The occurrence of the Broad‐toothed Rat <i>Mastacomys fuscus</i> in relation to feral Horse impacts

Schulz, Martin; Schroder, Mellesa; Green, Ken

doi:10.1111/emr.12360

Cited by 15 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…) of Broad‐toothed Rat resulting from horse grazing and trampling. Our findings are consistent with Schulz et al . (this volume), Belcher and Leslie () and Green and Osborne (), who reported negative impacts of grazing and trampling on Broad‐toothed Rat.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

“…There was also substantial site‐to‐site variability, leading to variability and uncertainty in some of the patterns we observed. Our results, for example, can be compared with Schulz et al . (this edition), who used 180 sites and found unambiguous and strong negative effects of feral horses on Broad‐toothed Rat and widespread declines of the species to the north of our study region.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

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Feral horse impacts on threatened plants and animals in sub‐alpine and montane environments in Victoria, Australia

Cherubin¹,

Venn²,

Driscoll³

et al. 2019

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary Feral herbivores are a major driver of biodiversity loss globally and can alter the structure, composition and functioning of ecosystems. The direct impacts of feral herbivores on plant communities are well studied, but the direct and indirect effect they have on wildlife is not well understood. In Victoria (south‐eastern Australia), a large feral Horse (Equus caballus) population coincides with highly sensitive and nationally endangered Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens communities, and several threatened animal species. We assessed the impact of feral horses on this ecological community and the Alpine Water Skink (Eulamprus kosciuskoi) and the Broad‐toothed Rat (Mastacomys fuscus) at 20 sites with varying levels of horse disturbance. We used scat counts to determine an index of feral horse abundance and quantified impacts associated with their presence in the landscape. Active searches were used for Alpine Water Skink and scat and runway surveys for Broad‐toothed Rat. We also measured the vegetation structure and the abundance of different vegetation types (life forms). Our results suggest that feral horses are associated with vegetation types and characteristics that negatively influence the presence or abundance of Alpine Water Skink and Broad‐toothed Rat. Sites with high horse activity had more low‐growing forbs, and the abundance of Alpine Water Skink was negatively related to this vegetation type. Grasses, sedges, rushes and shrubs were also less dense and lower in height in high horse activity sites, and Broad‐toothed Rat was less likely to be present in areas with these habitat attributes. We recommend that feral horses are controlled to protect these threatened vertebrate species and their Sphagnum bog habitat.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Feral horse impacts on threatened plants and animals in sub‐alpine and montane environments in Victoria, Australia

Cherubin¹,

Venn²,

Driscoll³

et al. 2019

Eco Management Restoration

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“…) and very large field studies, each encompassing more than 150 plots (Schulz et al . ; Wright et al . ).…”

Section: Impacts the Evidencementioning

confidence: 96%

“…For example, feral horses eliminate local populations of Broad‐toothed Rats ( Mastacomys fuscus ) (Schulz et al . ), probably through indirect impacts on vegetation (Eldridge et al . ).…”

Section: Impacts the Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

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Impacts of feral horses in the Australian Alps and evidence‐based solutions

Driscoll¹,

Worboys

Allan³

et al. 2019

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary New evidence of impacts by feral horses in Australia's alpine parks systems confirms they endanger threatened species and extensively damage critically endangered bog communities that could take millennia to recover. These impacts are not confounded by effects of deer and accumulate over time, even when only a small number of feral horses (~100) are present. With protected areas representing only a small proportion of the area of the Australian states of New South Wales (9.3%) and Victoria (17%), allowing feral horses to degrade reserves is not a reasonable management compromise, is contrary to the purpose of the protected area system and conflicts with international obligations. Modelling and decades of management experience indicate that trapping alone does not control feral horse numbers. Trapping and fertility control can work in small populations, but not when there are several thousand horses in remote areas. Aerial culling is needed to cost‐effectively and humanely control feral horse populations. The relatively small amount of suffering feral horses experience during a cull is outweighed by (i) avoiding suffering and death of horses from starvation and thirst, (ii) avoiding the suffering of native animals displaced by horses and (iii) avoiding the ethical concerns of driving threatened species towards extinction. Objections to aerial culling on welfare and cultural grounds are contradicted by evidence. Improving knowledge in the general community about what is at stake is long overdue because without this knowledge, small groups with vested interests and unfounded claims have been able to dominate debate and dictate management actions. As a result of ineffective management, horse populations are now expanding and causing well‐documented damage to Australia's alpine parks, placing at risk almost $10M spent on restoration after livestock grazing ended. The costs of horse control and restoration escalate the longer large horse populations remain in the alpine parks. It is crucial that feral horse numbers are rapidly reduced to levels where ecosystems begin to recover. Aerial culling is needed as part of the toolbox to achieve that reduction.

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Use of density‐impact functions to inform and improve the environmental outcomes of feral horse management

Berman

Pickering²,

Smith

et al. 2023

Wildlife Biology

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The available science often demonstrates the need for feral horse population control but not the degree of control required to achieve environmental conservation objectives. To better manage the influence of feral horses, we must first understand the relationship between feral horse density and environmental impact. We recorded vegetation and soil disturbance, and the sign of potential causes of this impact in two parts of the Australian Alps, the Bogong high plains (BHP) and the Eastern Victorian Alps (EVA). We calculated density‐impact functions to assist managers with determining feral horse density targets for control programmes. Minimal sign of feral horse impact was detected on the BHP, with no impact of feral horses observed along 99% of the length of transects. In contrast, impacts assigned to feral horses were significantly higher in the EVA, where a larger, higher‐density population of feral horses existed. However, greater than 83% of the walked transect length was still undisturbed by feral horses in the EVA. We detected a threshold of horse impact at ~ 250 horse faecal piles per ha. Above this threshold, a slight increase in horse density resulted in a disproportionately large increase in impact. In this context, a relatively small population control effort may substantially reduce direct horse impact. But where horse densities exist below this threshold, considerably more expense and control effort (resulting from the difficulties related to control at low density) is likely to make very little difference to an already low level of direct impact. The combined impacts associated with the sign of deer, feral pigs, fire and humans were large compared to that of feral horses. Management of feral horses to reduce their direct impact is unlikely to be beneficial without complementary management to reduce the effects of these other agents of impact.

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The occurrence of the Broad‐toothed Rat Mastacomys fuscus in relation to feral Horse impacts

Cited by 15 publications

References 20 publications

Feral horse impacts on threatened plants and animals in sub‐alpine and montane environments in Victoria, Australia

Feral horse impacts on threatened plants and animals in sub‐alpine and montane environments in Victoria, Australia

Impacts of feral horses in the Australian Alps and evidence‐based solutions

Use of density‐impact functions to inform and improve the environmental outcomes of feral horse management

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