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Eradications as reverse invasions: lessons from Pacific rat (Rattus exulans) removals on New Zealand islands

  • Invasive Rodents on Islands
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Abstract

Eradications of kiore or Pacific rats (Rattus exulans) from islands around New Zealand have been followed by responses from resident species of coastal plants, invertebrates, reptiles and seabirds. These responses are compared with an invasion by ship rats (Rattus rattus), which devastated populations of invertebrates, birds and bats. Post-eradication responses only approximate the effects of invasions because recovery is limited to the residual pool of native species. Greater effects of kiore are indicated by adding incompatible species confined to rat-free locations. The extended list includes at least 15 species of invertebrates, two species of frogs, tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), 11 species of lizards and 9 species of seabirds. The analyses indicate direct and indirect effects of kiore similar to those reported after ship rat invasions. This is despite indications from the literature that kiore are the least damaging of the three commensal rat species.

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Acknowledgments

I thank Ian Atkinson, Grant Harper and James Russell for their useful comments on the manuscript, the organisers of the conference on Rats, Humans and their Impacts on Islands for their invitation to present this paper and two anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful comments.

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  1. Research & Development Group, Department of Conservation, Private Bag, 68 908, 1145, Newton, Auckland, New Zealand

    David R. Towns

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Towns, D.R. Eradications as reverse invasions: lessons from Pacific rat (Rattus exulans) removals on New Zealand islands. Biol Invasions 11, 1719–1733 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-008-9399-7

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