Eradicating introduced mammals from a forested tropical island

Published source details Rodríguez C., Torres R. & Drummond H. (2006) Eradicating introduced mammals from a forested tropical island. Biological Conservation, 130, 98-105.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Remove or control predators using lethal controls: Snakes & lizards Action Link
	Control mammalian predators on islands for seabirds Action Link

Remove or control predators using lethal controls: Snakes & lizards

A before-and-after study in 1995–1998 on a tropical island, western Mexico (Rodríguez et al. 2006) found that following eradication of cats Felis catus, the abundance of black iguana Ctenosaura pectinata and Clark’s spiny lizard Sceloporus clarkii increased. The authors reported that after the start of the cat eradication programme, black iguana abundance doubled or quadrupled and that the Clark’s spiny lizard was more frequently observed. In 1995–1998, cats (113 individuals/km²) were eradicated from Isla Isabel (194 ha), by trapping, poisoning (with 1080 sodium monofluoroacetate) and shooting. An attempted eradication of black rats Rattus rattus at the same time, using brodifacoum poisoning failed. No details on reptile monitoring were provided.

(Summarised by: Katie Sainsbury)
Control mammalian predators on islands for seabirds

A before-and-after study on Isla Isabelle (194 ha), western Mexico (Rodriguez et al. 2006) found that mortality rates of adult sooty terns Onychoprion fuscata fell from an estimated 23-33% of the nesting population over the breeding season in 1991-4 to 5% in 1996 and then to 2% in 2002-4, following the eradication of cats Felis catus through trapping, poisoning (with 1080 sodium monofluoroacetate) and shooting. An attempted eradication of black rats Rattus rattus at the same time, using brodifacoum poisoning failed.