Remote forest refugia for Fijian wildlife.
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.
Olson
David
D
Wildlife Conservation Society-South Pacific, 11 Ma'afu Street, Suva, Fiji. dolson@wcs.org
Farley
Linda
L
Naisilisili
Waisea
W
Raikabula
Alipate
A
Prasad
Om
O
Atherton
James
J
Morley
Craig
C
D000818:Animals; D018533:Biomass; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D005367:Fiji; D005843:Geography; D008988:Herpestidae / Q000502:physiology; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000502:physiology; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D051381:Rats; D014197:Trees