DOI 10.1007/s00300-007-0363-2ORIGINAL PAPER Introduced mammals coexist with seabirds at New Island, Falkland Islands: abundance, habitat preferences, and stable isotope analysis of diet

• Main Authors: Petra Quillfeldt, Ingrid Schenk, Rona A. R. Mcgill, Verena Roesch, Robert W. Furness
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Rattus rattus
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.474.7893; http://www.falklandswildlife.com/graphics/Quillfeldt et al 2008_Polar Biol_mammals with annexes.pdf

Abstract The largest known colony of Thin-billed prions Pachyptila belcheri has been coexisting with introduced mammals for more than 100 years. Three of the introduced mammals are potential predators of adults, eggs and chicks, namely ship rats Rattus rattus, house mice Mus musculus and feral cats Felis catus. We here determine habitat prefer-ences over three seasons and dietary patterns of the unique set of introduced predators at New Island, Falkland Islands, with emphasis on the ship rats. Our study highlights spatial and temporal diVerences in the levels of interaction between predators and native seabirds. Rats and mice had a preference for areas providing cover in the form of the native tussac grass Parodiochloa Xabellata or introduced gorse Ulex europaeus. Their diet diVered markedly between areas, over the season and between age groups in