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Large-scale rodent control reduces pre- and post-dispersal seed predation of the endangered Hawaiian lobeliad, Cyanea superba subsp. superba (Campanulaceae)

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Abstract

Large-scale rodent control can help to manage endangered species that are vulnerable to invasive rodent consumption. A 26 ha rodent snap-trap grid was installed in montane forest on Oahu Island, Hawaii, in order to protect endangered snails and plants. To assess the effectiveness of this trapping operation in reducing fruit consumption and seed predation of the endangered Hawaiian lobeliad, Cyanea superba subsp. superba, pre- and post-dispersal C. superba fruit consumption were monitored for 36 plants at the site with rodent control (Kahanahaiki) and 42 plants at an adjacent site without rodent control (Pahole). Over 47 % of all monitored fruit were eaten on the plants at Pahole compared to 4 % at Kahanahaiki. Images captured using motion-sensing cameras suggest that black rats (Rattus rattus) were the only pre-dispersal fruit consumers. To quantify post-dispersal fruit consumption, and to identify the culprit frugivore(s), mature fruit were placed in tracking tunnels positioned on the forest floor and checked daily. At Pahole, all of the fruit were consumed by rats compared to 29 % at Kahanahaiki. Lastly, to determine if rodents from the sites were predators or dispersers of C. superba seed, fruit were fed to captive black rats and house mice (Mus musculus). Black rats consumed entire fruit, killing all the seed, while mice did little damage to the fruit and seed. Therefore, large-scale rat trapping can directly benefit the reproduction of C. superba subsp. superba. Controlling black rats at restoration sites appears integral to the successful restoration of this endangered plant species.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Oahu Army Natural Resources Program (OANRP) for funding and logistical support of this project—we are especially grateful for the many staff members that helped with the intensive and on-going rodent trapping at Kahanahaiki. We thank both OANRP and the Pahole Natural Area Reserve managers (State of Hawaii) for land access, and Don Drake, Kapua Kawelo, Matthew Keir, Clifford Morden, Julia Rowe, Lauren Weisenberger, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. RJP and ABS wish to thank the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit and Clifford Morden for providing logistical support. RJP gratefully acknowledges the financial support provided by Fulbright New Zealand and the John R. Templin Scholarship. This research was approved by the University of Hawaii Animal Use and Care Committee.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Richard J. Pender, Aaron B. Shiels & Lalasia Bialic-Murphy

  2. National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Hawaii Field Station, P.O. Box 10880, Hilo, HI, 96721, USA

    Aaron B. Shiels

  3. Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, Botany Department, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, St. John Hall #408, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Lalasia Bialic-Murphy & Stephen M. Mosher

  4. Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Division, Oahu Army Natural Resources Program, U.S. Army Garrison, 947 Wright Ave., Schofield Barracks, HI, 96857, USA

    Lalasia Bialic-Murphy & Stephen M. Mosher

  5. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas, U.S. Navy, PSC 455, Box 195, FPO AP, Santa Rita, GU, 96540, USA

    Stephen M. Mosher

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  1. Richard J. Pender
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  4. Stephen M. Mosher
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Correspondence to Richard J. Pender.

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Pender, R.J., Shiels, A.B., Bialic-Murphy, L. et al. Large-scale rodent control reduces pre- and post-dispersal seed predation of the endangered Hawaiian lobeliad, Cyanea superba subsp. superba (Campanulaceae). Biol Invasions 15, 213–223 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-012-0280-3

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