###Small Mammal Control Research Priortities### **June 2018** **Collins K. 2018. Small Mammal Control Research Priortities. Biological Heritage National Science Challenge Report. 16 p. ** **ABSTRACT** Results of a survey assessing the research topics that are most important to improve currently available tools for small mammal pest control.
REPORT: Small Mammal Control Research Priortities
###Public Opinion Towards Gene Drive as a Pest Control Approach for Biodiversity Conservation and the Association of Underlying Worldviews### **January 2020** **MacDonald EA, Balanovic J, Edwards ED, Abrahamse W, Frame B, Greenaway A, Kannemeyer R, Kirk N, Medvecky F, Milfont TL, Russell JC, Tompkins DM. 2020. [Public Opinion Towards Gene Drive as a Pest Control Approach for Biodiversity Conservation and the Association of Underlying Worldviews](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/17524032.2019.1702568?needAccess=true). Environmental Communication-a Journal of Nature and Culture 14(7): 904-918.** **ABSTRACT** Synthetic gene drive approaches are nascent technologies with potential applicability for pest control for conservation purposes. Responsible science mandates that society be engaged in a dialogue over new technology, particularly where there exist global ramifications as with gene drive. We hypothesize that public attitudes towards gene drive are not formed on scientific knowledge or demographics alone, but are heavily influenced by underlying worldviews, which encapsulate a broad and interactive system of attitudes, beliefs, and values. To test this, we conducted a national survey in New Zealand (n = 8199) and found that respondents clustered into four distinct segments with underlying worldviews, better able to explain attitudes toward gene drive than either the participants' scientific knowledge or other explanatory factors such demographics, political ideology or religiosity. We found that the use of gene drive for biodiversity conservation currently has moderate (32%) levels of support in New Zealand but that varied substantially across the four segments. Should gene drive become a technically viable approach for pest control, understanding the worldviews that shape public decision-making can guide a more empathetic engagement process and empower society to participate in informed decision-making about if and how gene drive should be used for conservation purposes. **KEYWORDS** synthetic biology; responsible science; values; CRISPR; invasive species
PAPER: Public opinion of gene drive pest control
###Phylogeography of NZ Invasive Rats### **March 2019** **Russell JC, Robins JH, Fewster RM 2019. [Phylogeography of Invasive Rats in New Zealand](https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/ecology-and-evolution/articles/10.3389/fevo.2019.00048/pdf?isPublishedV2=false). Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 7.** **ABSTRACT** Two species of invasive rats (*Rattus norvegicus* and *R. rattus*) arrived in New Zealand with Europeans in the mid to late eighteenth and nineteenth century respectively. They rapidly spread across the main islands of New Zealand and its offshore islands, displacing the historically introduced *R. exulans*. Today both species are widespread although the distribution of the sub-dominant *R. norvegicus* is patchy. In this paper, tissue samples were obtained from 425 *R. rattus* and 130 *R. norvegicus* across the New Zealand archipelago and neighboring islands and were sequenced in order to construct a modern phylogeography of the two species and to make inferences on historical invasion pathways and spread across the country. **KEYWORDS** D-loop, genetics, island, mitochondrial DNA, *rattus*, rodent
PAPER: Phylogeography of Invasive Rats in NZ
###An overview of introduced predator management in inhabited landscapes.### **July 2018** **Russell JC, Stanley MC 2018. [An overview of introduced predator management in inhabited landscapes](https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/pdf/PC18013). Pacific Conservation Biology 24(4).** **ABSTRACT** We describe the rise of community predator control and large landscape projects aspiring for a ‘Predator Free New Zealand’, and how such an aspiration must be concurrent with habitat restoration. We make recommendations for further research on the basic population biology of predators in inhabited landscapes, and more long-term studies. **KEYWORDS** eradication, island, mammal, New Zealand, rural, urban
PAPER: Predator management in inhabited landscapes
