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Differential effects of exotic predator-control on nest success of native and introduced birds in New Zealand

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Abstract

The introduction of mammalian predators has been detrimental to many native birds in New Zealand. One solution to this problem has been the creation of “mainland islands” in which exotic predators are systematically removed. Although mainland islands have been effective in increasing some native bird populations, few studies have measured the effect of predator-control on nest success nor what effect control measures have on sympatric populations of introduced birds. We measured the effect of predator-control on nest survival rates in both native and introduced passerines in a mainland island near Kaikoura, New Zealand. Nest survival was significantly higher in Waimangarara Bush (the site with experimental predator-control) than in Kowhai Bush (the site with no predator-control) and this pattern was found in both groups of birds. However, mammalian predator-control increased nest success of native species significantly more than nest success of introduced species. This suggests that native birds benefit disproportionately from control of introduced predators, most likely because they lack behavioural defences against mammalian predators that are present among the introduced birds.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this project was provided by the Brian Mason Trust and the University of Canterbury. During manuscript preparation, funding was provided to MM by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (UOCX0601). We especially thank Barry and Jenny Dunnett for their dedicated and continuing efforts to control introduced predators in Waimangarara Bush. This study would not have been possible without their help. Jack van Berkel provided assistance during our stay at the field station in Kaikoura. We would also like to thank the following people for their help in the collection of field data: Kathryn Atkinson, Anna Hosking, Rose Ives, Sabrina Taylor, Andrew Thomas, and Eleanor Watson. We are grateful to Jason Tylianakis for statistical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Melanie Massaro & James V. Briskie

  2. Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany

    Amanda Starling-Windhof

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  1. Amanda Starling-Windhof
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  2. Melanie Massaro
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  3. James V. Briskie
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Correspondence to Amanda Starling-Windhof.

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Starling-Windhof, A., Massaro, M. & Briskie, J.V. Differential effects of exotic predator-control on nest success of native and introduced birds in New Zealand. Biol Invasions 13, 1021–1028 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9886-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-010-9886-5

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