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Environmental effects of rodent Talon baiting Part I : Monitoring for toxic residues : Part II Impacts on invertebrate populations
BRB
Available Online

Morgan, D. R.

,

Spurr, E. B.

,

Wright, G. R.

1998
Although Talon® baits containing brodifacoum have been used successfully in eradicating rats from some of New Zealand’s offshore islands, little is known about any environmental effects of this toxin. We sampled invertebrates, blackbirds, soil, and water at intervals of 2 days to 9 months to determine whether brodifacoum residues were present after aerial distribution of Talon® 20P cereal pellets on Red Mercury Island and after bait-station use of Talon® 50WB wax-coated cereal blocks on Coppermine Island. No brodifacoum residues were found in soil, water, or most (99%) invertebrate samples. Low to moderate residues were found in one sample of slugs collected 2 days after aerial sowing. Tissues from all birds (n=4) and rats (n=3) found dead and livers from all six birds collected alive 8 months after aerial baiting also contained low to moderate residues. These preliminary results suggest that few invertebrates are likely to be contaminated as a result of Talon® baiting. Tentatively, we suggest that although some invertebrates may eat Talon® baits, it appears that the brodifacoum is either metabolised and/or excreted within a few days. The dead blackbirds found, therefore, were more likely to have been killed by primary than by secondary poisoning. Further monitoring for brodifacoum residues after Talon® operations should be undertaken to confirm that contamination of invertebrates, soil, and water is unlikely. Some bird species may be at risk from Talon® baiting. Likely effects on population levels of such species should be considered to help assess the risk and benefits of Talon® use in rodent eradication.
UK Rodent Eradication Best Practice Toolkit
BRB
Available Online
2018
The spread of invasive non-native species presents one of the greatest threats to biodiversity globally: invasive species are the primary driver of biodiversity loss on islands and the second largest everywhere else (CBD ; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). Many of the UK’s island ecosystems have been damaged by the arrival and establishment of invasive non-native species. Introduced predators have caused particularly catastrophic damage to many species of waders and seabirds, undoubtedly causing numerous extirpations as well as contributing to ongoing declines(Stanbury et al. 2017). Removing invasive vertebrates from islands is an important conservation tool to protect and restore island ecosystems and to prevent further declines and losses of native species. The UK Rodent Eradication Best Practice Toolkit is intended as an advisory resource, providing a systematic approach for planning and implementing rodent eradications and biosecurity in the UK. It provides technical advice on specific methods to be used in the UK, as well as an eradication project management framework which is applicable to projects everywhere. This Best Practice Toolkit has been compiled, and contributed to, by several UK governmental and non-governmental organisations involved in island restoration, these being: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), GB Non-Native Species Secretariat (GB NNSS), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), National Trust, National Trust for Scotland, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) and the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust. The Toolkit has also received input from Wildlife Management International Ltd (WMIL), and draws heavily from the documentation produced by WMIL for various rat eradication projects undertaken in the UK. The use of the UK Rodent Eradication Best Practice Toolkit aims to give UK organisations and practitioners the ability to embark on invasive rodent management projects with greater confidence of achieving the desired island restoration goals. For more information or to provide feedback on this resource, please contact Sophie Thomas [email protected] .
Rodent management issues in South Pacific islands: a review with case studies from Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu
BRB
Available Online

Aplin, Ken P.

,

Brown, Peter R.

,

Hinds, Lyn A.

,

Jacob, Jens

,

Rithcie, Barbara J.

,

Thomas, Sarah E.

2018
Rodents are a key pest to agricultural and rural island communities of the South Pacific, but there is limited information of their impact on the crops and livelihoods of small-scale farmers. The rodent pest community is known, but the type and scales of damage to different crops on different islands are unknown. Knowledge about rodent pest management in other geographical regions may not be directly transferable to the Pacific region. Many studies on islands have largely focussed on the eradication of rodents from uninhabited islands for conservation benefits. These broadscale eradication efforts are unlikely to translate to inhabited islands because of complex social and agricultural issues. The livelihoods, culture and customs of poor small-scale farmers in the South Pacific have a large bearing on the current management of rodents. The aim of the present review was to describe the rodent problems, impacts and management of rodents on South Pacific islands, and identify gaps for further research. We compared and contrasted two case studies. The situation in Papua New Guinea is emergent as several introduced rodent species are actively invading new areas with wide-ranging implications for human livelihoods and conservation. In Vanuatu, we show how rodent damage on cocoa plantations can be reduced by good orchard hygiene through pruning and weeding, which also has benefits for the management of black pod disease. We conclude that (1) damage levels are unknown and unreported, (2) the impacts on human health are unknown, (3) the relationships between the pest species and their food sources, breeding and movements are not known, and (4) the situation in Papua New Guinea may represent an emergent crisis that warrants further investigation. In addition, there is a need for greater understanding of the invasive history of pest rodents, so as to integrate biological information with management strategies. Ecologically based rodent management can be achieved on Pacific Islands, but only after significant well funded large-scale projects are established and rodent ecologists are trained. We can learn from experiences from other locations such as Southeast Asia to guide the way.