The Sensitivity of Australian Animals to 1080 Poison IV. Native and Introduced Rodents

1982 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 505 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Mcilroy
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Rodent Species ◽  
Indigenous Plants ◽  
Actual Effect ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Vertebrate Pests ◽  
Factor Governing

Most rodent species that have been tested in Australia and elsewhere are highly sensitive to 1080 poison. A few native species. particularly members of the 'pseudo-mouse group' (Conilurini), part of whose range is in Western Australia, are much more tolerant. These species may have developed this tolerance from being exposed to indigenous plants that contain fluoroacetate. The most common signs of poisoning amongst rodents are depression, hypersensitivity to stimuli, respiratory distress and convulsions. Signs of poisoning first appeared amongst the species tested in this study 0.4-38.1 h after dosing. Deaths occurred 0.7-205.8 h after dosing. The susceptibility to 1080-poisoning of the 14 species of rodents tested in Australia depends on both sensitivity and body size, and is discussed in relation to typical baits and concentrations of 1080 used against vertebrate pests. Individuals of most species of rodents would appear to face a considerable risk if pest-poisoning campaigns are carried out within their range, but the crucial factor governing the actual effect on populations will be how many individuals find and eat the baits.

scholarly journals Fluoroacetate-bearing vegetation: can it reduce the impact of exotic mammals on wildlife conservation?

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie Twigg
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
Vertebrate Pests ◽  
Wild Dogs ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Additional Safety

THERE is no doubt that fluoroacetate-bearing vegetation (also known as poison peas) has had a profound effect on the evolution and persistence of Western Australian biota. Most of these plants belong to the genus Gastrolobium, and most are found in the south-west corner of Western Australia (Gardner and Bennetts 1956; Aplin 1971; Twigg and King 1991). The toxic principle of these plants, fluoroacetate, is also manufactured synthetically as 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate) for Australiawide control of vertebrate pests, such as rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus, foxes Vulpes vulpes, wild dogs Canis lupus familiaris and feral Pigs Sus scrofa (Twigg and King 1991). Because of their co-evolution with fluoroacetate-bearing vegetation, many native animals in Western Australia have developed varying levels of tolerance to this highly toxic compound. In contrast, introduced mammals are generally highly sensitive to fluoroacetate. Although it is not a prerequisite for safe and effective pest control programmes with 1080, the toxicity differential between native and introduced animals provides an additional “safety net” when using 1080 products in Western Australia.

Potential impacts of poison baiting for introduced house mice on native animals on islands in Jurien Bay, Western Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford Bennison ◽  
J. Anthony Friend ◽  
Timothy Button ◽  
Harriet Mills ◽  
Cathy Lambert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Rhodamine B ◽  
Native Species ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Mus Domesticus ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Delivery Technique ◽  
Poison Baiting ◽  
Competition For Resources

Context House mice (Mus domesticus) are present on Boullanger and Whitlock islands, Western Australia, and could potentially threaten populations of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) and grey-bellied dunnart (Sminthopsis griseoventer) through competition for resources. A workshop in 2007 recommended a study to assess the feasibility of eradicating house mice from the islands by using poison baits and of the risk posed to non-target native species. Aim We aimed to assess the risk to non-target native species if poison baiting was used to eradicate house mice on Boullanger and Whitlock islands. Methods Non-toxic baits containing the bait marker rhodamine B were distributed on Boullanger Island and on the mouse free Escape Island to determine the potential for primary poisoning. Acceptance of baits by mammals was measured through sampling and analysis of whiskers, and by reptiles through observations of dye in faeces. To determine the potential for secondary exposure to poison, the response of dibblers to mouse carcasses was observed using motion-activated cameras. Bait acceptance was compared using two methods of delivery, namely, scattering in the open and delivery in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes. A cafeteria experiment of bait consumption by dibblers was also undertaken using captive animals held at the Perth Zoo. Ten dibblers were offered non-toxic baits containing rhodamine B in addition to their normal meals; consumption of bait and the presence of dye in whiskers were measured. Key results Bait acceptance on the islands was high for house mice (92% of individuals) and dibblers (48%) and it was independent of bait-delivery technique. There was no evidence of bait acceptance by grey-bellied dunnarts. Dibblers may consume mice carcasses if available; however, no direct consumption of mice carcasses was observed with movement sensor cameras but one dibbler was observed removing a mouse carcass and taking it away. During the cafeteria experiment, 9 of 10 captive dibblers consumed baits. Conclusions This investigation demonstrated that dibblers consume baits readily and island populations would experience high mortality if exposed to poison baits. Poison baiting could effectively eradicate mice from Boullanger and Whitlock islands but not without mortality for dibblers. Implications Toxic baits could be used to eradicate mice from Boullanger and Whitlock islands, provided that non-target species such as dibblers were temporarily removed from the islands before the application of baits.

