond to aging olfactory cues. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1494-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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41
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Stokes VL. Trappability of introduced and native rodents in different trap types in coastal forests of south-eastern Australia. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/am12002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Trapping is an invaluable tool for estimating community composition and population size and structure of mammals. Bias in the relative contribution of species to a community and the age and sex structure of populations can occur where the traps used do not equally trap all species, sexes or cohorts. The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of enclosed Elliott traps and open wire cage traps in trapping the invasive black rat, Rattus rattus, and the native rodent, Rattus fuscipes. Both trap types were suitable for trapping R. fuscipes and there was no apparent bias in capture of sex and age classes. In contrast, black rats were considerably more trappable in cage traps. Juveniles were more readily trapped in Elliott traps than adults, but were still considerably undersampled where only Elliott traps were used. These findings have important implications for sampling invasive rodents in Australian forests where Elliott traps are commonly used to census small mammals. Only using Elliott traps will underestimate density, distribution and impacts of R. rattus in native habitats. Cage traps or a combination of traps are recommended for reliably trapping black rats and obtaining representative data on presence, abundance and distribution.
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Anthropogenic subsidies mitigate environmental variability for insular rodents. Oecologia 2012; 172:737-49. [PMID: 23223862 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-012-2545-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2010] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The exogenous input of nutrients and energy into island systems fuels a large array of consumers and drives bottom-up trophic cascades in island communities. The input of anthropogenic resources has increased on islands and particularly supplemented non-native consumers with extra resources. We test the hypothesis that the anthropogenic establishments of super-abundant gulls and invasive iceplants Carpobrotus spp. have both altered the dynamics of an introduced black rat Rattus rattus population. On Bagaud Island, two habitats have been substantially modified by the anthropogenic subsidies of gulls and iceplants, in contrast to the native Mediterranean scrubland with no anthropogenic inputs. Rats were trapped in all three habitats over two contrasting years of rainfall patterns to investigate: (1) the effect of anthropogenic subsidies on rat density, age-ratio and growth rates, and (2) the role of rainfall variability in modulating the effects of subsidies between years. We found that the growth rates of rats dwelling in the non-subsidized habitat varied with environmental fluctuation, whereas rats dwelling in the gull colony maintained high growth rates during both dry and rainy years. The presence of anthropogenic subsidies apparently mitigated environmental stress. Age ratio and rat density varied significantly and predictably among years, seasons, and habitats. While rat densities always peaked higher in the gull colony, especially after rat breeding in spring, higher captures of immature rats were recorded during the second year in all habitats, associated with higher rainfall. The potential for non-native rats to benefit from anthropogenic resources has important implications for the management of similar species on islands.
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Konečný A, Estoup A, Duplantier JM, Bryja J, Bâ K, Galan M, Tatard C, Cosson JF. Invasion genetics of the introduced black rat (Rattus rattus) in Senegal, West Africa. Mol Ecol 2012. [PMID: 23206272 DOI: 10.1111/mec.12112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
An understanding of the evolutionary history and dynamics of invasive species is required for the construction of predictive models of future spread and the design of biological management measures. The black rat (Rattus rattus) is a major vertebrate invader with a worldwide distribution. Despite the severe ecological, economic and health impacts of this species, its evolutionary history has been little studied. We carried out extensive specimen sampling in Senegal, West Africa, and used microsatellite markers to describe the pattern and processes of invasion in this large continental area. The genetic data obtained were combined with historical knowledge concerning the presence of this species in Senegal. Data were analysed by a combination of Bayesian clustering and approximate Bayesian computation methods. The invasion pathways closely paralleled the history of human trade routes in Senegal. In several places, we detected the occurrence of multiple introductions from genetically different sources. Long-distance migration between towns and villages was also observed. Our findings suggest that genetic bottlenecks and admixture have played a major role in shaping the genetics of invasive black rats. These two processes may generate genetic novelty and favour rapid evolution along the invasion pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Konečný
- INRA, CBGP, Campus international de Baillarguet, CS 30016, Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, F-34988, France
