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- Title
Rapid commencement of ecosystem recovery following aerial baiting on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island.
- Authors
Shaw, Justine; Terauds, Aleks; Bergstrom, Dana
- Abstract
Summary Introduced rabbits have severely impacted the terrestrial ecosystem of sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. Here we describe first observations of rapid recovery of an important plant species following the commencement of a vertebrate pest eradication plan. The tussock grass Poa foliosa, a major component of the Macquarie Island landscape, has been severely impacted by rabbit grazing with large-scale reductions in cover across the island observed at times over the last 50 years. Preliminary aerial baiting for rabbits and rodents commenced in winter 2010, and within 6 months, we observed substantial regrowth of tussock grass. The rapid re-emergence of this grass over such a short time period following localised removal of rabbits has positive implications for the island's recovery and provides insight for restoration monitoring.
- Subjects
MACQUARIE Island (Tas.); TASMANIA; RABBIT control; PEST control; PEST control baits; BUNCHGRASSES
- Publication
Ecological Management & Restoration, 2011, Vol 12, Issue 3, p241
- ISSN
1442-7001
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1442-8903.2011.00611.x