Foxes, rabbits, alternative prey and rabbit calicivirus disease: consequences of a new biological control agent for an outbreaking species in Australia

Pech, Roger P.; Hood, G. M.

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2664.1998.00318.x

Cited by 81 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 34 publications

(67 reference statements)

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“…These include general models on unspecific control strategies (Darwin and Williams, 1964;Smith and Trout, 1994;Smith, 1997) and, more recently, models in which disease is the control method (Pech and Hood, 1998;Hood et al, 2000). However, models focusing on rabbit conservation have received little attention (Calvete and Estrada, 2000;Fa et al, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling hunting strategies for the conservation of wild rabbit populations

Angulo

Villafuerte

2004

Biological Conservation

105

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Recently, European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) populations have undergone a sharp decline that may be exacerbated by hunting. We investigate the effects of the timing of hunting on the conservation of wild rabbit using a model for rabbit population dynamics. Scenarios with different hunting rates and age strategies were simulated for different population qualities. We interviewed hunters to ascertain the degree to which they would accept a change in the timing of hunting. We also investigated the hunting pressure applied by hunters and its relationship with rabbit abundance. Modelling results indicate that the current hunting season has the greatest impact on rabbit abundance. Hunting in late spring optimises hunting extraction while conserving rabbit populations. When the rabbit population quality is low the effects of age strategies and the timing of hunting are less important than the effect of the hunting rate applied. Almost half the hunters would agree to policy changes. More than 75% of hunters implemented self-imposed hunting restrictions to improve rabbit populations, that were more frequently applied in high rabbit abundance areas. Therefore, changing the timing of hunting and increasing the participation of hunters in low abundance areas could optimise both the exploitation and the conservation of wild rabbit populations in southwestern Europe. .

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling hunting strategies for the conservation of wild rabbit populations

Angulo

Villafuerte

2004

Biological Conservation

105

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“…Furthermore, if we have a population model providing predictions with high accuracy and precision, it may aid in timely intervention with an appropriate control measure for minimizing the buildup of high rat densities. The development of such population models obviously needs a solid ecological understanding of the biology of the pests species under consideration (Smith & Buckle 1994;Pech & Hood 1998;Singleton et al . 1999a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing strategies for controlling an African pest rodent: an empirically based theoretical study

Stenseth

Leirs

Mercelis

et al. 2001

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary1. Small rodents in general and the multimammate rat Mastomys natalensis in particular cause major economic losses in Africa through damage to crops. Attempts to develop dynamic population models for this and other pest rodents are ongoing. 2. Demographic estimates from a capture-mark-recapture (CMR) study in Tanzania were used to parameterize a population model for this species. This model incorporated three functional age categories (juveniles, subadults and adults) of both sexes and used density-dependent and density-independent factors, the latter represented by rainfall. 3. The model was used to analyse the effect of rodent control on the population dynamics and resulting number of rats. Control measures affecting survival as well as reproduction were considered. 4. The model showed that control measures reducing survival will only have long-term effects on population size if they are also applied when rodent densities are low. Control measures applied only when rodent densities are high will not have persistent effects, even at high mortality rates. 5. The model demonstrated that control measures reducing reproduction are likely to prevent Mastomys outbreaks, but will keep densities low over a long period only when the contraceptive effect is strong (> 75% reduction). 6. Provided that CMR data are available, we recommend developing Leslie-type population models for rodent pests on the basis of CMR-estimated demographic schedules. Such models have great potential in rodent management and allow the evaluation of different strategies. 7. Besides improving the ecological basis of the population modelling, economic considerations need to be incorporated into decisions about rodent control. We suggest that appropriate population models will provide important input into such decision making.

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“…Removing foxes from an area allowed rabbits to increase dramatically in several experiments, showing that fox predation limited rabbit numbers. Changes in rabbit numbers are driven by changes in food supplies, primarily caused by rainfall (Pech and Hood 1998).…”

Section: What Factors Limit Population Density?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond population regulation and limitation

Krebs¹

2002

Wildl. Res.

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Abstract. The study of population dynamics addresses three questions that are not always separated in discussions with empirical data. Two questions address population regulation. What stabilises population density is the first question, and, in spite of much theory, little progress has been made in answering this question empirically. The assumption of an equilibrium density is impossible to test and direct experimental tests to answer this question are rare. What prevents population growth is a second question, and is the classic question of population regulation. To answer this question requires an increasing population, and, with adequate experimental manipulations, the densitydependent factors preventing increase can be identified. Surprisingly, answering this question has provided little assistance in solving practical problems in population dynamics, possibly because most populations are rarely in the state of growth and show a limited range of densities. What limits population density in good and poor habitats is a third question, which addresses population limitation rather than regulation, and has been the most useful question for empirical ecologists to ask. Population limitation admits of little theory and no elegant models, and highlights the gap between theory and practice in much of ecology. Defining the question clearly and adopting an experimental approach with clear alternative hypotheses will be essential to avoiding the controversies of the past while building useful generalisations for the practical problems of population management.

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Foxes, rabbits, alternative prey and rabbit calicivirus disease: consequences of a new biological control agent for an outbreaking species in Australia

Cited by 81 publications

References 34 publications

Modelling hunting strategies for the conservation of wild rabbit populations

Modelling hunting strategies for the conservation of wild rabbit populations

Comparing strategies for controlling an African pest rodent: an empirically based theoretical study

Beyond population regulation and limitation

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