Management of Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata in Western Australia

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K. Scott ◽  
Kathryn L. Batchelor
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Initial Step ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Awareness Campaign ◽  
First Time ◽  
Established Population ◽  
Bitou Bush

AbstractOne of Australia's most serious weeds, Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata (bitou bush) was recently found for the first time in Western Australia as a well established population in Kwinana, a major port and industrial area south of Perth, the State's capital. This population is remote from other bitou bush infestations in Australia and had escaped detection despite extensive surveys in the same State for the other subspecies that is present in Australia, Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera (boneseed). The main reasons it went undetected are thought to be the tightly controlled access to this area because of mineral processing and port activities, the unusual invasion route via a heavy industrial area and the morphological similarity to a native species when it is not flowering. Two surveys defined the core population of 1038 plants that are spread along the coast over a 25-ha semi-circle with about a 500-m (1640 ft) diameter. Subsequent surveys of first a 500 m buffer zone and later a 1-km (0.621 mi) buffer found four additional plants, indicating that there is considerable potential for dispersal. We concluded that the survey has not delimited the distribution because of the potential and evidence for long distance dispersal. Cooperation by the various land managers has led to all plants being killed, as an initial step to management of this species. Other steps to be undertaken include an awareness campaign in the area that would need to be surveyed for delimitation of the spatial distribution and seed bank assessment to measure potential dispersal both in space and through time. It remains to be determined what is the best strategic response: eradication or containment.

Phenotypic indicators of developmental instability in an endemic amphibian from an altered landscape (Monegros, NE Spain)

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 505-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Burghelea ◽  
Dragos Zaharescu ◽  
Antonio Palanca
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Great Sensitivity ◽  
Rice Fields ◽  
Land Disturbance ◽  
Agricultural Conversion ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Pelophylax Perezi ◽  
Ne Spain

The great sensitivity of amphibians to land disturbance is one of the main causes that contributed to their worldwide decline. One fundamental approach in assessing amphibian ability to reflect habitat degradation is to measure their phenotypic changes in contrasting environments. We examined the extent to which several morphological traits of the endemic anuran Pelophylax perezi responded to agricultural conversion in Monegros, an arid region in NE Spain. Specifically, we determined how body size, body mass, body condition (BC) and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of different frog classes varied among habitats with different degree of management, i.e. rice fields vs. control ponds (i.e. small reservoirs). Pelophylax perezi juveniles showed a decrease in size and mass in rice fields, revealing that early life stages are generally more susceptible to habitat alteration. Adult body condition, on the other hand, increased significantly in cultivated habitats, which apparently indicates a good fitness in this size class. Nonetheless, skeletal asymmetry of both, juveniles and adults was significantly higher in rice fields. Moreover, during postmetamorphic development FA increased significantly towards adult stage indicating that the development controlling mechanisms were not able to buffer the stress induced by land use change. Among traits, humerus, radio-ulna and metatarsal were highly sensitive in terms of expressing significant FA differences between habitats, contrary to tibio-fibula, whose precise symmetry is essential for animal locomotion. The former bones have therefore the potential to be used as sensitive indicators of stress in amphibians. FA showed no relationship with body condition. This, together with the previous results demonstrates that FA is able to capture habitat stress more reliably than the morphological estimates such as body size, mass and BC. Therefore, FA is a useful morphological tool, highly recommended to monitor stress levels in amphibian populations.

scholarly journals Glochidia ecology in wild fish populations and laboratory determination of competent host fishes for an endemic freshwater mussel of south-western Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael W. Klunzinger ◽  
Stephen J. Beatty ◽  
David L. Morgan ◽  
Gordon J. Thomson ◽  
Alan J. Lymbery
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Freshwater Mussel ◽  
The Body ◽  
South West Coast ◽  
Benthic Fishes ◽  
Alien Fish ◽  
Host Fishes ◽  
Alien Fish Species

Glochidia (parasitic larvae) of freshwater mussels generally require a fish as a host. Westralunio carteri Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia : Hyriidae), the only freshwater mussel found in south-western Australia, was listed as Vulnerable, but recently changed to Least Concern (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). Glochidia were found on four alien and seven native species of fish from 18 sites in the South West Coast Drainage Division. On alien fishes, prevalence of glochidia ranged from 0.0 to 41.0% and mean intensity (number of glochidia per infested fish) from 1.0 to 6.0, while on native fishes prevalence was 9.2–90.5% and intensity was 2.3–7.1. Glochidia infestation was greatest on benthic fishes, which may be a consequence of greater encounter rates, but other factors, such as host size, probably also influence glochidia prevalence and intensity. Glochidia were generally restricted to fins of infested fish, and were rarely on gills or the body surface. In the laboratory, four native and one alien fish species were found to be competent hosts for their ability to produce juvenile W. carteri, but two alien fish species were not. The inability of some alien fishes to produce juvenile W. carteri could potentially reduce recruitment success in areas dominated by alien fishes.

Do cat restrictions lead to increased species diversity or abundance of small and medium-sized mammals in remnant urban bushland?

