First Advisor

Luis A. Ruedas

Date of Award

5-24-2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology and University Honors

Department

Biology

Subjects

Predatory animals -- Control -- New Zealand, Predation (Biology) -- New Zealand, Biodiversity -- New Zealand, Top predators -- New Zealand

DOI

10.15760/honors.721

Abstract

Invasive mammalian predators are responsible for the loss of biodiversity and species extinctions worldwide: New Zealand is no exception. To protect native species, lethal eradication has become the primary means to control or remove invasive mammalian predators. These control attempts can indirectly affect non-target species through trophic interactions. Eliminating the apex predator can result in a release of lesser predators that can consequently continue causing damage, i.e., suppressing, the native prey population. This ecological interaction among trophic guilds is termed "mesopredator release." The research outlined in the present work provides a review of the concepts underlying mesopredator release, depicts how New Zealand is a suitable environment for such a release to occur, and the modifications that need to be made to lethal eradication plans make these more successful.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/28842

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