Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project
Mitigation of non-target species impacts is a key challenge of the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP). The project aims to eradicate rodents and European rabbits from sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island through the aerial application of cereal-based brodifacoum bait, followed by a hunting...
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ftcdlib:qt6vz1d2bd 2023-05-15T14:01:30+02:00 Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project Springer , Keith Carmichael, Noel 38 - 47 2012-01-01 application/pdf http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/6vz1d2bd english eng eScholarship, University of California qt6vz1d2bd http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/6vz1d2bd public Springer , Keith; & Carmichael, Noel. (2012). Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 25(25), 38 - 47. doi:10.5070/V425110441. Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/6vz1d2bd brodifacoum carcass collection eradication Macquarie Island mitigation non-target hazard rabbit control Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) rodent control rodents rodenticide hazard seabirds Life Sciences article 2012 ftcdlib https://doi.org/10.5070/V425110441 2019-04-05T22:52:20Z Mitigation of non-target species impacts is a key challenge of the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP). The project aims to eradicate rodents and European rabbits from sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island through the aerial application of cereal-based brodifacoum bait, followed by a hunting program targeting surviving rabbits. Aerial baiting was attempted in winter 2010 but postponed due to sustained adverse weather that suspended helicopter operations. Following limited baiting in 2010 (10% of the island), non-target mortality of 960 individuals across 6 (of 27) seabird and duck species was recorded. In response, the Australian and Tasmanian governments conducted a review of the project. The review established that some species would be adversely affected by the project in the short-term, but that the island’s ecosystem and most other island species would substantially benefit from pest eradication, confirming the assessments in the Environmental Impact Statement prepared prior to the operation. Enhanced mitigation measures were recommended to minimise non-target species impacts. Of several potential mitigation measures assessed, two principal measures were adopted: releasing Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus to reduce the rabbit population prior to baiting, thus minimising the number of rabbit carcasses containing poison residues available for consumption by scavengers; and increasing the effort of field teams during and after baiting to remove carcasses (the primary 2010 strategy), in an attempt to minimise the exposure of scavengers to toxic residues. Baiting resumed in May 2011 and two island-wide drops were completed by July 2011. Seabird mortality was monitored, with over 1,460 dead birds of the same species found that were affected in 2010, primarily scavenging seabirds such as kelp gulls, giant petrels, and skua. No species was considered to have sustained impacts that threatened the viability of the local population. King penguin colonies were closely monitored during helicopter over-flights and only minor and transitory impacts were observed. Wandering albatross nests were cleared of bait and chicks were not affected. No marine mammal impacts were recorded. If successful, the MIPEP will be the largest and most complex sub-Antarctic island rabbit and rodent eradication yet undertaken. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Giant Petrels Macquarie Island Wandering Albatross University of California: eScholarship Antarctic Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference 25 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of California: eScholarship |
op_collection_id |
ftcdlib |
language |
English |
topic |
brodifacoum carcass collection eradication Macquarie Island mitigation non-target hazard rabbit control Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) rodent control rodents rodenticide hazard seabirds Life Sciences |
spellingShingle |
brodifacoum carcass collection eradication Macquarie Island mitigation non-target hazard rabbit control Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) rodent control rodents rodenticide hazard seabirds Life Sciences Springer , Keith Carmichael, Noel Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project |
topic_facet |
brodifacoum carcass collection eradication Macquarie Island mitigation non-target hazard rabbit control Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) rodent control rodents rodenticide hazard seabirds Life Sciences |
description |
Mitigation of non-target species impacts is a key challenge of the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (MIPEP). The project aims to eradicate rodents and European rabbits from sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island through the aerial application of cereal-based brodifacoum bait, followed by a hunting program targeting surviving rabbits. Aerial baiting was attempted in winter 2010 but postponed due to sustained adverse weather that suspended helicopter operations. Following limited baiting in 2010 (10% of the island), non-target mortality of 960 individuals across 6 (of 27) seabird and duck species was recorded. In response, the Australian and Tasmanian governments conducted a review of the project. The review established that some species would be adversely affected by the project in the short-term, but that the island’s ecosystem and most other island species would substantially benefit from pest eradication, confirming the assessments in the Environmental Impact Statement prepared prior to the operation. Enhanced mitigation measures were recommended to minimise non-target species impacts. Of several potential mitigation measures assessed, two principal measures were adopted: releasing Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus to reduce the rabbit population prior to baiting, thus minimising the number of rabbit carcasses containing poison residues available for consumption by scavengers; and increasing the effort of field teams during and after baiting to remove carcasses (the primary 2010 strategy), in an attempt to minimise the exposure of scavengers to toxic residues. Baiting resumed in May 2011 and two island-wide drops were completed by July 2011. Seabird mortality was monitored, with over 1,460 dead birds of the same species found that were affected in 2010, primarily scavenging seabirds such as kelp gulls, giant petrels, and skua. No species was considered to have sustained impacts that threatened the viability of the local population. King penguin colonies were closely monitored during helicopter over-flights and only minor and transitory impacts were observed. Wandering albatross nests were cleared of bait and chicks were not affected. No marine mammal impacts were recorded. If successful, the MIPEP will be the largest and most complex sub-Antarctic island rabbit and rodent eradication yet undertaken. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Springer , Keith Carmichael, Noel |
author_facet |
Springer , Keith Carmichael, Noel |
author_sort |
Springer , Keith |
title |
Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project |
title_short |
Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project |
title_full |
Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project |
title_fullStr |
Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project |
title_full_unstemmed |
Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project |
title_sort |
non-target species management for the macquarie island pest eradication project |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/6vz1d2bd |
op_coverage |
38 - 47 |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Giant Petrels Macquarie Island Wandering Albatross |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Giant Petrels Macquarie Island Wandering Albatross |
op_source |
Springer , Keith; & Carmichael, Noel. (2012). Non-Target Species Management for the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference, 25(25), 38 - 47. doi:10.5070/V425110441. Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/6vz1d2bd |
op_relation |
qt6vz1d2bd http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/6vz1d2bd |
op_rights |
public |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5070/V425110441 |
container_title |
Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference |
container_volume |
25 |
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1766271339829657600 |