Eradications of invasive mammals from islands: why, where, how and what next?

Phillips, Richard A.

doi:10.1071/muv110n4_ed

Cited by 33 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…For many islands, complete eradication of introduced rodents, and feral cats and dogs is possible, with island size and human population size being key limiting factors on where that can occur. 6,20,21 Where this is not currently feasible, controlling rodents, and feral dogs and cats on islands utilizes techniques to reduce populations of these introduced mammals to a desired state, ideally an outcome state for a native species. 22,23 Islands represent a potential opportunity for reducing zoonotic disease burden because control or eradication of introduced mammal populations could result in disease alleviation or disease elimination, particularly if reintroductions of reservoirs can be prevented.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating Burdens of Neglected Tropical Zoonotic Diseases on Islands with Introduced Mammals

Wit

Croll

Tershy

et al. 2017

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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Abstract. Many neglected tropical zoonotic pathogens are maintained by introduced mammals, and on islands the most common introduced species are rodents, cats, and dogs. Management of introduced mammals, including control or eradication of feral populations, which is frequently done for ecological restoration, could also reduce or eliminate the pathogens these animals carry. Understanding the burden of these zoonotic diseases is crucial for quantifying the potential public health benefits of introduced mammal management. However, epidemiological data are only available from a small subset of islands where these introduced mammals co-occur with people. We examined socioeconomic and climatic variables as predictors for disease burdens of angiostrongyliasis, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis, and rabies from 57 islands or island countries. We found strong correlates of disease burden for leptospirosis, Toxoplasma gondii infection, angiostrongyliasis, and toxocariasis with more than 50% of the variance explained, and an average of 57% (range = 32-95%) predictive accuracy on out-of-sample data. We used these relationships to provide estimates of leptospirosis incidence and T. gondii seroprevalence infection on islands where nonnative rodents and cats are present. These predicted estimates of disease burden could be used in an initial assessment of whether the costs of managing introduced mammal reservoirs might be less than the costs of perpetual treatment of these diseases on islands.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimating Burdens of Neglected Tropical Zoonotic Diseases on Islands with Introduced Mammals

Wit

Croll

Tershy

et al. 2017

The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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“…Breeding cannot be faster than the castration campaigns and immigration of new individuals must be totally blocked or kept to near zero (Parkes, 1990;Phillips, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the population control of the domestic cat: an example from an island in Brazil

Lessa

Bergallo

2012

Braz. J. Biol.

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The domestic cat is an invasive species that often causes great impacts where introduced due to its high predatory and reproductive potential, especially on islands. In this study, carried out on Ilha Grande (RJ, Brazil), we aimed to: i) estimate the population density of domestic cats, ii) calculate the number of animals preyed upon annually by domestic cats, and iii) evaluate the efficiency of methods to control the cat population. We used the Vortex program to project the population growth of domestic cats in fifty years, and simulated different scenarios of population control (without control, castration, spay and harvest). Population density of owned cats was 662 cats/km 2 . The annual predation rate was 1.97 prey animals/cat which is an average of 1497.96 prey/year. The population would only be reduced if 70% of females were spayed or removed annually. Measures to control the domestic cat population must be undertaken urgently, since uncontrolled growth of this predator has the potential to seriously impact the biodiversity of Ilha Grande.Keywords: invasive species, Felis catus, predation rate, population density, castration simulation. Modelando o controle populacional de gato doméstico: um exemplo de uma ilha no BrasilResumo O gato doméstico é uma espécie invasora que frequentemente causa grandes impactos onde é introduzido, em razão do seu alto potencial predatório e reprodutivo, especialmente em ilhas. Com este estudo realizado na Ilha Grande-RJ, Brasil, tivemos como objetivos: i) estimar a densidade populacional de gatos domésticos; ii) calcular o número de animais predados anualmente por gatos domésticos, e iii) estimar a eficiência de métodos para o controle da população de gatos. Nós utilizamos o programa Vortex para projetar o crescimento da população de gatos em 50 anos e simulamos diferentes cenários de controle populacional: sem controle, castração, esterilização de fêmeas e remoção de indivíduos. A densidade populacional de gatos que possuem donos foi de 662 gatos/km 2 . A taxa anual de predação foi de 1,97 animais predados/gato, ou seja, uma média de 1497,96 presas/ano. A população de gatos pode ser reduzida apenas se no mínimo 70% das fêmeas forem esterilizadas ou removidas anualmente. Medidas para o controle populacional de gatos domésticos devem ser tomadas com urgência, uma vez que o crescimento descontrolado da população desse predador tem o potencial de causar graves impactos à biodiversidade da Ilha Grande.Palavras-chave: espécie invasora, Felis catus, taxa de predação, densidade populacional, simulação de castração.

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“…Generally, invasive predator eradication projects have been undertaken without adequate consideration of ecosystem-level goal-setting or pre-eradication data collection. Thus, many projects lack the capacity to reliably assess success, notably the impact of predator removal on seabirds (Phillips 2010). Our results can be used to guide potentially effective monitoring strategies.…”

Section: Conservation Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatio-temporal changes in density and distribution of burrow-nesting seabird colonies after rat eradication

Buxton¹,

Taylor²,

Jones³

et al. 2016

NZ J Ecol

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Abstract:The size and distribution of colonies of burrow-nesting petrels is thought to be limited partly by the availability of suitable breeding habitat and partly by predation. Historically, the availability of safe nesting habitat was restricted in New Zealand, due to the introduction of rats by humans. More recently, however, habitat has been restored by rat eradication. Petrel colony growth is mediated by both positive and negative density dependence, although it is unclear if, or how, density dependence will affect patterns in post-eradication colony recovery. Here, using burrow density as a proxy for relative abundance, we tested whether petrel colonies increase in density or area after rat eradication by sampling along a chronosequence of (1) five islands from which rats were eliminated 1 to 26 years ago, (2) two islands that never had rats, and (3) an island with rats still present, while controlling for habitat availability. We also measured a time series of burrow densities in plots on each island to compare temporal changes after rat eradication. Using Bayesian hierarchical modelling, after controlling for nesting habitat, we found that mean burrow density increased with time since rat eradication. Burrows remained clustered (i.e. spatially structured), but became more randomly distributed on islands with more time since eradication. Point density mapping indicated that colony extent increased with time since rat eradication, with colonies filling over 70% of surveyed areas on islands by 25 years after eradication. Increases in burrow density and colony area, but maintenance of clustered distribution, suggest both positive and negative density dependence may operate during colony expansion. Understanding patterns in petrel colony recovery is important, not only due to the indispensable role of petrels as island ecosystem engineers, reflecting the recovery of ecosystem functioning, but also to help guide post-eradication monitoring strategies.

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Eradications of invasive mammals from islands: why, where, how and what next?

Cited by 33 publications

References 56 publications

Estimating Burdens of Neglected Tropical Zoonotic Diseases on Islands with Introduced Mammals

Estimating Burdens of Neglected Tropical Zoonotic Diseases on Islands with Introduced Mammals

Modelling the population control of the domestic cat: an example from an island in Brazil

Spatio-temporal changes in density and distribution of burrow-nesting seabird colonies after rat eradication

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