Conservation agriculture practices have changed habitat use by rodent pests: implications for management of feral house mice

摘要: The advent of ‘conservation agriculture’ (CA) farming using zero- or no-tillage practices and an accompanying change in crop rotations the last 10–15 years has potentially led to less disturbance mouse burrows increased cover food supply. Given irregular outbreaks mice grain cropping regions Australia damage they cause, it is important understand when where populations increase so that management strategies can be improved. We utilised a 20-year long-term population data set collected prior introduction CA more recent 8-year after compare changes abundance typical dryland system north-western Victoria, Australia. Mouse trapping were used margin habitats during growth non-crop (fallow) periods before (‘conventional’) CA. Mice are now resident year-round within crops stubble appear only spill over into habitats. Previously developed recommendations for include their control while may no longer valid.