Eradications as scientific experiments: progress in simultaneous eradications of two major invasive taxa from a Mediterranean island1. Issue 2 (28th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ruffino, Lise; Krebs, Elise; Passetti, Aurélie; Aboucaya, Annie; Affre, Laurence; Fourcy, Damien; Lorvelec, Olivier; Barcelo, Alain; Berville, Laurence; Bigeard, Nathalie; Brousset, Lenka; Méringo, Hélène De; Gillet, Pascal; Quilliec, Patricia Le; Limouzin, Yannick; Médail, Frédéric; Meunier, Jean‐Yves; Pascal, Marine; Pascal, Michel; Ponel, Philippe; Rifflet, François; Santelli, Coralie; Buisson, Elise; Vidal, Eric
• Is Part Of: Pest management science. Volume 71:Issue 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 189
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2014-04-28
• Subjects: Pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Pesticides -- Periodicals; 632.9
• DOI: 10.1002/ps.3786
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-498X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ps3786-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ps3786-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>BACKGROUND</title> <p id="ps3786-para-0001">Black rats, <italic>Rattus rattus</italic>, and mat‐forming iceplants, <italic>Carpobrotus</italic> aff. <italic>acinaciformis</italic> and <italic>Carpobrotus edulis</italic>, are pervasive pests on Mediterranean islands. Their cumulative impacts on native biotas alter the functioning of island ecosystems and threaten biodiversity. A report is given here of the first attempt to eradicate both taxa from a protected nature reserve in south‐eastern France (Bagaud Island). In order to minimise unwanted hazardous outcomes and produce scientific knowledge, the operations were embedded in a four‐step strategy including initial site assessment, planning, restoration and monitoring.</p> </sec> <sec id="ps3786-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>RESULTS</title> <p id="ps3786-para-0002">Trapping, which resulted in the removal of 1923 rats in 21 045 trap‐nights, made it possible to eliminate a substantial proportion of the resident rat population and to reduce the amount of rodenticide delivered in the second stage of the operation. Forty tons of <italic>Carpobrotus</italic> spp. were manually uprooted from a total area of 18 000 m<sup>2</sup>; yet careful monitoring over a decade is still required to prevent germinations from the seed bank.</p> </sec> <sec id="ps3786-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>CONCLUSION</title> <p id="ps3786-para-0003">Two years after the beginning of the interventions, both eradication operations are still ongoing. Biosecurity measures have been implemented to reduce reinvasion risks of both taxa. With the long‐term monitoring of various native plants and animals, Bagaud Island will become a reference study site for scientific purposes. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry</p> </sec> </abstract>