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- Title
Diet selection of introduced black rats Rattus rattus L. in relation to plant availability on Berlenga Island, Portugal.
- Authors
NASCIMENTO, Tânia; OLIVEIRA, Nuno; FAGUNDES, Ana Isabel; TEJADA-BAENA, Carlos; LUÍS, António
- Abstract
Introduced rodents cause major effects on insular local flora and fauna. The presence of black rats (Rattus rattus) on Berlenga Island can be a threat to endemic and native species, especially for plants. Understanding the trophic position of black rats is essential for management efforts and conservation actions. With this purpose, we studied the feeding preferences and food selection of black rats during winter and spring, when food resources are higher. Diet was accessed by analyzing the stomach and intestinal contents of 23 black rats, and plant availability estimated through sampling 561 plots of 2×2m. Black rats diet is mainly composed of plants (94.1%), with 13 species identified. The remaining 5.9% was composed by invertebrates, with 7 distinct groups. All preyed plants were native, but no endemic species were found in stomach contents. Seeds were the main food item, possibly affecting the plant community by both its predation and dispersion. Evidences of bird predation were found. Remains of feathers were present in ~22% of the analyzed stomachs. We verified that black rats are not entirely generalists but intermediate selective consumers, and the high availability of a food source is not the only factor for prey selection.
- Publication
Ecologia Mediterranea, 2019, Vol 45, Issue 1, p15
- ISSN
0153-8756
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3406/ecmed.2019.2072