Landscape ecology of house mouse outbreaks in south‐eastern Australia

摘要: Summary 1 House mouse Mus domesticus outbreaks in the grain-growing areas of south-eastern Australia occur irregularly and may be local or widespread, covering thousands square kilometres. All natural agricultural habitats are occupied when house numbers high, question we addressed was whether can distinguish source sink within these landscapes so that management practices better targeted. 2 Live-trapping on replicated grids 15 habitats, including eucalypt woodland, cypress pine permanent water crop carried out from 1983 to 1988 at 9-week intervals. 3 Agricultural cropland (including crops, fallow pastures), farm buildings, seepage woodland could habitats. Farm saltbush all had high densities entering 1983–84 outbreak were refuge for mice. 4 Cropland quickly became area spring 1983, woodlands initially sinks lagged 2–4 months behind population growth shown crops. 5 Adult female mice more often breeding condition compared with woodland. Mice also higher indices residency than woodland. 6 Synthesis applications. In non-irrigated cereal production Australia, move buildings into build up then invade which by themselves cannot generate this pest species. Monitoring incipient should concentrate refuges crops their associated fence lines as habitat indicators. Population control would reduce likelihood autumn, leading reduced rodenticide use a concomitant reduction environmental hazards.