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Unexpected consequences of control: competitive vs. predator release in a four‐species assemblage of invasive mammals
Author(s) -
Ruscoe Wendy A.,
Ramsey David S. L.,
Pech Roger P.,
Sweetapple Peter J.,
Yockney Ivor,
Barron Mandy C.,
Perry Mike,
Nugent Graham,
Carran Roger,
Warne Rodney,
Brausch Chris,
Duncan Richard P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01673.x
Subject(s) - mesopredator release hypothesis , biology , trophic level , ecology , predation , apex predator , predator , herbivore , competition (biology) , carnivore , guild , intraguild predation , invasive species , trophic cascade , assemblage (archaeology) , community structure , habitat
Ecology Letters (2011) 14 : 1035–1042 Abstract Invasive species are frequently the target of eradication or control programmes to mitigate their impacts. However, manipulating single species in isolation can lead to unexpected consequences for other species, with outcomes such as mesopredator release demonstrated both theoretically and empirically in vertebrate assemblages with at least two trophic levels. Less is known about the consequences of species removal in more complex assemblages where a greater number of interacting invaders increases the potential for selective species removal to result in unexpected changes in community structure. Using a replicated Before‐After Control‐Impact field experiment with a four‐species assemblage of invasive mammals we show that species interactions in the community are dominated by competition rather than predation. There was no measurable response of two mesopredators (rats and mice) following control of the top predator (stoats), but there was competitive release of rats following removal of a herbivore (possums), and competitive release of mice following removal of rats.