Ecological Costs of Feral Predator Control: Foxes and Rabbits

Banks, Peter B.; Dickman, Chris R.; Newsome, A. E.

doi:10.2307/3802353

Cited by 67 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…However, it is likely that in our sites predator control was implemented irrespective of rabbit densities due to the local economic importance of pheasant and grouse shooting for which fox control represents a key management practice even at low predator density (Trout and Tittensor 1989). The fact that lagomorphs, most likely rabbits, represent the most important prey item in fox diets in the UK (Webbon et al 2006) and the observed impact of fox control on rabbit populations (Banks et al 1998) supports our finding of higher rabbit densities in areas with fox control, and suggests that this relationship is causal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farming for pests? Local and landscape-scale effects of grassland management on rabbit densities

et al. 2010

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In recent decades in the UK, there has been an increasing trend in numbers of the European wild rabbit, a significant agricultural pest typically associated with grassland habitats. However, the relationship between rabbit abundance and grassland management, in particular grazing, has not been sufficiently explained. We studied rabbit densities in seven pasture-dominated sites in north-east England between autumn and spring in two consecutive years, and used generalised linear mixed models and generalised additive models to explore relationships between habitat and management variables and rabbit abundance at local (field) and landscape scales. At the local scale high rabbit densities were significantly associated with small fields and the very short, homogeneous swards created by intensive sheep grazing during autumn and winter. At the landscape scale, high rabbit numbers were associated with sites with most field margins and a predator removal policy. Our results indicate that landscape management may play a central role in explaining rabbit abundance and distribution in grasslands. We suggest that current pasture management may create favourable conditions for high rabbit densities, and consequently boost numbers of this significant pest species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Farming for pests? Local and landscape-scale effects of grassland management on rabbit densities

et al. 2010

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“…However, rabbit populations are seriously depleted in result of several factors, largely habitat destruction, overhunting and diseases, such as, myxomatosis and more recently RVH (rabbit viral haemorrhagic) disease (Blanco and Villafuerte 1993). In some depleted populations, generalist predators may exert a regulating influence on rabbits retarding their recovery (Trout and Tittensor 1989, Pech et al 1992, Banks et al 1998, Banks 2000. The investigation of which habitat factors influence rabbit distribution and abundance are crucial for management and recovery plans for its populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of herbaceous cover, shelter and land cover structure on wild rabbit abundance in NW Portugal

Carvalho

Gomes

2004

Acta Theriol

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P. 2004. Influence of herbaceous cover, shelter and land cover structure on wild rabbit abundance in NW Portugal. Acta Theriologica 49: 63-74.The European wild rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758) populations in the Iberian Peninsula has suffered a serious decline. Therefore, the knowledge about the factors that influence rabbit distribution and abundance is of major interest for conservation and management programmes. Rabbit relative abundance was evaluated by pellet counting in relation to herbaceous ground cover, shelter availability (tall scrub cover and gaps in rocks) and land cover structure in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PGNP), NW Portugal. Rabbit abundance was higher at intermediate levels of herbaceous cover, but no significant statistical differences were detected. A strong association between the abundance index and tall scrub cover was verified, and when this cover was rare, an association with gaps in rocks was observed. At the land cover level, rabbit abundance was associated with high interspersion sites of rocks with matorral and high interspersion sites of tall scrubland. Evidence from this study highlighted the importance of shelter and the interspersion of open/shelter habitats for rabbits. This pattern could be interpreted as an anti-predator strategy. Therefore, management actions should favour the growing and establishing of tall scrub patches and the selective cutting in highly continuous areas of tall scrub vegetation.

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“…Banks et al 1998;Kinnear et al 1988bKinnear et al , 2002Thomson and Algar 2000;Start and Mawson 2004). We infer that this reduction in fox numbers is the cause of significant population increases that have occurred in 11 marsupial species, often from extremely low population levels that were barely detectable .…”

Section: Predator-baiting Studies: What Has Been Learned?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Predator-baiting experiments for the conservation of rock-wallabies in Western Australia: a 25-year review with recent advances

Kinnear¹,

Krebs

Pentland

et al. 2010

Wildl. Res.

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Abstract. Predation is widely believed to be the main threatening process for many native vertebrates in Australia. For 25 years, predator-baiting experiments have been used in the Western Australian Central Wheatbelt to control red fox predation on rock-wallabies and other endangered marsupial prey elsewhere. We review here the history of a series of baiting experiments designed to protect rock-wallaby colonies by controlling red foxes with 1080 poison baits. We continue to support the conclusion that red foxes can reduce or exterminate rock-wallaby populations in Western Australia. Research trials from 1990 to 2008 have uniformly shown a dramatic recovery of rock-wallaby populations once red foxes are baited. Baiting experiments are often black boxes and their success should not blind us to their weaknesses. Ideally, what we would like to measure are the functional responses of predators to prey abundance directly. As a contribution towards this goal, we describe new technology that enables one to determine which predator killed which prey, at exactly what time, with improved research and management outcomes.

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Ecological Costs of Feral Predator Control: Foxes and Rabbits

Cited by 67 publications

References 12 publications

Farming for pests? Local and landscape-scale effects of grassland management on rabbit densities

Farming for pests? Local and landscape-scale effects of grassland management on rabbit densities

Influence of herbaceous cover, shelter and land cover structure on wild rabbit abundance in NW Portugal

Predator-baiting experiments for the conservation of rock-wallabies in Western Australia: a 25-year review with recent advances

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