Remote Forest Refugia for Fijian Wildlife |
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| Authors: | DAVID OLSON‡ LINDA FARLEY WAISEA NAISILISILI ALIPATE RAIKABULA OM PRASAD† JAMES ATHERTON CRAIG MORLEY† |
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| Institution: | Wildlife Conservation Society—South Pacific, 11 Ma'afu Street, Suva, Fiji;Department of Biology, University of the South Pacific, P.O. Box 1168, Suva, Fiji |
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| Abstract: | Abstract: On Pacific islands non-native rats and mongooses threaten many native species. In Fiji we compared visitation rates of rats and mongooses at bait stations and measured biomass of leaf-litter invertebrates to assess the relative predation pressure from these species in forest areas at different distances from the forest edge. Forest areas over 5 km from the forest edge had significantly fewer baits encountered by rats or mongooses than did natural forest areas nearer agricultural and urban habitats. Remote forest areas may function as a last refuge for island species threatened by predation from non-native rats and mongooses. The biomass of leaf-litter invertebrates in remote forest areas was higher, indicating a refuge effect for some taxa targeted by rats and mongooses. Protection of the few remaining large blocks of natural forests on Pacific islands may be the most cost-effective approach for conserving many island endemics threatened by rats and mongooses. Logging roads can compromise this refuge effect by acting as dispersal routes for rats into natural forests. |
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| Keywords: | Fiji invasive species island conservation mongoose rats Rattus South Pacific |
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