Competitive release of invasive frugivorous mammals leads to perverse outcomes for native seed abundance.
Saved in:
| Title: | Competitive release of invasive frugivorous mammals leads to perverse outcomes for native seed abundance. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Carpenter, Joanna K.1 (AUTHOR) carpenterj@landcareresearch.co.nz, Timoti, Puke2,3 (AUTHOR), Monks, Adrian R.1 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Journal of Applied Ecology. Dec2025, Vol. 62 Issue 12, p3355-3366. 12p. |
| Subjects: | Biodiversity conservation, Pest control, Seed yield, Introduced animals, Resource availability (Ecology), Ecological impact, Ecosystem dynamics |
| Geographic Terms: | New Zealand |
| Abstract: | The control or eradication of invasive mammals is crucial for conserving biodiversity in vulnerable island ecosystems, but often targets only a subset of the wider guild of interacting mammals. This selective removal can disrupt trophic dynamics, leading to unintended consequences. In particular, the effects of 'competitor release', where one competitor is removed and numbers of the residual (i.e. remaining) competitor species increase, are likely to be substantial but are still little understood compared to the more studied paradigm of 'mesopredator release'. Opportunistic observations of competitor release following management interventions are increasing, but the outcomes for indigenous biodiversity are still unclear.We selectively removed one or both of two competing invasive mammal species (ship rats [Rattus rattus] and brushtail possums [Trichosurus vulpecula]) and recorded the effects on the residual competitor and a shared resource (community‐level seed availability) in the cool temperate rainforests of New Zealand. We used a replicated before–after‐control‐impact (BACI) design to measure baseline seed availability and relative abundances of ship rats and possums for 19 months across 8 experimental blocks and then implemented either rat‐only control, possum‐only control, rat and possum control or no control (no treatment) for a further 20 months.Control of either species was associated with increased detections of the untargeted species, providing evidence of competitor release. Combined possum and rat control increased overall seed availability, as did possum‐only control. Rat‐only control had a negative impact on seed availability, likely because of increasing possums.When we analysed each plant taxon separately, either combined control or possum‐only control increased seed availability in five of ten taxa: Beilschmiedia tawa, Fuscospora fusca, Leucopogon fasciculatus, Pectinopitys ferruginea, Pseudopanax spp. Possums appeared to have the greatest impact on seed availability, but rats clearly had additional impacts.Synthesis and applications. Our study provides replicated, experimental evidence that competitor release can result in an unintended and negative conservation outcome: seedfall from indigenous trees decreased when ship rats alone were controlled. Overall, our results support others' recent conclusions that comprehensive pest management strategies are key to maximise the benefits of control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Applied Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
|---|---|
| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 189766572 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
| IllustrationInfo | |
| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Competitive release of invasive frugivorous mammals leads to perverse outcomes for native seed abundance. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Carpenter%2C+Joanna+K%2E%22">Carpenter, Joanna K.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> carpenterj@landcareresearch.co.nz</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Timoti%2C+Puke%22">Timoti, Puke</searchLink><relatesTo>2,3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Monks%2C+Adrian+R%2E%22">Monks, Adrian R.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Applied+Ecology%22">Journal of Applied Ecology</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 62 Issue 12, p3355-3366. 12p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biodiversity+conservation%22">Biodiversity conservation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pest+control%22">Pest control</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Seed+yield%22">Seed yield</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Introduced+animals%22">Introduced animals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resource+availability+%28Ecology%29%22">Resource availability (Ecology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecological+impact%22">Ecological impact</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ecosystem+dynamics%22">Ecosystem dynamics</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+Zealand%22">New Zealand</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The control or eradication of invasive mammals is crucial for conserving biodiversity in vulnerable island ecosystems, but often targets only a subset of the wider guild of interacting mammals. This selective removal can disrupt trophic dynamics, leading to unintended consequences. In particular, the effects of 'competitor release', where one competitor is removed and numbers of the residual (i.e. remaining) competitor species increase, are likely to be substantial but are still little understood compared to the more studied paradigm of 'mesopredator release'. Opportunistic observations of competitor release following management interventions are increasing, but the outcomes for indigenous biodiversity are still unclear.We selectively removed one or both of two competing invasive mammal species (ship rats [Rattus rattus] and brushtail possums [Trichosurus vulpecula]) and recorded the effects on the residual competitor and a shared resource (community‐level seed availability) in the cool temperate rainforests of New Zealand. We used a replicated before–after‐control‐impact (BACI) design to measure baseline seed availability and relative abundances of ship rats and possums for 19 months across 8 experimental blocks and then implemented either rat‐only control, possum‐only control, rat and possum control or no control (no treatment) for a further 20 months.Control of either species was associated with increased detections of the untargeted species, providing evidence of competitor release. Combined possum and rat control increased overall seed availability, as did possum‐only control. Rat‐only control had a negative impact on seed availability, likely because of increasing possums.When we analysed each plant taxon separately, either combined control or possum‐only control increased seed availability in five of ten taxa: Beilschmiedia tawa, Fuscospora fusca, Leucopogon fasciculatus, Pectinopitys ferruginea, Pseudopanax spp. Possums appeared to have the greatest impact on seed availability, but rats clearly had additional impacts.Synthesis and applications. Our study provides replicated, experimental evidence that competitor release can result in an unintended and negative conservation outcome: seedfall from indigenous trees decreased when ship rats alone were controlled. Overall, our results support others' recent conclusions that comprehensive pest management strategies are key to maximise the benefits of control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Applied Ecology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=189766572 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1111/1365-2664.70165 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 StartPage: 3355 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Biodiversity conservation Type: general – SubjectFull: Pest control Type: general – SubjectFull: Seed yield Type: general – SubjectFull: Introduced animals Type: general – SubjectFull: Resource availability (Ecology) Type: general – SubjectFull: Ecological impact Type: general – SubjectFull: Ecosystem dynamics Type: general – SubjectFull: New Zealand Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Competitive release of invasive frugivorous mammals leads to perverse outcomes for native seed abundance. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Carpenter, Joanna K. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Timoti, Puke – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Monks, Adrian R. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 12 Text: Dec2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00218901 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 62 – Type: issue Value: 12 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Applied Ecology Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
