Rabbits, landslips and vegetation change on the coastal slopes of subantarctic Macquarie Island, 1980-2007: implications for management
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 20:23 authored by Jennifer Scott, James KirkpatrickSubantarctic tall tussock grassland and megaherb vegetation has been massively affected by feral herbivores on islands where both occur. The effects of rabbits in this vegetation on Macquarie Island were monitored using 66 permanent quadrats and numerous photo-points on the steep coastal slopes of the island from 1980 to 2007. Vegetation change after landslips was also monitored. At the start of this period rabbit numbers plummeted due to the introduction of myxoma virus, but then increased from the late 1990s. Over the years of reduced rabbit numbers, some recovery of tall tussock grassland took place. With the resurgence in rabbit numbers, successional patterns converged towards a uniform pattern of degraded vegetation with more bare ground. The patterns of vegetation change indicate that recovery of the vegetation, after eradication of rabbits, rats and mice, is likely to be rapid where degradation is recent and where seed sources are in close proximity. The exotic plant species currently on the island are unlikely to present a problem. © 2007 Springer-Verlag.
History
Publication title
Polar BiologyVolume
31Issue
4Pagination
409-419ISSN
0722-4060Department/School
School of Geography, Planning and Spatial SciencesPublisher
Springer-Verlag GmbHPlace of publication
GermanyRepository Status
- Restricted
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Other environmental management not elsewhere classifiedUsage metrics
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