Search the SPREP Catalogue

The capital cites of the South Pacific are experiencing rapid urbanisation pressures as increasing numbers of people migrate to the primary cites either in search of employment and greater access to healthcare and education, or as a consequence of environmental push factors.

Considerable bene?ts can be achieved for indigenous biodiversity when invasive vertebrates are removed from islands. In New Zealand, two logistically challenging eradications were undertaken, one to remove cats (Felis catus) and the other Paci?c rats (Rattus exulans) from Te Hauturu-o-Toi/Little Barrier Island (Hauturu). Here we document the short- and long-term impacts of these interventions on the biodiversity of Hauturu. We also assess the extent to which predicted outcomes were re?ected in the measured responses for a wide range of species. Short-term impacts of the eradication program encompassed individual mortality for some native species but no measurable impact to populations. In contrast, at least 11 native vertebrates and one native invertebrate species increased in abundance after rat and cat removal. Fifteen of 34 plant species monitored had signi?cantly more seedlings on Hauturu after rat eradication compared with control islands, indicating future changes in forest composition. Several native species previously not recorded on the island were discovered, including the New Zealand storm petrel (Fregetta maoriana) (formerly considered extinct), the forest ringlet butter?y (Dodonidia helmsi) and eight species of aquatic invertebrate. The chevron skink (Oligosoma homalonotum) has been found in increasing numbers and tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), raised in captivity on the island, are now re-established and breeding in the wild. These results illustrate an island gradually recovering after a long period of modi?cation. We conclude that more success stories such as Hauturu must be told if we are to allay the public’s concerns about such eradication campaigns. And more public support is required if the conservation community is to tackle invasive species at a scale commensurate with the threats they pose.

Attempts to eradicate invasive terrestrial arthropods are often regarded as gambles. They o?er the possibility of long term freedom from a pest but are usually confronted with substantial uncertainty and come with a range of technical, economic, environmental, social and political risks. Few guidelines are available for evaluating eradication attempts against terrestrial arthropods. Here, we build on scienti?c literature, including six criteria previously developed to evaluate the feasibility of vertebrate eradications, and our own experiences to de?ne nine criteria that are intended to both assist experts to evaluate proposed arthropod eradication attempts and guide attempts that are underway. The criteria are straight forward and easily interpreted, though evaluating them for a particular programme relies on expert group assessment that will often benefit from rigorous supporting statistical and/or modelling analyses.

Pieris brassicae, large white butter?y, was ?rst found in New Zealand in Nelson in May 2010. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) responded with a monitoring programme until November 2012 when the Department of Conservation (DOC) commenced an eradication programme. DOC was highly motivated to eradicate P. brassicae by the risk it posed to New Zealand endemic cress species, some of which are already nearly extinct. DOC eliminated the butter?y from Nelson in less than four years at a cost of ca. NZ$5 million. This is the ?rst time globally that a butter?y has been purposefully eradicated. Variation in estimates of bene?ts, costs, the e?cacy of detection and control tools, and the probability of eradication success all contributed to uncertainty about the feasibility. Cost bene?t analyses can contribute to assessing feasibility but are prone to inaccurate assumptions when data are limited, and other feasibility questions are equally important in considering the best course of action. Uncertainty does not equate to risk and reducing uncertainty through data gathering can inform feasibility and decision making while increasing the probability of eradication success.

Tiritiri Matangi Island in the Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand is a 220 ha restoration island managed by the Department of Conservation as an open sanctuary. Following eradication of the only mammalian predator, the Paci?c rat (Rattus exulans) in 1993, a variety of threatened birds, lizards and a giant invertebrate have been transferred to the island. In March 2000, Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) was discovered and delimiting surveys revealed a 10 ha infestation. Managers were concerned that the ant could have signi?cant negative impacts on invertebrates, birds and lizards. Early surveys con?rmed a dramatic decline in all other ant species within the infested area. In February 2001, an eradication programme commenced with paste baits (a.i. 0.01% ? pronil) spread manually in a 2 m × 3 m grid over the entire area. The second year employed a 1 m × 3 m spacing. A second incursion part way through the programme extended the area to 11 ha. The same toxic bait was used throughout the programme to kill residual colonies and a non-toxic version was used as a lure to intensively monitor progress. Eradication was declared in 2016. Critical parts of the programme included detection of post treatment survivors and the level of e?ort required to con?rm successful eradication. New treatment techniques were developed to kill the last small nests by placing toxic baits inside vials on the ground to prolong bait life. Such nests exhibited non-invasive behaviour, short foraging distances, and were prone to disturbance leading to foraging cessation. Bait densities and ?eld placement were critical to success. Sites with residual nests were deemed free of Argentine ant once there had been no detections over three consecutive years of ongoing monitoring. With few successful Argentine ant eradications in the world the techniques used here can inform and improve success rates for other ant eradication attempts.

PACC reports