The effects of mice on stoats in southern beech forests

Veale, Andrew J.; McMurtrie, P.; Edge, K.-A.; Clout, Mick N.

doi:10.1111/aec.12161

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 30 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Rodent density estimates in studies published before 2004 are listed in [ 67 , 68 ]. Populations are known to fluctuate greatly, with spikes associated with seed masting events [ 69 , 70 ]. Although mice and rats are known to be present in pastures, there is a dearth of information on their abundance in farm habitats.…”

Section: Barriers For Ballum Spillovermentioning

confidence: 99%

Of Mice, Cattle, and Men: A Review of the Eco-Epidemiology of Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Ballum

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In New Zealand (NZ), leptospirosis is a mostly occupational zoonosis, with >66% of the recently notified cases being farm or abattoir workers. Livestock species independently maintain Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo and L. interrogans serovar Pomona, and both are included in livestock vaccines. The increasing importance in human cases of Ballum, a serovar associated with wildlife, suggests that wildlife may be an overlooked source of infection. Livestock could also act as bridge hosts for humans. Drawing from disease ecology frameworks, we chose five barriers to include in this review based on the hypothesis that cattle act as bridge hosts for Ballum. Using a narrative methodology, we collated published studies pertaining to (a) the distribution and abundance of potential wild maintenance hosts of Ballum, (b) the infection dynamics (prevalence and pathogenesis) in those same hosts, (c) Ballum shedding and survival in the environment, (d) the exposure and competency of cattle as a potential bridge host, and (e) exposure for humans as a target host of Ballum. Mice (Mus musculus), rats (Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus) and hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were suspected as maintenance hosts of Ballum in NZ in studies conducted in the 1970s–1980s. These introduced species are distributed throughout NZ, and are present on pastures. The role of other wildlife in Ballum (and more broadly Leptospira) transmission remains poorly defined, and has not been thoroughly investigated in NZ. The experimental and natural Ballum infection of cattle suggest a low pathogenicity and the possibility of shedding. The seroprevalence in cattle appears higher in recent serosurveys (3 to 14%) compared with studies from the 1970s (0 to 3%). This review identifies gaps in the knowledge of Ballum, and highlights cattle as a potential spillover host. Further studies are required to ascertain the role that wild and domestic species may play in the eco-epidemiology of Ballum in order to understand its survival in the environment, and to inform control strategies.

show abstract

Section: Barriers For Ballum Spillovermentioning

confidence: 99%

Of Mice, Cattle, and Men: A Review of the Eco-Epidemiology of Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Ballum

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The presence of mice and a low population density on the island create favorable conditions for female growth and reproduction (Veale et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This suggests that for every female alive in July, there will be on average 9.2 kits in November. The presence of mice and a low population density on the island create favorable conditions for female growth and reproduction (Veale et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Density dependence was not modeled because we assumed the controlled population to be well below carrying capacity, and given the presence of mice, competition of a low density population was expected to be minimal (Veale et al. ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The number of stoats present was distributed as Poisson with a mean predicted from population growth (λ t ) and immigration (Imm t ) parameters, where λ t was the finite per-capita population growth rate for the reproductive season (between July and November sessions), and Imm t was the immigration rate for session t. Density dependence was not modeled because we assumed the controlled population to be well below carrying capacity, and given the presence of mice, competition of a low density population was expected to be minimal (Veale et al 2015).…”

Section: Stage 1 Modeling: Parameter Estimationmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Inferential and forward projection modeling to evaluate options for controlling invasive mammals on islands

Anderson

McMurtrie²,

Edge³

et al. 2016

Ecological Applications

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Successful pest-mammal eradications from remote islands have resulted in important biodiversity benefits. Near-shore islands can also serve as refuges for native biota but require ongoing effort to maintain low-pest or pest-free status. Three management options are available in the presence of reinvasion risk: (1) control-to-zero density, in which immigration may occur but reinvaders are removed; (2) sustained population suppression (to relatively low numbers); or (3) no action. Biodiversity benefits can result from options one and two. The management challenge is to make evidence-based decisions on the selection of an appropriate objective and to identify a financially feasible control strategy that has a high probability of success. This requires understanding the pest species population dynamics and how it will respond to a range of potential management strategies, each with an associated financial cost. We developed a two-stage modeling approach that consisted of (1) Bayesian inferential modeling to estimate parameters for a model of pest population dynamics and control, and (2) a forward projection model to simulate a range of plausible management scenarios and quantify the probability of obtaining zero density within four years. We applied the model to an ongoing, six-year trapping program to control stoats (Mustela erminea) on Resolution Island, New Zealand. Zero density has not yet been achieved. Results demonstrate that management objectives were impeded by a combination of a highly fecund population, insufficient trap attractiveness, and a substantial proportion of the population that did not enter traps. Immigration is known to occur because the founding population arrived on the island by swimming from the mainland. However, immigration rate during this study was indistinguishable from zero. The forward projection modeling showed that control-to-zero density was feasible but required greater than a two-fold budget increase to intensify the trapping rate relative to population growth. The two-stage modeling provides the foundation for a management program in which broad-scale trials of additional trapping effort or improved trap lures would test model predictions and increase our understanding of system dynamics.

show abstract

Niche Partitioning in a Guild of Invasive Mammalian Predators

Garvey¹,

Glen²,

Clout³

et al. 2022

Bulletin Ecologic Soc America

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We deployed camera traps and undertook a predator removal experiment to investigate niche partitioning within a guild of invasive mammalian predators. We assessed interactions among apex predators (cats and ferrets) and a mesopredator (stoats) in relation to prey (lagomorphs, rodents, and birds) and habitat features. We found compelling evidence of niche partitioning; spatiotemporal activity of apex predators maximized access to abundant invasive prey, while mesopredators adjusted their behavior to reduce the risk of interference competition. Understanding the relative importance of top-down versus bottom-up forces allows wildlife managers to predict the consequences of pest removal and avoid perverse outcomes, such as mesopredator release.

show abstract

The effects of mice on stoats in southern beech forests

Cited by 10 publications

References 30 publications

Of Mice, Cattle, and Men: A Review of the Eco-Epidemiology of Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Ballum

Of Mice, Cattle, and Men: A Review of the Eco-Epidemiology of Leptospira borgpetersenii Serovar Ballum

Inferential and forward projection modeling to evaluate options for controlling invasive mammals on islands

Niche Partitioning in a Guild of Invasive Mammalian Predators

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About