Impacts of feral horses on a desert environment

Ostermann-Kelm, Stacey; Atwill, Edward A; Rubin, Esther S.; Hendrickson, Larry E.; Boyce, Walter M.

doi:10.1186/1472-6785-9-22

Cited by 27 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Horses are very different to Australian native animals because they are large, hoofed and graze congregationally; therefore they change the landscape by destroying grasses that are intolerant to heavy grazing Dobbie et al 1993). Vegetation destruction causes reduction in biodiversity through loss of natural shelters and food sources for communities of amphibians, reptiles, birds and small mammals (Wharton and Dempster 1981;Ostermann-Kelm et al 2009). In mountainous areas, feral horses deplete water supplies, and contaminate water with faeces Dawson et al 2006).…”

Section: Impact Of Feral Horses In Australiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding population dynamics of feral horses in the Tuan and Toolara State Forest for successful long-term population management

Zabek¹

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Feral horses (Equus caballus) in Australia are a growing problem despite implementation of management strategies. The increasing number of feral horses within the Tuan and Toolara State Forest (TTSF), a coniferous plantation on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, and particularly near major public roads, has been recognised as a problem in the last decade. Desensitised to road traffic, horses are a serious distraction for motorists, and have potential to cause serious animal-vehicle accidents.The primary objective of the study was to characterise the essential demographics of the TTSF feral horses, so that the most suitable methods for long-term population management could be determined. The study was conducted from 2012 -2014 and determined social structure, reproductive performance and survival, and population growth rate. The estimation of population distribution, abundance and density together with assessment of habitat use and home range size were also addressed.The studied population did not show significant annual variation in demographics, which is consistent with measurements in other unmanaged feral horse populations in Australia and abroad. The overall size and age composition of social groups remained stable during the study period. The average harem size was estimated as 4.95 (95%CI 4.53-5.41), and usually consisted of 1 stallion, 2 -3 adult females, and 2 immature offspring (≤ 3 years of age). Males not associated with harems consisted of adult (≥ 3 years old) and sub-adult (2 years old) individuals, either forming groups of 2 -6 or living by themselves. The population showed a stable age distribution, with adult horses constituting the largest group (68%; n = 247). The sex ratio of adult female to male horses was nearly equal (0.99:1.00).The mean annual fecundity was 0.23 ± 0.07 SD and was comparable to those obtained for other feral horse populations where the environment imposed nutritional limitations. Adult females were observed to foal on average every second year. The overall nutritional status of the population expressed as body condition score (BCS; 0 -5) was 2.55 ± 0.51 SD with adult females having poorer scores than other age and gender groups. Survival estimates were consistently high (0.92 -0.95) across all age groups. The average annual finite rate of population increase (λ) for the three years of the study was 1.088 which was lower than the maximum reported for populations living in the most favourable conditions. Elasticity iii analysis demonstrated that the TTSF population growth rate was almost seven times more sensitive to changes in adult survival compared with juvenile survival, and almost twice more sensitive than changes in fecundity.Assessment of the population distribution based on a strip transect survey using horse dung on forest tracks indicated that the majority of the forestry was occupied by horses, with the highest population density being located in the central region of the plantation.Abundance and density of horses were estimated by distance line transect surv...

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Section: Impact Of Feral Horses In Australiamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In some national parks, stripping leaves and chewing bark can result in destruction of eucalyptus NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service 2007). In semi-arid and arid areas, feral horses accelerate erosion by compacting soil and denuding plant cover Dobbie et al 1993;Ostermann-Kelm et al 2009). …”

Section: Impact Of Feral Horses In Australiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding population dynamics of feral horses in the Tuan and Toolara State Forest for successful long-term population management

Zabek¹

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“…Feral horses (Equus caballus) can be found on every continent of the earth except Antarctica [6], and have an impact on soil and vegetation [7,8], the biodiversity of plants [9], and several animal species, such as reptiles and small mammals [10,11], ants [7], herbivores [12,13] and grassland birds [14]. Nevertheless, among the genus Equus itself, great diversity can be observed [15].…”

Section: The Horse-environment Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presence of wild horses leads to a significant reduction of the desert bighorn sheep and elks sharing the same water source, which is evidence of indirect competition [12,13]. Wild horses can have a negative impact on environmental health, for example horses' trampling leads to an increased soil strength and compaction, which reduces rainwater infiltration [8]. This in return can lead to nutrient and water shortages for plants and trees.…”

Section: The Horse-environment Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Horses as a Crucial Part of One Health

Lönker

Fechner

Wahed

2020

Veterinary Sciences

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One Health (OH) is a crucial concept, where the interference between humans, animals and the environment matters. This review article focusses on the role of horses in maintaining the health of humans and the environment. Horses' impact on environmental health includes their influence on soil and the biodiversity of animal and plant species. Nevertheless, the effect of horses is not usually linear and several factors like plant-animal coevolutionary history, climate and animal density play significant roles. The long history of the relationship between horses and humans is shaped by the service of horses in wars or even in mines. Moreover, horses were essential in developing the first antidote to cure diphtheria. Nowadays, horses do have an influential role in animal assisted therapy, in supporting livelihoods in low income countries and as a leisure partner. Horses are of relevance in the spillover of zoonotic and emerging diseases from wildlife to human (e.g., Hendra Virus), and in non-communicable diseases (e.g., post-traumatic osteoarthritis in horses and back pain in horse riders). Furthermore, many risk factors-such as climate change and antimicrobial resistance-threaten the health of both horses and humans. Finally, the horse is a valuable factor in sustaining the health of humans and the environment, and must be incorporated in any roadmap to achieve OH.Vet. Sci. 2020, 7, 28 2 of 17 crucial part in developing the first antidote to cure diphtheria. Since then, the rate of contact between domesticated horses and humans steadily increased. Nowadays, for example, horses play an important role in animal-assisted therapy. Furthermore, the detection of infectious diseases that affect both humans and horses are crucial, especially in cases of highly transmissible diseases. Beside infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as skeletal and joint diseases or metabolic disorders are of concern to both. Several risk factors concerning the health of humans and horses exist. Therefore, this article will give an overview of OH with a focus on horses and their relation to the environment and humans, along with the influence of other factors such as climate change (see Figure 1). Vet. Sci. 2020, 7, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 15 crucial part in developing the first antidote to cure diphtheria. Since then, the rate of contact between 46 domesticated horses and humans steadily increased. Nowadays, for example, horses play an 47 important role in animal-assisted therapy. Furthermore, the detection of infectious diseases that affect 48 both humans and horses are crucial, especially in cases of highly transmissible diseases. Beside 49 infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as skeletal and joint diseases or 50metabolic disorders are of concern to both. Several risk factors concerning the health of humans and 51 horses exist. Therefore, this article will give an overview of OH with a focus on horses and their 52 relation to the environment and humans, along with the influence of other factors such a...

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“…Horse grazing promotes plants with low nutrient requirements and robust defense strategies (Catorci et al 2012). However, the impacts of grazing by horses on arid environments are highly influenced by animal density and abiotic factors (Ostermann-Kelm et al 2009). Whereas biogeography and abiotic factors may show a greater influence than horse grazing on variables such as percentage of vegetation cover and cover of key plant species (often highly palatable grasses; Fahnestock andDetling 1999, Beever et al 2003), numerous studies have reported impacts of horse grazing on nesting bird communities (Zalba and Cozzani 2004), reptile species richness and abundance (Beever and Brussard 2004), nonnative plant cover (Loydi and Zalba 2009), and disturbancesensitive variables, such as soil surface hardness and number of ant mounds .…”

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confidence: 99%