Recovery of native plant communities after eradication of rabbits from the subantarctic Kerguelen Islands, and influence of climate change

摘要: The introduction of rabbits in 1874 into the Kerguelen archipelago had a significant impact on plant communities: most sensitive species Pringlea antiscorbutica and Azorella selago disappeared Acaena magellanica became dominant coastal areas. To study recovery native communities, were eradicated by poisoning two islands. This produced increase richness both islands with decline cover some (primarily A. magellanica) an abundance alien (especially Taraxacum officinale). Other showed signs increased but overall responses slow. These trends are obviously due to removal grazing, recent changes climatic conditions (warming drought) may also be responsible for or slow species, success introduced species. Owing effects present climate eradication herbivores not always appropriate conservation biota subantarctic islands, regulation populations should explored.