Diet, population structure and breeding of Rattus rattus L. in South Island beech forest

Clapperton, Kay; Bangladesh., H, Avenue , Lake Drive Road, Uttara, Dhaka,; Maddigan, Fraser; Chinn, Warren; Murpy, Elaine

doi:10.20417/nzjecol.43.22

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 39 publications

(58 reference statements)

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“…We implemented an individual-based population model designed to describe an island population of rats with characteristics similar to black rats ( Rattus rattus ) or brown rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) [ 61 – 64 ]. The model is implemented in the SLiM forward-in-time population genetic simulation framework (version 3.3.1) [ 65 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling CRISPR gene drives for suppression of invasive rodents using a supervised machine learning framework

et al. 2021

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Invasive rodent populations pose a threat to biodiversity across the globe. When confronted with these invaders, native species that evolved independently are often defenseless. CRISPR gene drive systems could provide a solution to this problem by spreading transgenes among invaders that induce population collapse, and could be deployed even where traditional control methods are impractical or prohibitively expensive. Here, we develop a high-fidelity model of an island population of invasive rodents that includes three types of suppression gene drive systems. The individual-based model is spatially explicit, allows for overlapping generations and a fluctuating population size, and includes variables for drive fitness, efficiency, resistance allele formation rate, as well as a variety of ecological parameters. The computational burden of evaluating a model with such a high number of parameters presents a substantial barrier to a comprehensive understanding of its outcome space. We therefore accompany our population model with a meta-model that utilizes supervised machine learning to approximate the outcome space of the underlying model with a high degree of accuracy. This enables us to conduct an exhaustive inquiry of the population model, including variance-based sensitivity analyses using tens of millions of evaluations. Our results suggest that sufficiently capable gene drive systems have the potential to eliminate island populations of rodents under a wide range of demographic assumptions, though only if resistance can be kept to a minimal level. This study highlights the power of supervised machine learning to identify the key parameters and processes that determine the population dynamics of a complex evolutionary system.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling CRISPR gene drives for suppression of invasive rodents using a supervised machine learning framework

et al. 2021

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“…A combination of landscape features can influence gene flow and the use of intense trapping can be sufficient to effect a change in the population structure of rats at local scales (as in Norway rats: Richardson et al 2019 ). Arbitrary, intermittent localised trapping and poisoning, however, has little impact on the background abundance of these fecund, short-generation species (Clapperton et al 2019 ). If management of rats and other pest mammals over an extensive, heterogenous environment is to be successful and eradication achieved, it is critical that we have a better understanding of fundamental pest population responses, and are equipped to apply appropriate tools during eradication efforts to monitor and counter such responses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genotypic detection of barriers to rat dispersal: Rattus rattus behind a peninsula predator-proof fence

2023

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Clear delimitation of management units is essential for effective management of invasive species. Analysis of population genetic structure of target species can improve identification and interpretation of natural and artificial barriers to dispersal. In Aotearoa New Zealand where the introduced ship rat (Rattus rattus) is a major threat to native biodiversity, effective suppression of pest numbers requires removal and limitation of reinvasion from outside the managed population. We contrasted population genetic structure in rat populations over a wide scale without known barriers, with structure over a fine scale with potential barriers to dispersal. MtDNA D-loop sequences and microsatellite genotypes resolved little genetic structure in southern North Island population samples of ship rat 100 km apart. In contrast, samples from major islands differed significantly for both mtDNA and nuclear markers. We also compared ship rats collected within a small peninsula reserve bounded by sea, suburbs and, more recently, a predator fence with rats in the surrounding forest. Here, mtDNA did not differ but genotypes from 14 nuclear loci were sufficient to distinguish the fenced population. This suggests that natural (sea) and artificial barriers (town, fence) are effectively limiting gene flow among ship rat populations over the short distance (~ 500 m) between the peninsula reserve and surrounding forest. The effectiveness of the fence alone is not clear given it is a recent feature and no historical samples exist; resampling population genetic diversity over time will improve understanding. Nonetheless, the current genetic isolation of the fenced rat population suggests that rat eradication is a sensible management option given that reinvasion appears to be limited and could probably be managed with a biosecurity programme.

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“…The normal seasonal breeding of ship rats produces annual changes in abundance, from low numbers in spring and early summer to an autumn peak [ 64 , 96 ]. After a beech masting event, rats bred all year round [ 97 ]. Measured density in mainland forests ranges from 1–12/ha [ 98 ].…”

Section: Ship Rat Rattus Rattus (Linnaeus 1758)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Abundance and Dynamics of Small Mammals in New Zealand: Sequential Invasions into an Island Ecosystem Like No Other

King

2023

Life

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New Zealand had no people or four-footed mammals of any size until it was colonised by Polynesian voyagers and Pacific rats in c. 1280 AD. Between 1769 and 1920 AD, Europeans brought three more species of commensal rats and mice, and three predatory mustelids, plus rabbits, house cats hedgehogs and Australian brushtail possums. All have in turn invaded the whole country and many offshore islands in huge abundance, at least initially. Three species are now reduced to remnant populations, but the other eight remain widely distributed. They comprise an artificial but interacting and fully functional bottom-up predator-prey system, responding at all levels to interspecific competition, habitat quality and periodic resource pulsing.

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Diet, population structure and breeding of Rattus rattus L. in South Island beech forest

Cited by 16 publications

References 39 publications

Modeling CRISPR gene drives for suppression of invasive rodents using a supervised machine learning framework

Modeling CRISPR gene drives for suppression of invasive rodents using a supervised machine learning framework

Genotypic detection of barriers to rat dispersal: Rattus rattus behind a peninsula predator-proof fence

Abundance and Dynamics of Small Mammals in New Zealand: Sequential Invasions into an Island Ecosystem Like No Other

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