###Past, present and two potential futures for managing New Zealand’s mammalian pests### **September 2016** **Garvey PM, Glen AS, Clout MN, Wyse SV, Nichols M, Pech RP. 2017. [Exploiting interspecific olfactory communication to monitor predators](https://newzealandecology.org/nzje/3283.pdf). Ecological Applications 27(2): 389-402.** **ABSTRACT** In 2003, a review of how introduced mammals were managed as pests in New Zealand was published. Since then trends for the control of these mammals include moves from pest-by-pest prioritisation towards site-based and multiple-pest management, extension of large-scale aerial control of predators to include beech forests, increasing intensive management of sites by private and non-government agencies, and increasing effort by regional councils and managers of vectors of bovine tuberculosis. **KEYWORDS** biodiversity assets, eradication, invasive mammals, pest-free, predator-free New Zealand, sustained control
PAPER: Managing New Zealand’s mammalian pests
###Niche partitioning in a guild of invasive mammalian predators### **February 2022** **Garvey PM, Glen AS, Clout MN, Nichols M, Pech RP 2022. [Niche partitioning in a guild of invasive mammalian predators](https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/eap.2566). Ecological Applications. 32(4): e2566.** **ABSTRACT** Predators compete aggressively for resources, establishing trophic hierarchies that influence ecosystem structure. Competitive interactions are particularly important in invaded ecosystems where introduced predators can suppress native prey species. We investigated whether niche partitioning exists within a guild of invasive mammalian predators and determined the consequences for native species. Over 4405 camera-trap days, we assessed interactions among three invasive predators: two apex predators (feral cats *Felis catus* and ferrets *Mustela furo*) and a mesopredator (stoats *Mustela erminea*), in relation to their primary prey (lagomorphs, rodents and birds) and habitat use. Further, we tested for mesopredator release by selectively removing cats and ferrets in a pulse perturbation experiment. We found compelling evidence of niche partitioning; spatiotemporal activity of apex predators maximized access to abundant invasive prey, with ferrets targeting lagomorphs and cats targeting rodents. Mesopredators adjusted their behavior to reduce the risk of interference competition, thereby restricting access to abundant prey but increasing predation pressure on diurnal native birds. Stoats were only recorded at the treatment site after both larger predators were removed, becoming the most frequently detected predator at 6 months post-perturbation. We suggest there is spatial and resource partitioning within the invasive predator guild, but that this is incomplete, and avoidance is achieved by temporal partitioning within overlapping areas. Niche partitioning among invasive predators facilitates coexistence, but simultaneously intensifies predation pressure on vulnerable native species. **KEYWORDS** Carnivora; community ecology; food web; interference competition; invasive species; mustelid; niche differentiation; wildlife management
PAPER: Partitioning invasive mammalian predator niches
###Predator Free New Zealand: Social, Cultural, and Ethical Challenges### **May 2019** **Bioethics. 2019. Predator Free New Zealand: Social, Cultural, and Ethical Challenges. REPORT. 26 p. ** **ABSTRACT** A bioethics panel was established to map out the landscape of social, ethical and cultural considerations surrounding Predator Free New Zealand. The panel was co-convened by Emily Parke (School of Humanities) and James Russell (School of Biological Sciences), from the University of Auckland, as part of a larger project called ‘High tech solutions to invasive mammal pest control’ funded by the Biological Heritage National Science Challenge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34721/PQ1H-9C96
###Modeling CRISPR gene drives for suppression of invasive rodents using a supervised machine learning framework### **December 2021** **Champer SE, Oakes N, Sharma R, Garcia-Diaz P, Champer J, Messer PW. 2021. [Modeling CRISPR gene drives for suppression of invasive rodents using a supervised machine learning framework.](https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009660&type=printable) PLoS Computational Biology 17(12): e1009660.** **ABSTRACT** Invasive rodent populations pose a threat to biodiversity across the globe. When confronted with these invaders, native species that evolved independently are often defenseless. CRISPR gene drive systems could provide a solution to this problem by spreading transgenes among invaders that induce population collapse, and could be deployed even where traditional control methods are impractical or prohibitively expensive. Here, we develop a high-fidelity model of an island population of invasive rodents that includes three types of suppression gene drive systems. The individual-based model is spatially explicit, allows for overlapping generations and a fluctuating population size, and includes variables for drive fitness, efficiency, resistance allele formation rate, as well as a variety of ecological parameters. The computational burden of evaluating a model with such a high number of parameters presents a substantial barrier to a comprehensive