Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus).
Biological invasions of rodents and other species have been especially problematic on tropical islands. Invasive Rattus rattus consumption of Hibiscadelphus giffardianus (Malvaceae; common Hawaiian name hau kuahiwi) fruit and seeds has been hypothesized to be the most-limiting factor inhibiting the...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b1c84d23fed942a5a4364a7276c8dbb4 2023-05-15T18:05:26+02:00 Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). Nathan S Gill Stephanie Yelenik Paul Banko Christopher B Dixon Kelly Jaenecke Robert Peck 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208106 https://doaj.org/article/b1c84d23fed942a5a4364a7276c8dbb4 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208106 https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0208106 https://doaj.org/article/b1c84d23fed942a5a4364a7276c8dbb4 PLoS ONE, Vol 13, Iss 11, p e0208106 (2018) Medicine R Science Q article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208106 2022-12-31T09:13:51Z Biological invasions of rodents and other species have been especially problematic on tropical islands. Invasive Rattus rattus consumption of Hibiscadelphus giffardianus (Malvaceae; common Hawaiian name hau kuahiwi) fruit and seeds has been hypothesized to be the most-limiting factor inhibiting the critically endangered tree, but this has not been experimentally tested, and little is known about other factors affecting seed dispersal, germination, and seedling establishment. Thus, we do not know if rat removal is sufficient to increase hau kuahiwi recruitment. This study aims to evaluate the effect of rat population control on the ability of hau kuahiwi to retain fruit and establish seedlings. We compared hau kuahiwi fruiting and seedling recruitment in a stand treated to reduce rat abundance and a neighbouring control stand. Fruit retention increased following treatment but seedling establishment did not. Although rat control improves the ability of hau kuahiwi to retain fruit, other, presently unknown inhibitors to seed dispersal, germination, and/or seedling development remain. Seed and seedling predation by other species, competition from numerous invasive plant species, unsuitable climate, and/or other factors may be primary inhibitors in the absence of rats, but we emphasize that progressive isolation of these factors at individual hau kuahiwi life stages may be necessary to identify the remaining threats to the conservation of this critically endangered plant. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rattus rattus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles PLOS ONE 13 11 e0208106 |
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Medicine R Science Q Nathan S Gill Stephanie Yelenik Paul Banko Christopher B Dixon Kelly Jaenecke Robert Peck Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Biological invasions of rodents and other species have been especially problematic on tropical islands. Invasive Rattus rattus consumption of Hibiscadelphus giffardianus (Malvaceae; common Hawaiian name hau kuahiwi) fruit and seeds has been hypothesized to be the most-limiting factor inhibiting the critically endangered tree, but this has not been experimentally tested, and little is known about other factors affecting seed dispersal, germination, and seedling establishment. Thus, we do not know if rat removal is sufficient to increase hau kuahiwi recruitment. This study aims to evaluate the effect of rat population control on the ability of hau kuahiwi to retain fruit and establish seedlings. We compared hau kuahiwi fruiting and seedling recruitment in a stand treated to reduce rat abundance and a neighbouring control stand. Fruit retention increased following treatment but seedling establishment did not. Although rat control improves the ability of hau kuahiwi to retain fruit, other, presently unknown inhibitors to seed dispersal, germination, and/or seedling development remain. Seed and seedling predation by other species, competition from numerous invasive plant species, unsuitable climate, and/or other factors may be primary inhibitors in the absence of rats, but we emphasize that progressive isolation of these factors at individual hau kuahiwi life stages may be necessary to identify the remaining threats to the conservation of this critically endangered plant. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Nathan S Gill Stephanie Yelenik Paul Banko Christopher B Dixon Kelly Jaenecke Robert Peck |
author_facet |
Nathan S Gill Stephanie Yelenik Paul Banko Christopher B Dixon Kelly Jaenecke Robert Peck |
author_sort |
Nathan S Gill |
title |
Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). |
title_short |
Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). |
title_full |
Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). |
title_fullStr |
Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). |
title_full_unstemmed |
Invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered Hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (Hibiscadelphus giffardianus). |
title_sort |
invasive rat control is an efficient, yet insufficient, method for recovery of the critically endangered hawaiian plant hau kuahiwi (hibiscadelphus giffardianus). |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208106 https://doaj.org/article/b1c84d23fed942a5a4364a7276c8dbb4 |
genre |
Rattus rattus |
genre_facet |
Rattus rattus |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 13, Iss 11, p e0208106 (2018) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208106 https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0208106 https://doaj.org/article/b1c84d23fed942a5a4364a7276c8dbb4 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0208106 |
container_title |
PLOS ONE |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
e0208106 |
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1766176901388304384 |