Rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect
Abstract Introduced vertebrate predators are one of the most important threats to endemic species throughout a range of ecosystems, in particular on islands in biodiversity hot spots. Consequently, the reduction of predator numbers is considered a key conservation action in the management of many na...
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ftciteseerx:oai:CiteSeerX.psu:10.1.1.578.6147 2023-05-15T18:05:26+02:00 Rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect Stéphane Caut Jorge G. Casanovas Emilio Virgos Jorge Lozano The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives 2007 application/pdf http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.578.6147 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/07pubs/witmer076.pdf en eng http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.578.6147 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/07pubs/witmer076.pdf Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/07pubs/witmer076.pdf text 2007 ftciteseerx 2016-01-08T12:52:28Z Abstract Introduced vertebrate predators are one of the most important threats to endemic species throughout a range of ecosystems, in particular on islands in biodiversity hot spots. Consequently, the reduction of predator numbers is considered a key conservation action in the management of many native vertebrates vulnerable to predators. It is now established that control attempts may affect non-target species through trophic interactions, but little is known concerning their consequences on competitive relationships. We study a mathematical model mimicking the effects of controlling introduced species in the presence of their competitors.We used two competing rodents to illustrate our study: black rats, Rattus rattus, and mice, Mus musculus. Analyses of the model show that control of only one introduced species logically results in the dramatic increase of the overlooked competitor. We present empirical data that confirm our theoretical predictions. Less intuitively, this process, which we term ‘the competitor release effect’, may also occur when both introduced competitors are simultaneously controlled. In our setting, controlling both predators can promote their coexistence. This occurs as soon as the inferior competitor benefits from the differential effect of the simultaneous control of both competitors, that is, when the indirect positive effect of control (the removal of their competitors) exceeds its direct negative effect (their own removal). Both control levels and target specificity have a direct influence on the extent of this process: counter-intuitively, the stronger and more specific the control, the greater the effect. The theoretical validation of the competitor release Text Rattus rattus Unknown |
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English |
description |
Abstract Introduced vertebrate predators are one of the most important threats to endemic species throughout a range of ecosystems, in particular on islands in biodiversity hot spots. Consequently, the reduction of predator numbers is considered a key conservation action in the management of many native vertebrates vulnerable to predators. It is now established that control attempts may affect non-target species through trophic interactions, but little is known concerning their consequences on competitive relationships. We study a mathematical model mimicking the effects of controlling introduced species in the presence of their competitors.We used two competing rodents to illustrate our study: black rats, Rattus rattus, and mice, Mus musculus. Analyses of the model show that control of only one introduced species logically results in the dramatic increase of the overlooked competitor. We present empirical data that confirm our theoretical predictions. Less intuitively, this process, which we term ‘the competitor release effect’, may also occur when both introduced competitors are simultaneously controlled. In our setting, controlling both predators can promote their coexistence. This occurs as soon as the inferior competitor benefits from the differential effect of the simultaneous control of both competitors, that is, when the indirect positive effect of control (the removal of their competitors) exceeds its direct negative effect (their own removal). Both control levels and target specificity have a direct influence on the extent of this process: counter-intuitively, the stronger and more specific the control, the greater the effect. The theoretical validation of the competitor release |
author2 |
The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives |
format |
Text |
author |
Stéphane Caut Jorge G. Casanovas Emilio Virgos Jorge Lozano |
spellingShingle |
Stéphane Caut Jorge G. Casanovas Emilio Virgos Jorge Lozano Rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect |
author_facet |
Stéphane Caut Jorge G. Casanovas Emilio Virgos Jorge Lozano |
author_sort |
Stéphane Caut |
title |
Rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect |
title_short |
Rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect |
title_full |
Rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect |
title_fullStr |
Rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect |
title_full_unstemmed |
Rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect |
title_sort |
rats dying for mice, modelling the competitor release effect |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.578.6147 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/07pubs/witmer076.pdf |
genre |
Rattus rattus |
genre_facet |
Rattus rattus |
op_source |
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/07pubs/witmer076.pdf |
op_relation |
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.578.6147 http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/07pubs/witmer076.pdf |
op_rights |
Metadata may be used without restrictions as long as the oai identifier remains attached to it. |
_version_ |
1766176911416885248 |