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggie Lilith ◽  
Michael Calver ◽  
Mark Garkaklis
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Vegetation Characteristics ◽  
The City

We took advantage of cat regulations enacted within differing subdivisions in the City of Armadale, Western Australia, to test the hypotheses that the species diversity (measured by the Shannon-Weiner index) and abundance of small and medium-sized mammals should be higher in native bushland within or adjacent to subdivisions where cats are restricted compared to similar areas where cats are not restricted. There were three different regimes of cat regulation: no-cat zone (strict prohibition of cat ownership applying in one site), compulsory belling of cats and night curfew at one site, and unregulated zones (free-roaming cats applying at two sites). Both sets of cat regulations were in place for approximately 10 years prior to our survey. We also measured structural and floristic features of the vegetation at each site that might influence the species diversity and abundance of small and medium-sized mammals independently or interactively with cat activity. No significant differences in species diversity were found across the sites and KTBA (known-to-be-alive) statistics for Brushtail Possums Trichosurus vulpecula and Southern Brown Bandicoots Isoodon obesulus, the two most abundant medium-sized mammals present, were similar across all sites. The smaller Mardo Antechinus flavipes, which could be regarded as the most susceptible to cat predation of all the native species trapped because of its size, was trapped mostly at an unregulated cat site. Total mammals trapped at the unregulated cat sites exceeded those caught at the two sites with restrictions, but these unregulated sites also had significantly denser vegetation and there was a borderline (p = 0.05) rank correlation between vegetation density and mammal captures across all sites. It appears that pet cats are not the major influence on the species diversity or abundance of small and medium-sized mammals at these sites and that vegetation characteristics may be more important.

Bait consumption by, and 1080-based control of, feral pigs in the Mediterranean climatic region of south-western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurie E. Twigg ◽  
Tim Lowe ◽  
Gary Martin
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Variable Response ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
Poison Baiting ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Bait Stations ◽  
Minimal Evidence

The consumption of five non-toxic, grain-based baits, and the effectiveness of the preferred baits when treated with 1080 in reducing pig numbers, were determined for feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in several areas in the Mediterranean agricultural region of Western Australia. Fermented wheat with added blood and bone proved an effective attractant for feral pigs, and for determining areas of pig activity. Wheat and malted barley were the preferred baits, there was a variable response to lupins, and commercial pig pellets were consumed least. Malted barley, barley, and wheat treated with 1080 gave good reductions in pig numbers at the localised scale. Where pigs would eat lupins, 1080-treated lupins were usually effective in reducing pig abundance. In some instances, further evidence of feral pig activity was not seen on several sites for several months after poison-baiting occurred. The addition of a small amount of unpoisoned grain to mask the presence of 1080 did not increase the take of treated bait (P < 0.05). Although finding poisoned pigs was difficult owing to the terrain and the presence of bush remnants, the poisoned pigs found (n = 90) were often within 200 m of active bait stations. 1080-poisoned pigs included both adult (≥25 kg) and non-adult pigs of both sexes. Body mass of these pigs ranged from 4 to 90 kg. In all, 42% of poisoned adults found (n = 50) were 50 kg or more. There was minimal evidence of bait take by non-target species, and, where this occurred, it generally involved the consumption of the fermented wheat attractant by kangaroos (Macropus spp.) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Six foxes were known to have been poisoned with 1080-treated grain (4 with malted barley, 2 with wheat). Excluding foxes, no other non-target animals, including native species, were found dead during the intensive searches for poisoned pigs.

Impact of agricultural practices on earthworm biodiversity in different agroecosystems

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Akilan ◽  
S. Nanthakumar
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Rice Field ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Soil Ecosystem ◽  
Modern Agriculture ◽  
Highly Sensitive ◽  
Synthetic Fertilizer ◽  
Faunal Diversity ◽  
The Impact

The diversity of Earthworms in agro-ecosystems is less studied and the modern agriculture which involve different agricultural practices like crop rotation, tillage and application of synthetic fertilizer leads to pollute the soil ecosystem as a result the highly sensitive soil micro and macro faunal diversity is in threaten condition. This investigation was an attempt to assess the diversity of different native species of earthworms from five different agro-ecosystems. The diversity of earthworms reveals that the diversity of earthworms from rice field recorded higher number followed by turmeric field. Eiesnia foetida and Periyonx excavates were the local earthworm species recorded during the entire investigation. The investigation reveals the impact of different agricultural practices on the soil faunal diversity and its importance in the context of soil organic matter.

Activity area during the breeding season of Varanus gouldii (Reptilia : Varanidae) in an urban environment.

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 633 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Activity Area ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Activity Areas

The activity area of ten Varanus gouldii in Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth, Western Australia, was measured by daily locations obtained by telemetry, during the breeding season (October-December) in 1992. The mean size of activity area was 8.91 ha; activity area was positively correlated with body size. There were significant overlaps in activity areas and no evidence of territoriality for male or female V. gouldii. The animals often foraged in areas of dense leaf litter near the periphery of their activity area and retreated to burrows that were more centrally located.

Non-native species disrupt the worldwide patterns of freshwater fish body size: implications for Bergmann’s rule

2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Blanchet ◽  
Gael Grenouillet ◽  
Olivier Beauchard ◽  
Pablo A. Tedesco ◽  
Fabien Leprieur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Bergmann’S Rule ◽  
Bergmann's Rule
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