Study

Breeding of Cassin's auklets Ptychoramphus aleuticus at Anacapa Island, California, after eradication of black rats Rattus rattus

  • Published source details Whitworth D.L., Harvey A.L., Carter H.R., Young R.J., Koepke J.S. & Mazurkiewicz D.M. (2015) Breeding of Cassin's auklets Ptychoramphus aleuticus at Anacapa Island, California, after eradication of black rats Rattus rattus. Marine Ornithology, 43, 19-24.

Summary

Control mammalian predators on islands for seabirds

A before–and–after study in 1994–2012 on Anacapa Island, California, USA (Whitworth et al. 2015) reported that after eradicating invasive black rat Rattus rattus, Cassin’s auklets Ptychoramphus aleuticus colonized the island. Rats were eradicated on Anacapa in 2002. Despite extensive surveys, no auklet nests were found on Anacapa between 1994 and 2002. Between 2002 and 2005, auklet nests were found at only one of seven surveyed sites (1–2 nests/year). By 2012, a total of 42 auklet nests had been recorded at six of eight sites: 17 confirmed with observation of adults, chicks, eggs or eggshells; 25 inferred from recent auklet activity. Suitable rock crevices and burrows were inspected from a boat, typically during the breeding season but sometimes after.

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