Invasive rats on tropical islands: Their population biology and impacts on native species

摘要: Abstract The three most invasive rat species, black or ship Rattus rattus, brown Norway rats, R. norvegicus and Pacific rat, exulans have been incrementally introduced to islands as humans explored the world’s oceans. They caused serious deleterious effects through predation competition, extinction of many species on tropical islands, which are biodiversity hotspots. All found in virtually all habitat types, including mangrove arid shrub land. Black rats tend dominate literature but despite this population biology particularly is poorly researched islands. can often exceed densities well over 100 rats ha−1 attain 119 rats ha−1, much higher than recorded temperate High possibly due high recruitment young although data support limited. generally aseasonally warm climate lead year-round breeding be restricted by either density-dependent interacting with resource constraints aridity. Apparent adverse impacts birds almost seabirds land affected rats. On added declines extinctions initially Rats likely unrecorded native Further research required includes drivers growth carrying capacities that result how these differ use vegetation types interactions other reptiles invertebrates, crustaceans.