Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island
1. Owing to the detrimental impacts of invasive alien species, their control is often a priority for conservation management. Whereas the potential for unforeseen consequences of management is recognized, their associated complexity and costs are less widely appreciated. 2. We demonstrate that theor...
Published in: | Journal of Applied Ecology |
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2009
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Online Access: | https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/ https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/2/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_Supporting_journal.pdf https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/4/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_journal.pdf https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x |
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ftunivtasmania:oai:eprints.utas.edu.au:8384 2023-05-15T13:36:46+02:00 Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island Bergstrom, DM Lucieer, A Kiefer, K Wasley, J Belbin, L Pedersen, TK Chown, SL 2009-01-15 application/pdf https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/ https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/2/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_Supporting_journal.pdf https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/4/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_journal.pdf https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x en eng https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/2/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_Supporting_journal.pdf https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/4/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_journal.pdf Bergstrom, DM, Lucieer, A, Kiefer, K, Wasley, J, Belbin, L, Pedersen, TK and Chown, SL 2009 , 'Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island' , Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 46, no. 1 , pp. 73-81 , doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x>. cc_utas invasive species • cats • rabbits • sub-Antarctic • trophic cascade Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftunivtasmania https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x 2020-05-30T07:22:12Z 1. Owing to the detrimental impacts of invasive alien species, their control is often a priority for conservation management. Whereas the potential for unforeseen consequences of management is recognized, their associated complexity and costs are less widely appreciated. 2. We demonstrate that theoretically plausible trophic cascades associated with invasive species removal not only take place in reality, but can also result in rapid and drastic landscape-wide changes to ecosystems. 3. Using a combination of population data from of an invasive herbivore, plot-scale vegetation analyses, and satellite imagery, we show how a management intervention to eradicate a mesopredator has inadvertently and rapidly precipitated landscape-wide change on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. This happened despite the eradication being positioned within an integrated pest management framework. Following eradication of cats Felis catus in 2001, rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus numbers increased substantially although a control action was in place (Myxoma virus), resulting in island-wide ecosystem effects. 4. Synthesis and applications. Our results highlight an important lesson for conservation agencies working to eradicate invasive species globally; that is, risk assessment of management interventions must explicitly consider and plan for their indirect effects, or face substantial subsequent costs. On Macquarie Island, the cost of further conservation action will exceed AU$24 million. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Macquarie Island University of Tasmania: UTas ePrints Antarctic Journal of Applied Ecology 46 1 73 81 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Tasmania: UTas ePrints |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtasmania |
language |
English |
topic |
invasive species • cats • rabbits • sub-Antarctic • trophic cascade |
spellingShingle |
invasive species • cats • rabbits • sub-Antarctic • trophic cascade Bergstrom, DM Lucieer, A Kiefer, K Wasley, J Belbin, L Pedersen, TK Chown, SL Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island |
topic_facet |
invasive species • cats • rabbits • sub-Antarctic • trophic cascade |
description |
1. Owing to the detrimental impacts of invasive alien species, their control is often a priority for conservation management. Whereas the potential for unforeseen consequences of management is recognized, their associated complexity and costs are less widely appreciated. 2. We demonstrate that theoretically plausible trophic cascades associated with invasive species removal not only take place in reality, but can also result in rapid and drastic landscape-wide changes to ecosystems. 3. Using a combination of population data from of an invasive herbivore, plot-scale vegetation analyses, and satellite imagery, we show how a management intervention to eradicate a mesopredator has inadvertently and rapidly precipitated landscape-wide change on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. This happened despite the eradication being positioned within an integrated pest management framework. Following eradication of cats Felis catus in 2001, rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus numbers increased substantially although a control action was in place (Myxoma virus), resulting in island-wide ecosystem effects. 4. Synthesis and applications. Our results highlight an important lesson for conservation agencies working to eradicate invasive species globally; that is, risk assessment of management interventions must explicitly consider and plan for their indirect effects, or face substantial subsequent costs. On Macquarie Island, the cost of further conservation action will exceed AU$24 million. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bergstrom, DM Lucieer, A Kiefer, K Wasley, J Belbin, L Pedersen, TK Chown, SL |
author_facet |
Bergstrom, DM Lucieer, A Kiefer, K Wasley, J Belbin, L Pedersen, TK Chown, SL |
author_sort |
Bergstrom, DM |
title |
Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island |
title_short |
Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island |
title_full |
Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island |
title_fullStr |
Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island |
title_full_unstemmed |
Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island |
title_sort |
indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate world heritage island |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/ https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/2/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_Supporting_journal.pdf https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/4/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_journal.pdf https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x |
geographic |
Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Macquarie Island |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Macquarie Island |
op_relation |
https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/2/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_Supporting_journal.pdf https://eprints.utas.edu.au/8384/4/JAppEcol_Bergstrom_etal_journal.pdf Bergstrom, DM, Lucieer, A, Kiefer, K, Wasley, J, Belbin, L, Pedersen, TK and Chown, SL 2009 , 'Indirect effects of invasive species removal devastate World Heritage Island' , Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 46, no. 1 , pp. 73-81 , doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x>. |
op_rights |
cc_utas |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01601.x |
container_title |
Journal of Applied Ecology |
container_volume |
46 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
73 |
op_container_end_page |
81 |
_version_ |
1766083871706710016 |