Novel grass–endophyte associations reduce the feeding behaviour of invasive European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Christopher G. L. Pennell A , M. Philip Rolston B , A. David M. Latham C , Wade J. Mace D , Ben Vlaming A F , Chikako van Koten D , M. Cecilia Latham C , Samantha Brown C and Stuart D. Card E G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Plant–Fungal Interactions Team, Forage Improvement, AgResearch Ltd, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.
B Forage Breeding Innovation Team, Forage Improvement, AgResearch Ltd, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.
C Landcare Research, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, Canterbury, New Zealand.
D Bioinformatics and Statistics Group, AgResearch Ltd, Lincoln Research Centre, Christchurch, New Zealand.
E Plant–Fungal Interactions Team, Forage Improvement, AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
F Current address: 8 Neeve Road, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.
G Corresponding author. Email: stuart.card@agresearch.co.nz
Wildlife Research 43(8) 681-690 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR16114
Submitted: 14 June 2016 Accepted: 26 November 2016 Published: 1 March 2017
Abstract
Context: Small mammalian herbivores, such as European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), can have significant unwanted impacts on agriculture and horticulture and can attract birds of prey and avian scavengers to airports, increasing the risk of bird strike. Sustainable wildlife management tools that have high efficacy and animal welfare are needed to mitigate these impacts.
Aim: We assessed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) cultivars associated with selected Epichloë endophytes, originally developed for bird management at airports, to determine their feeding-deterrent properties towards invasive rabbits.
Methods: A pellet feed trial using caged domestic rabbits and a pen trial using wild rabbits were conducted to assess rabbit responses to food pellets with novel endophyte-infected or uninfected grass seed and to plots planted with endophyte-infected or uninfected grasses, respectively.
Key results: Caged rabbits ate significantly less food pellets containing endophyte-infected grass straw than pellets containing endophyte-free grass straw. Wild rabbits consumed significantly less herbage from plots planted with endophyte-infected grasses than those of the equivalent endophyte-free grass cultivars. Temporal patterns of rabbit feeding behaviour support the hypothesis that deterrence in rabbits resulted from post-ingestion feedback associated with grass–endophyte secondary metabolites.
Conclusions: Although more research is required on the exact mechanism of action in rabbits, our results suggest novel endophyte-infected grass associations may substantially reduce rabbit feeding behaviour and possibly rabbit numbers in areas where these grasses are sown.
Implications: Novel grass–endophyte associations have great potential for deterring problem wildlife at airports and other amenity areas.
Additional keywords: Epichloë, ergovaline, Festuca arundinacea, invasive mammalian herbivores, Lolium perenne, post-ingestion feedback, vertebrate pests.
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