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Habitat manipulation and rodent damage control: reducing rodent damage in Australian macadamia orchards
conference contribution
posted on 2003-01-01, 00:00 authored by John WhiteJohn White, J Wilson, K HorskinsThis paper examines the relationship between adjacent non-crop vegetation and rodent (Rattus rattus) damage in Australian macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) orchard systems. Orchards adjacent to structurally diverse, non-crop vegetation dominated by woody weeds exhibited significantly higher damage when compared to orchards adjacent to managed grasslands. This relationship formed the basis for a rodent damage reduction strategy utilising habitat manipulation. Structurally diverse, non-crop habitats were modified to grasslands leading to a reduction in rodent damage of 65%. This strategy was cost-effective and has the potential to be long-term with minimal effort needed to maintain sites in a modified state. Habitat manipulation is a process whereby the resource load in a system is reduced and hence rodent densities cannot reach levels where they cause significant crop damage. This paper provides empirical evidence to support habitat manipulation as a practical, cost-effective control strategy for rodent pests.
History
Title of proceedings
Rats, mice and people : rodent biology and managementEvent
Rodent Biology and Management. Conference (2nd : 2003 : Canberra, A.C.T.)Pagination
213 - 216Publisher
Australian Centre for International Agricultural ResearchLocation
Canberra, A.C.T.Place of publication
Canberra, A.C.TStart date
2003-02-10End date
2003-02-14ISBN-13
9781863203562ISBN-10
1863203567Language
engPublication classification
E1 Full written paper - refereedCopyright notice
2003 Australian Centre for International Agricultural ResearchEditor/Contributor(s)
G Singleton, L Hinds, C Krebs, D SplattUsage metrics
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