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Understanding seabird responses to invasive mammal eradications from islands needs systematic monitoring

Understanding seabird responses to invasive mammal eradications from islands needs systematic... The recent review of global responses by seabirds to eradications of invasive mammals from islands (Brooke et al., ) is a valuable synthesis, and follows a more general account of the responses of a range of terrestrial groups (Jones et al., ). However, as Brooke et al. () emphasize, the focus on seabirds provides insights into their behaviour, their capacity for recolonization, and the speed at which recolonization may progress. This focus on seabirds is crucial. As ecosystem drivers (engineers), seabird recovery should provide a platform for other responses in island ecosystems (e.g. Mulder et al., ), with indirect effects that can even flow into invertebrate food webs (Thoresen et al., ).The review also gives cause to re‐examine general theories about seabird behaviour. The unexpectedly rapid recolonization provides evidence that many seabird species are less philopatric to natal breeding sites than previously predicted. Furthermore, a pool of immature birds may be constantly prospecting for new sites, enabling them to rapidly take advantage of newly provided predator‐free habitats (Brooke et al., ). These findings identify the need for a more nuanced view of potential seabird colonization, since dispersal behaviour now appears to vary between and perhaps within families.Beyond seabird behaviour, the study by Brooke et al. () http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Animal Conservation Wiley

Understanding seabird responses to invasive mammal eradications from islands needs systematic monitoring

Animal Conservation , Volume 21 (1) – Feb 1, 2018

Understanding seabird responses to invasive mammal eradications from islands needs systematic monitoring

The recent review of global responses by seabirds to eradications of invasive mammals from islands (Brooke et al., ) is a valuable synthesis, and follows a more general account of the responses of a range of terrestrial groups (Jones et al., ). However, as Brooke et al. () emphasize, the focus on seabirds provides insights into their behaviour, their capacity for recolonization, and the speed at which recolonization may progress. This focus on seabirds is crucial. As ecosystem drivers (engineers), seabird recovery should provide a platform for other responses in island ecosystems (e.g. Mulder et al., ), with indirect effects that can even flow into invertebrate food webs (Thoresen et al., ).The review also gives cause to re‐examine general theories about seabird behaviour. The unexpectedly rapid recolonization provides evidence that many seabird species are less philopatric to natal breeding sites than previously predicted. Furthermore, a pool of immature birds may be constantly prospecting for new sites, enabling them to rapidly take advantage of newly provided predator‐free habitats (Brooke et al., ). These findings identify the need for a more nuanced view of potential seabird colonization, since dispersal behaviour now appears to vary between and perhaps within families.Beyond seabird behaviour, the study by Brooke et al. () reveals a fundamental problem deserving further consideration: deficiencies with outcome monitoring. The authors note that monitoring of the responses of resident species, particularly seabirds, following invasive species removals is sporadic. The plea by these authors to fund more systematic monitoring of seabird populations points to a larger problem revealed through the global study by Jones et al. (). Of >700 islands from which eradications of invasive mammals have been attempted, Jones and her co‐authors were able to obtain information on responses, either positive or...
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References (8)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 The Zoological Society of London
ISSN
1367-9430
eISSN
1469-1795
DOI
10.1111/acv.12391
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The recent review of global responses by seabirds to eradications of invasive mammals from islands (Brooke et al., ) is a valuable synthesis, and follows a more general account of the responses of a range of terrestrial groups (Jones et al., ). However, as Brooke et al. () emphasize, the focus on seabirds provides insights into their behaviour, their capacity for recolonization, and the speed at which recolonization may progress. This focus on seabirds is crucial. As ecosystem drivers (engineers), seabird recovery should provide a platform for other responses in island ecosystems (e.g. Mulder et al., ), with indirect effects that can even flow into invertebrate food webs (Thoresen et al., ).The review also gives cause to re‐examine general theories about seabird behaviour. The unexpectedly rapid recolonization provides evidence that many seabird species are less philopatric to natal breeding sites than previously predicted. Furthermore, a pool of immature birds may be constantly prospecting for new sites, enabling them to rapidly take advantage of newly provided predator‐free habitats (Brooke et al., ). These findings identify the need for a more nuanced view of potential seabird colonization, since dispersal behaviour now appears to vary between and perhaps within families.Beyond seabird behaviour, the study by Brooke et al. ()

Journal

Animal ConservationWiley

Published: Feb 1, 2018

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