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Shiels AB, Flores CA, Khamsing A, Krushelnycky PD, Mosher SM, Drake DR. Dietary niche differentiation among three species of invasive rodents (Rattus rattus, R. exulans, Mus musculus). Biol Invasions 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-012-0348-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Paparini A, Jackson B, Ward S, Young S, Ryan UM. Multiple Cryptosporidium genotypes detected in wild black rats (Rattus rattus) from northern Australia. Exp Parasitol 2012; 131:404-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2012.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Revised: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Sequeira AS, Stepien CC, Sijapati M, Roque Albelo L. Comparative genetic structure and demographic history in endemic galapagos weevils. J Hered 2012; 103:206-20. [PMID: 22174444 PMCID: PMC3283505 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esr124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2011] [Revised: 10/12/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The challenge of maintaining genetic diversity within populations can be exacerbated for island endemics if they display population dynamics and behavioral attributes that expose them to genetic drift without the benefits of gene flow. We assess patterns of the genetic structure and demographic history in 27 populations of 9 species of flightless endemic Galápagos weevils from 9 of the islands and 1 winged introduced close relative. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA reveals a significant population structure and moderately variable, though demographically stable, populations for lowland endemics (F(ST) = 0.094-0.541; π: 0.014-0.042; Mismatch P = 0.003-0.026; and D((Tajima)) = -0.601 to 1.203), in contrast to signals of past contractions and expansions in highland specialists on 2 islands (Mismatch P = 0.003-0.026 and D((Tajima)) = -0.601 to 1.203). We interpret this series of variable and highly structured population groups as a system of long-established, independently founded island units, where structuring could be a signal of microallopatric differentiation due to patchy host plant distribution and poor dispersal abilities. We suggest that the severe reduction and subsequent increase of a suitably moist habitat that accompanied past climatic variation could have contributed to the observed population fluctuations in highland specialists. We propose the future exploration of hybridization between the introduced and highland endemic species on Santa Cruz, especially given the expansion of the introduced species into the highlands, the sensitivity to past climatic variation detected in highland populations, and the potentially threatened state of single-island endemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Sequeira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA.
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Banks PB, Hughes NK. A review of the evidence for potential impacts of black rats (Rattus rattus) on wildlife and humans in Australia. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2012. [DOI: 10.1071/wr11086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The black rat (Rattus rattus) is among the world’s worst invasive species, having spread across the globe in close association with the spread of human settlement. It is the source of some of the worst diseases affecting humans and is thought to have had a devastating impact on native wildlife, especially in island ecosystems. Black rat is likely to have arrived in Australia with the first European settlers, making it among the first of many alien species to invade the continent, and it is now widespread. Yet, its impacts on local wildlife have largely been overlooked. Here, we review the potential for black rat impacts in Australia in terms of its role as a source of disease and threats to wildlife and humans. We first summarise the global evidence for black rat impacts as background to the potential threats it poses and then focus specifically on emerging evidence available for Australian systems. We found a significant gap in our understanding of the ecology of black rats and the ecological role that it plays in Australia. This is despite its role as a source of a diverse range of diseases affecting humans and wildlife and its actions as a predator and competitor of native wildlife in Australia and elsewhere.
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Meek PD, Zewe F, Falzon G. Temporal activity patterns of the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) and other rodents in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2012. [DOI: 10.1071/am11032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The activity patterns and partitioning of time by four small mammal species, with a focus on the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) in north-eastern New South Wales, was investigated using camera trap data from two studies. Analysis was carried out on 1079 camera trap events over 1530 camera trap–nights or 36 720 h of camera trap deployment in the field. The activity patterns of Rattus lutreolus were distinctly diurnal with crepuscular peaks of activity but this differed between sites and when in the presence of competitors. The Hastings River mouse (Pseudomys oralis) and the bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) displayed typical bimodal patterns of nocturnal activity. Antechinus were mostly nocturnal but were occasionally active during the day. These data indicate that where species of Muridae co-occur, diurnal time partitioning by R. lutreolus may reduce competition for food resources. It also confirms the speculation that R. lutreolus displays diurnal behaviour, albeit dependent on the presence of other murids.
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‘Invasional meltdown’: evidence for unexpected consequences and cumulative impacts of multispecies invasions. Biol Invasions 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-011-0142-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Stokes VL, Banks PB, Pech RP. Influence of residency and social odors in interactions between competing native and alien rodents. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2011. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-011-1280-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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