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Can a native rodent species limit the invasive potential of a non‐native rodent species in tropical agroforest habitats?
Author(s) -
Stuart Alexander M,
Prescott Colin V,
Singleton Grant R
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4095
Subject(s) - rodent , biology , habitat , ecology , invasive species , pest analysis , generalist and specialist species , introduced species , botany
Abstract BACKGROUND Little is known about native and non‐native rodent species interactions in complex tropical agroecosystems. We hypothesised that the native non‐pest rodent Rattus everetti may be competitively dominant over the invasive pest rodent Rattus tanezumi within agroforests. We tested this experimentally by using pulse removal for three consecutive months to reduce populations of R. everetti in agroforest habitat, and assessed over 6 months the response of R. tanezumi and other rodent species. RESULTS Following removal, R. everetti individuals rapidly immigrated into removal sites. At the end of the study period, R. tanezumi were larger and there was a significant shift in their microhabitat use with respect to the use of ground vegetation cover following the perturbation of R. everetti . Irrespective of treatment, R. tanezumi selected microhabitat with less tree canopy cover, indicative of severely disturbed habitat, whereas R. everetti selected microhabitat with a dense canopy. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that sustained habitat disturbance in agroforests favours R. tanezumi , while the regeneration of agroforests towards a more natural state would favour native species and may reduce pest pressure in adjacent crops. In addition, the rapid recolonisation of R. everetti suggests this species would be able to recover from non‐target impacts of short‐term rodent pest control. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry