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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Introduced rat assemblage affects feral cat threat to biodiversity in French Polynesian islands

P. Palmas https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2685-1930 A B C * , J.-Y. Meyer D , E. Chailler A , H. De Méringo C E , E. Vidal F , J.-C. Gaertner G , R. Bambridge H , T. Mooroa H , I. Hurahutia I , G. Teatiu J , S. Teatiu J and T. Timau K
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Université de la Polynésie Française, UMR-241 EIO, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

B EcoTer, BP64182, 98702 Faa’a, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

C Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, France & Centre IRD de Nouméa, BPA5, 98848 Nouméa cedex, New Caledonia.

D Délégation à la Recherche, Gouvernement de la Polynésie Française, BP 20981, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

E Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Écologie Marine et Continentale (IMBE), Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, IRD, Avignon Université, Europôle de l’Arbois, BP 80, 13545, Aix-en-Provence, France.

F UMR ENTROPIE, (IRD, Université de La Réunion, CNRS, Université de La Nouvelle-Calédonie, Ifremer), Centre IRD, BP A5, 98848 Nouméa, New Caledonia.

G IRD, UMR-241 EIO, Labex Corail, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

H Association Rima’ura, 98752 Amaru, Rimatara, French Polynesia.

I Association Te Aru Ora, 98753 Moerai, Rurutu, French Polynesia.

J Mairie de Ua Huka, 98756 Vaipaee, Ua Huka, French Polynesia.

K Association TE IMA HA’ATUPUA’E O UAVAI, 98746 Vaitahu, Tahuata, French Polynesia.

* Correspondence to: palmas.pauline@gmail.com

Handling Editor: Sarah Legge

Wildlife Research 51, WR22052 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR22052
Submitted: 22 March 2022  Accepted: 11 June 2023  Published: 6 July 2023

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing

Abstract

Context

Invasive feral cats strongly threaten native fauna on islands worldwide. The impact of feral cat populations is assumed to be higher in the presence of introduced rodents and may also vary according to an island’s rodent species assemblage.

Aims

This study assessed feral cat impacts on island biodiversity in French Polynesian islands harbouring differing assemblages of rat species, by investigating their abundance and trophic ecology.

Methods

We focused on the following six human-inhabited islands of three archipelagos in French Polynesia (South Pacific) with differing rat species assemblages: Tahiti and Moorea, Ua Huka and Tahuata, Rurutu and Rimatara. We studied (1) cat abundance, by setting up camera traps during 15 consecutive days to provide an abundance index, the general index (GI) or mean number of virtual captures per camera per occasion, and (2) cat diet, by performing macroscopic analyses of scat samples to determine the frequency of occurrence (FO) of prey categories.

Key results

Our study showed previously unreported patterns of cat-abundance index for the Society archipelago, with a GI of 0.30 ± 0.12 in Tahiti and 0.02 ± 0.02 in Moorea; for the Marquesas, with a GI of 0.75 ± 0.20 in Ua Huka and 0.20 ± 0.06 in Tahuata; and for the Austral, with a GI of 0.06 ± 0.04 in Rurutu and 0.19 ± 0.05 in Rimatara. Feral cats are shown to prey strongly on introduced rodents (FO = 91.3%), arthropods (37.8%), squamates (18.6%) and birds (13.3%) in our study sites. FO of birds are particularly high in Rimatara (31.9%) and Ua Huka (16.8%).

Conclusions

We demonstrated that feral cats represent a serious threat to biodiversity in French Polynesian islands, with 15 species preyed on, including eight endemic birds, four of them being considered threatened by the IUCN Red List. Surprisingly, relative abundances of feral cats were higher both on islands harbouring only one rat species (Ua Huka, with only Rattus exulans) and on islands free of black rats. This finding raises questions regarding the ‘hyperpredation’ hypothesis for multi-invaded island ecosystems.

Implications

This study on islands with differing assemblages of introduced rodents demonstrated the need for invasive predator studies in multi-invaded ecosystems, so as to improve bird conservation and guide management strategies and site prioritisation.

Keywords: camera-trap monitoring, diet, endemic bird species, Felis catus, invasive predator, multi-invaded ecosystems, Pacific island conservation, Rattus spp.

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