Biological Control of Aleutian Island Arctic Fox: A Preliminary Strategy
The intentional introduction of exotic animals can generally be expected to yield unanticipated biological consequences. Single-purpose introductions frequently result in ecological catastrophe. Islands are particularly vulnerable to such assault. Arctic foxes [Alopex lagopus), released for fur farm...
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| Format: | Text |
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WBI Studies Repository
1983
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| Online Access: | https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/ijsap/vol4/iss4/14 https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/context/ijsap/article/1240/viewcontent/Biological_Control_of_Aleutian_Island_Arctic_Fox.pdf |
| Summary: | The intentional introduction of exotic animals can generally be expected to yield unanticipated biological consequences. Single-purpose introductions frequently result in ecological catastrophe. Islands are particularly vulnerable to such assault. Arctic foxes [Alopex lagopus), released for fur farming on the Aleutian Islands, formerly devoid of land predators, have significantly altered nesting avifaunal diversity, abundance, and productivity. A program for restoring the historical distribution and abundance of critically affected bird species is described. In a long-term study, biological control methods are proposed to test the hypothesis that introduced sterile red foxes [Vulpes fulva), apparently, a competitively superior species, will markedly reduce or extirpate resident Arctic foxes. |
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