understanding of its outcome space. We therefore accompany our population model with a meta-model that utilizes supervised machine learning to approximate the outcome space of the underlying model with a high degree of accuracy. This enables us to conduct an exhaustive inquiry of the population model, including variance-based sensitivity analyses using tens of millions of evaluations. Our results suggest that sufficiently capable gene drive systems have the potential to eliminate island populations of rodents under a wide range of demographic assumptions, though only if resistance can be kept to a minimal level. This study highlights the power of supervised machine learning to identify the key parameters and processes that determine the population dynamics of a complex evolutionary system. **KEYWORDS** CRISPR gene drives; Invasive rodents; Supervised machine learning; Population model; Island populations; Resistance allele formation rate
PAPER: CRISPR modeling for invasive rodent control
###Island invasives: scaling up to meet the challenge### **March 2019** **Veitch CR, Clout MN, Martin AR, Russell JC, West CJ 2019. Island invasives: scaling up to meet the challenge. Proceedings of the international conference on island invasives 2017. Switzerland, IUCN Publication.** **ABSTRACT** The papers in this volume were, with a few exceptions, presented at the third Island Invasives conference, held in Dundee, Scotland in July 2017. The papers demonstrate up-scaling in several aspects of eradication operations – not least in ambition, land area, operational size, global reach and of course financial cost. In the space of a few decades, the size of islands treated for invasive species has increased by five orders of magnitude – from a few hectares to over 100,000 ha or 1,000 km2. Meanwhile, the diversity of species being tackled has increased, as has the range of countries now actively carrying out island restoration work. Inspired by pioneers from New Zealand and Australia, principally, today the movement has spread to islands in all oceans and off all continents. This expansion has been informed by, and has in turn produced, growing experience in all aspects of this field, from non-target impacts to ecological responses to factors affecting eradication success. A major aim of publishing these Proceedings is to inform people who are, or will in the future be, planning new projects to free islands of invasive species. Regardless of its location or the target species involved, each successive operation builds on the experience of those who have gone before, and the papers in this volume represent an invaluable wealth of such experience. **KEYWORDS** Invasive species; Invasive species eradication; Islands; Species management; Biological diversity; Biological invasions; Case studies
BOOK: Scaling up eradication operations on islands
###The clock is ticking: Temporally prioritizing eradications on islands### **December 2020** **Carter ZT, Lumley T, Bodey TW, Russell JC. 2021. [The clock is ticking: Temporally prioritizing eradications on islands](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gcb.15502). Global Change Biology. 27(7): 1443-1456.** **ABSTRACT** Achieving conservation objectives is time critical, but the vast number of threats and potential actions means some form of ranking is necessary to aid prioritization. Objective methods for ranking conservation actions based on when they are differentially likely to become feasible, or to succeed, are currently unavailable within existing decision-making frameworks but are critical for making informed management decisions. We demonstrate how statistical tools developed for survival (or time-to-event) analysis can be used to rank conservation actions over time, through the lens of invasive mammal eradications on islands. Here we forecast the probability of eradicating commensal rat species (*Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, R. exulans*) from the New Zealand archipelago by the government's stated target of year 2050. Our methods provide temporally ranked eradication trajectories for the entire country, thus facilitating meeting nationwide policy goals. This demonstration highlights the relevance and applicability of such an approach and its utility for prioritizing globally effective conservation actions. **KEYWORDS** conservation decision-making; eradication; invasive species; islands; prioritization; *rattus*; survival analysis
PAPER: Temporally prioritizing eradications on islands
