Using population genetic tools to develop a control strategy for feral cats (Felis catus) in Hawai'i

Hansen, Heidi; Hess, Steven C.; Cole, David M.; Banko, Paul C.

doi:10.1071/wr07043

Cited by 26 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Currently, studies utilizing genetic information have focused on island situations (Rollins et al . 2006; Hansen et al . 2007) where limited post‐colonization gene flow between islands results in detectable population structure clearly identifying eradication units.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining direct and indirect genetic methods to estimate dispersal for informing wildlife disease management decisions

et al. 2008

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Epidemiological models are useful tools for management to predict and control wildlife disease outbreaks. Dispersal behaviours of the vector are critical in determining patterns of disease spread, and key variables in epidemiological models, yet they are difficult to measure. Raccoon rabies is enzootic over the eastern seaboard of North America and management actions to control its spread are costly. Understanding dispersal behaviours of raccoons can contribute to refining management protocols to reduce economic impacts. Here, estimates of dispersal were obtained through parentage and spatial genetic analyses of raccoons in two areas at the front of the raccoon rabies epizootic in Ontario; Niagara (N = 296) and St Lawrence (N = 593). Parentage analysis indicated the dispersal distance distribution is highly positively skewed with 85% of raccoons, both male and female, moving < 3 km. The tail of this distribution indicated a small proportion (< 4%) moves more than 20 km. Analysis of spatial genetic structure provided a similar assessment as the spatial genetic correlation coefficient dropped sharply after 1 km. Directionality of dispersal would have important implications for control actions; however, evidence of directional bias was not found. Separating the data into age and sex classes the spatial genetic analyses detected female philopatry. Dispersal distances differed significantly between juveniles and adults, while juveniles in the Niagara region were significantly more related to each other than adults were to each other. Factors that may contribute to these differences include kin association, and spring dispersal. Changes to the timing and area covered by rabies control operations in Ontario are indicated based on these dispersal data.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combining direct and indirect genetic methods to estimate dispersal for informing wildlife disease management decisions

et al. 2008

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“…Ongoing development of biological controls (Hoddle 2004), and habitat manipulation (Buckley 2008) may improve the efficiency of current control methods, and enable a broader range of invasive species to be managed. Furthermore, development and adoption of new technologies such as fertility control treatments for feral vertebrates (Jewgenow et al 2006) or use of population genetics for planning control strategies (Hansen et al 2007) may substantially improve our ability to ameliorate the impacts of invasive species.…”

Section: Managing Established Invasive Alien Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Priorities in policy and management when existing biodiversity stressors interact with climate-change

et al. 2011

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There are three key drivers of the biodiversity crisis: (1) the well known existing threats to biodiversity such as habitat loss, invasive pest species and resource exploitation; (2) direct effects of climate-change, such as on coastal and high elevation communities and coral reefs; and (3) the interaction between existing threats and climate-change. The third driver is set to accelerate the biodiversity crisis beyond the impacts of the first and second drivers in isolation. In this review we assess these interactions, and suggest the policy and management responses that are needed to minimise their impacts. Renewed management and policy action that address known threats to biodiversity could substantially diminish the impacts of future climate-change. An appropriate response to climate-change will include a reduction of land clearing, increased habitat restoration using indigenous species, a reduction in the number of exotic species transported between continents or between major regions of endemism, and a reduction in the unsustainable use of natural resources. Achieving these measures requires substantial reform of international, national and regional policy, and the development of new or more effective alliances between scientists, government agencies, non-government organisations and land managers. Furthermore, new management practices and policy are needed that consider shifts in the geographic range of species, and that are responsive to new information acquired from improved research and monitoring programs. The interactions of climate-change with existing threats to biodiversity have the potential to drive many species to extinction, but there is much that can be done now to reduce this risk.

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“…Van Aarde (1983) found that feral cat sex ratios are near 1 : 1 at birth, suggesting that our age zero results were skewed by capture probabilities. Juvenile males are typically the dispersers in mammals (Greenwood 1980), and Hansen et al (2007) found that there was male-biased dispersal of unknownaged cats on Mauna Kea, which could lead to higher juvenile male capture probabilities. Excluding age zero individuals from our model lowered the annual survival estimate, but it was still within the 95% CI for the complete data set.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Survival of Feral Cats,Felis catus(Carnivora: Felidae), on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i, Based on Tooth Cementum Lines

et al. 2010

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Feral cats (Felis catus) have spread throughout anthropogenic and insular environments of the world. They now threaten many species of native wildlife with chronic depredation. Knowledge of feral cat population dynamics is necessary to understand their ecological effects and to develop effective control strategies. However, there are few studies worldwide regarding annual or lifetime survival rates in remote systems, and none on Pacific islands. We constructed the age distribution and estimated survival of feral cats in a remote area of Hawai'i Island using cementum lines present in lower canine teeth. Our data suggest annual cementum line formation. A log-linear model estimated annual survival b 1 yr of age to be 0.647. Relatively high survival coupled with high reproductive output allows individual cats to affect native wildlife for many years and cat populations to rebound quickly after control efforts.

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Using population genetic tools to develop a control strategy for feral cats (Felis catus) in Hawai'i

Cited by 26 publications

References 60 publications

Combining direct and indirect genetic methods to estimate dispersal for informing wildlife disease management decisions

Combining direct and indirect genetic methods to estimate dispersal for informing wildlife disease management decisions

Priorities in policy and management when existing biodiversity stressors interact with climate-change

Survival of Feral Cats,Felis catus(Carnivora: Felidae), on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i, Based on Tooth Cementum Lines

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