Release of constraints on nest-site selection in burrow-nesting petrels following invasive rat eradication
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Published source details
Buxton R.T., Anderson D., Moller H., Jones C.J. & Lyver P.O. (2015) Release of constraints on nest-site selection in burrow-nesting petrels following invasive rat eradication. Biological Invasions, 17, 1453-1470.
Published source details Buxton R.T., Anderson D., Moller H., Jones C.J. & Lyver P.O. (2015) Release of constraints on nest-site selection in burrow-nesting petrels following invasive rat eradication. Biological Invasions, 17, 1453-1470.
Summary
Control mammalian predators on islands for seabirds
A replicated, site comparison study in 2010–2012 on six islands in New Zealand (Buxton et al. 2015) found that the density of petrel (Procellaridae) burrows was positively related to time since rat eradication. Burrow density increased from 0.05 entrances/m2 on Taranga (rats eradicated one year earlier) to 0.09 entrances/m2 on Korapuki (rats eradicated 26 years earlier). For comparison, one island that still had rats had 0.03 entrances/m2, and one island that had never been invaded had 0.23 entrances/m2. The study notes that the causal effect of rat eradication is not clear: burrow density could also reflect available habitat, presence of other introduced species, human activities, and/or historical distributions. In summer 2010–2012, petrel burrows were surveyed in accessible areas of six islands (18–470 ha), along transects 10–40 m apart. All species (3–6 species/island) were included. Pacific rats Rattus exulans had been eradicated from four islands: 1, 7, 21 or 26 years previously.
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