###New Zealand ecosanctuaries: types, attributes and outcomes### **May 2019** **Innes J, Fitzgerald N, Binny R, Byrom A, Pech R, Watts C, Gillies C, Maitland M, Campbell-Hunt C, Burns B 2019. [New Zealand ecosanctuaries: types, attributes and outcomes](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/03036758.2019.1620297?needAccess=true). Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 49(3): 370-393.** **ABSTRACT** We define an ecosanctuary in a New Zealand context as ‘a project larger than 25 ha implementing multi-species, pest mammal control for ecosystem recovery objectives, and with substantial community involvement’. We present attributes of 84 projects meeting this definition, including three lacustrine islands, 16 marine islands, seven ring-fenced ecosanctuaries, seven peninsula-fenced ecosanctuaries and 51 unfenced mainland ecosanctuaries. Ecosanctuaries have biological and social objectives, and some have returned threatened, previously extirpated taxa to the New Zealand mainland. Increasingly, these intensively managed sites are being embedded in human-altered landscapes with low levels of pest control – a ‘core and buffer’ system. Most community groups that establish ecosanctuaries lack the technical expertise, resources and mandate to undertake regional or national prioritisation. There is a strong need for agency leadership of this, and to develop best practice pest control, pest monitoring and biodiversity outcome monitoring tools, as goals for national restoration of biodiversity rapidly expand. **KEYWORDS** New Zealand ecosanctuaries; sanctuaries; ecosanctuary origins; biodiversity outcomes; pest-fences; pest control; stoats; ship rats; brushtail possums
PAPER: NZ ecosanctuaries: types, attributes and outcomes
###Exploiting interspecific olfactory communication to monitor predators### **March 2017** **Garvey PM, Glen AS, Clout MN, Wyse SV, Nichols M, Pech RP 2017. [Exploiting interspecific olfactory communication to monitor predators](https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/eap.1483). Ecological Applications 27(2): 389-402.** **ABSTRACT** We devised a field experiment to investigate whether dominant predator (ferret *Mustela furo*) body odor would alter the behavior of three common mesopredators: stoats (*Mustela erminea*), hedgehogs (*Erinaceus europaeus*), and ship rats (*Rattus rattus*). **KEYWORDS** carnivore ;conservation behavior; eavesdropping; interference competition; invasive species; monitoring; olfaction; pest management; pheromone; predator odor
PAPER: Interspecific olfactory communication to monitor predators
###Confronting the risks of large-scale invasive species control### **May 2017** **Kopf RK, Nimmo DG, Humphries P, Baumgartner LJ, Bode M, Bond NR, Byrom AE, Cucherousset J, Keller RP, King AJ, McGinness HM, Moyle PB & Olden JD. 2017. [Confronting the risks of large-scale invasive species control](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41559-017-0172.pdf). Nat Ecol Evol 1(6): 172.** **ABSTRACT** Large-scale invasive species control initiatives are motivated by laudable desires for native species recovery and economic benefits, but they are not without risk. Management interventions and policies should include evidence-based risk–benefit assessment and mitigation planning. **KEYWORDS** Invasive species control; Biodiversity loss; Risk assessment; CRISPR–Cas9 technology; Ecological impacts
PAPER: Risks of large-scale invasive species control
###Invasive alien species: denialism, disagreement, definitions, and dialogue### **February 2017** **Russell JC, Blackburn TM 2017. [Invasive Alien Species: Denialism, Disagreement, Definitions, and Dialogue](https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0169-5347%2817%2930041-1). Trends Ecol Evol 32(5): 312-314.** **ABSTRACT** We recently suggested in TREE that recent elements of invasion biology discourse might be categorised as cases of more general science denialism. We did not intend to be provocative, but welcome the opportunity this has presented for both ourselves and others to reflect on their own science and values with respect to invasion biology and invasive alien species (IAS) management. **KEYWORDS** Invasion biology, science denialism, invasive alien species (IAS), ecosystem impacts, species management, biodiversity threats, human-mediated invasions, natural colonizations, ecological risk, social values, policy management.
###Gene drives and rodent control: response to Piaggio *et al.*### **March 2017** **Gemmell NJ, Tompkins DM 2017. Gene Drives and Rodent Control: Response to Piaggio et al. Trends Ecol Evol 32(5): 314-315.** **ABSTRACT** Piaggio *et al.* recently outlined the role that new synthetic biology technologies may play in addressing a myriad of issues in conservation. One area they focused on was the possibility of using gene drive technologies to control invasive rodents. Specifically, they outlined work now underway in mice that seeks to link a male-determining gene, *Sry* to the *t*-complex gene drive to produce predominantly male progeny. The idea has merit, but there are a variety of challenges to surmount that the authors did not address, likely because of paper length restrictions. We air here some of these with the goal of stimulating further thought and discussion on a topic that is emerging as an area of contention in the conservation biology domain.
