Plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals (Corvo, Azores, Portugal)

Non-native invasive mammal species have been eradicated from many islands to conserve native species diversity. The Azores (Portugal) previously hosted very large seabird colonies, but since human colonization and the introduction of rodents (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus) and cats (Felis catus) m...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Oppel, S., Beaven, B. M., Bolton, M., Bodey, T. W., Geraldes, P., Oliveira, N., Hervias, S., Henriques, A., Silva, C.
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Julius Kühn-Institut 2011-10-01
Series:Julius-Kühn-Archiv
Subjects:
_version_ 1811228435836567552
author Oppel, S.
Beaven, B. M.
Bolton, M.
Bodey, T. W.
Geraldes, P.
Oliveira, N.
Hervias, S.
Henriques, A.
Silva, C.
author_facet Oppel, S.
Beaven, B. M.
Bolton, M.
Bodey, T. W.
Geraldes, P.
Oliveira, N.
Hervias, S.
Henriques, A.
Silva, C.
author_sort Oppel, S.
collection DOAJ
description Non-native invasive mammal species have been eradicated from many islands to conserve native species diversity. The Azores (Portugal) previously hosted very large seabird colonies, but since human colonization and the introduction of rodents (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus) and cats (Felis catus) many seabird colonies have declined or disappeared as a result of predation. Because the Azores are also inhabited by humans and livestock, we reviewed the challenges associated with the eradication of invasive mammals from inhabited islands in order to plan for a seabird restoration project on the island of Corvo. Detailed analyses of the social, cultural, and economic costs and benefits of eradication are required to increase the probability of the local community supporting the eradication campaign. However, the ecological benefits of eradication are difficult to trade-off against social and economic costs due to the lack of a common currency. Local communities may oppose an eradication campaign because of perceived health hazards, inconvenience, financial burdens, religious beliefs, or other cultural reasons. Besides these social challenges, the presence of humans and domestic animals also complicates eradication and biosecurity procedures. For example, houses, garbage-disposal areas, and livestockfeeding areas can provide refuges for many synanthropic species and so decrease the probability of a successful eradication. Transport of humans and goods to an island increases the probability of inadvertent reintroduction of invasive mammals, and the establishment of permanent quarantine measures is required to minimize the probability of unwanted recolonization after eradication. Most of these challenges exist on Corvo, and continued work with the community is required before an eradication project can be initiated.
first_indexed 2024-04-12T09:58:57Z
format Article
id doaj.art-c9d12cc05fb14ba0a46ae308acee80cc
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1868-9892
language deu
last_indexed 2024-04-12T09:58:57Z
publishDate 2011-10-01
publisher Julius Kühn-Institut
record_format Article
series Julius-Kühn-Archiv
spelling doaj.art-c9d12cc05fb14ba0a46ae308acee80cc2022-12-22T03:37:37ZdeuJulius Kühn-InstitutJulius-Kühn-Archiv1868-98922011-10-01432424310.5073/jka.2011.432.018Plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals (Corvo, Azores, Portugal)Oppel, S.Beaven, B. M.Bolton, M.Bodey, T. W.Geraldes, P.Oliveira, N.Hervias, S.Henriques, A.Silva, C.Non-native invasive mammal species have been eradicated from many islands to conserve native species diversity. The Azores (Portugal) previously hosted very large seabird colonies, but since human colonization and the introduction of rodents (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus) and cats (Felis catus) many seabird colonies have declined or disappeared as a result of predation. Because the Azores are also inhabited by humans and livestock, we reviewed the challenges associated with the eradication of invasive mammals from inhabited islands in order to plan for a seabird restoration project on the island of Corvo. Detailed analyses of the social, cultural, and economic costs and benefits of eradication are required to increase the probability of the local community supporting the eradication campaign. However, the ecological benefits of eradication are difficult to trade-off against social and economic costs due to the lack of a common currency. Local communities may oppose an eradication campaign because of perceived health hazards, inconvenience, financial burdens, religious beliefs, or other cultural reasons. Besides these social challenges, the presence of humans and domestic animals also complicates eradication and biosecurity procedures. For example, houses, garbage-disposal areas, and livestockfeeding areas can provide refuges for many synanthropic species and so decrease the probability of a successful eradication. Transport of humans and goods to an island increases the probability of inadvertent reintroduction of invasive mammals, and the establishment of permanent quarantine measures is required to minimize the probability of unwanted recolonization after eradication. Most of these challenges exist on Corvo, and continued work with the community is required before an eradication project can be initiated.AzorescatsCorvoeradicationinvasive mammalsislandrats
spellingShingle Oppel, S.
Beaven, B. M.
Bolton, M.
Bodey, T. W.
Geraldes, P.
Oliveira, N.
Hervias, S.
Henriques, A.
Silva, C.
Plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals (Corvo, Azores, Portugal)
Julius-Kühn-Archiv
Azores
cats
Corvo
eradication
invasive mammals
island
rats
title Plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals (Corvo, Azores, Portugal)
title_full Plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals (Corvo, Azores, Portugal)
title_fullStr Plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals (Corvo, Azores, Portugal)
title_full_unstemmed Plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals (Corvo, Azores, Portugal)
title_short Plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals (Corvo, Azores, Portugal)
title_sort plans to eradicate invasive mammals on an island inhabited by humans and domestic animals corvo azores portugal
topic Azores
cats
Corvo
eradication
invasive mammals
island
rats
work_keys_str_mv AT oppels planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal
AT beavenbm planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal
AT boltonm planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal
AT bodeytw planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal
AT geraldesp planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal
AT oliveiran planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal
AT herviass planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal
AT henriquesa planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal
AT silvac planstoeradicateinvasivemammalsonanislandinhabitedbyhumansanddomesticanimalscorvoazoresportugal