###The ecology and management of mammal invasions in forests### **March 2017** **Latham ADM, Warburton B, Byrom AE, Pech RP 2017. [The ecology and management of mammal invasions in forests](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10530-017-1421-5.pdf). Biological Invasions 19(11): 3121-3139.** **ABSTRACT** Here we (1) review the ecological characteristics of mammal invasions in forests; (2) characterize the range of ecological impacts on forest communities and the economic consequences of those impacts; (3) review what is known about interactions between the impacts of invasive mammals and other drivers of global change; and (4) consider the complex ecological and socio-economic challenges of simultaneously managing multiple invasive mammals and native biota affected by them. **KEYWORDS** Global change; Herbivory; Impacts; Indigenous ecosystems; Introduced species; Predation
PAPER: Management of mammal invasions in forests
###mtDNA polymorphism and metabolic inhibition affect sperm performance in conplastic mice### **July 2017** **Tourmente M, Hirose M, Ibrahim S, Dowling DK, Tompkins DM, Roldan ERS, Gemmell NJ 2017. [mtDNA polymorphism and metabolic inhibition affect sperm performance in conplastic mice](https://rep.bioscientifica.com/downloadpdf/view/journals/rep/154/4/REP-17-0206.pdf). Reproduction 154(4): 341-354.** **ABSTRACT** Although there is a general correlation between nucleotide substitutions in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) and a variety of metabolic pathologies, research into the impact of particular mtDNA genotypes is still ongoing. It is still unclear how crucial mitochondrial activity is in producing the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) required for sperm function. In this study, five conplastic inbred strains with identical nuclear backgrounds but different mitochondrial genomes are used to test the impact of mtDNA polymorphisms on mouse sperm performance and bioenergetics. **KEYWORDS** Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics/metabolism; Glycolysis/drug effects/genetics; Haplotypes; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Oxidative Phosphorylation/drug effects; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Species Specificity; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility/drug effects; Spermatozoa/drug effects/metabolism; Uncoupling Agents/pharmacology;
PAPER: mtDNA polymorphism affects mouse sperm performance
#Tranche 1: Project 2.3# ##This research team is helping to develop targeted, next-generation, socially acceptable and cost-effective new technologies to achieve landscape-scale freedom from rats, stoats and possums## The ability to cost-effectively keep these pests that threaten our biodiversity at zero density will be transformational for Aotearoa New Zealand conservation. This BioHeritage Challenge project, led by Professor James Russell of the University of Auckland, supported the scaling up of efforts to eradicate pests by accelerating the provision of improved tools, methodologies and strategies for mammal pest control. A formal national collaboration between this project, Predator Free 2050 and Genomics Aotearoa, had a research focus on the population genomics of New Zealand rats and science strategy for a Predator Free New Zealand. These collaborations helped the project team complete a comprehensive report on the status of new pest control tools that are close to market in New Zealand. The report will facilitate stakeholder engagement, encourage early adoption and leverage private sector investment. **Project Leader** - James Russell, University of Auckland
High-Tech Solutions To Invasive Mammal Pests
###Eradicating mammals on New Zealand island reserves: what is left to do? ### **April 2017** **Parkes JP, Byrom AE, Edge KA 2017. [Eradicating mammals on New Zealand island reserves: what is left to do?](https://newzealandecology.org/nzje/3308.pdf) New Zealand Journal of Ecology 41(2): 263-270.** **ABSTRACT** In 2016, the New Zealand Government announced a policy to rid the country of key introduced predators (possums (*Trichosurus vulpecula*), ship rats (*Rattus rattus*), Norway rats (*R. norvegicus*) and mustelids (*Mustela* spp.)) by 2050. An interim goal under this policy is to remove all mammalian predators (the key species as well as mice (*Mus musculus*), kiore (*R. exulans*), cats (*Felis catus*), pigs (*Sus scrofa*) and hedgehogs (*Erinaceus europaeus*)) from island nature reserves by 2025. **KEYWORDS** costs, eradication, invasion risks, predators, reserves
PAPER: Eradicating mammals on island reserves
###Applied research to progress and support close-to-market pest control tools and their strategic application### **November 2017** **Warburton B, Ross J & McFarlane L. 2017. Applied research to progress and support close-to-market pest control tools and their strategic application. p 61** **ABSTRACT** Recent allocation of research funding from New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge (NZBH-NSC) has focused on high-tech solutions for pest management in New Zealand. However, stakeholders have expressed concern about the lack of funding support for improving many of the currently available tools, which they are dependent on for the foreseeable future. To address this concern, NZBH-NSC has requested a review of the recently developed and close-to-market-tools, and identification of the key research required to support their incremental improvement. This review was carried out jointly by Manaaki Whenua − Landcare Research and Lincoln University between October 2016 and September 2017.
REPORT: Advancing close-to-market pest control
###Conserving New Zealand's native fauna: a review of tools being developed for the Predator Free 2050 programme### **March 2019** **Murphy EC, Russell JC, Broome KG, Ryan GJ, Dowding JE 2019. [Conserving New Zealand's native fauna: a review of tools being developed for the Predator Free 2050 programme](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10336-019-01643-0.pdf). Journal of Ornithology 160(3): 883-892.** **ABSTRACT** The endemic fauna of New Zealand evolved in the absence of mammalian predators and the introduction of the latter has been devastating. There have been numerous avian extinctions and 80% of the extant native avian taxa are currently threatened or at risk of extinction. Declines continue, and a fundamental change in predator management is required. In 2016 came the announcement of the ambitious Predator Free 2050 (PF 2050) programme, which aims to eradicate rats, mustelids, and Brushtail Possums from New Zealand by 2050. This paper reviews some of the many techniques being discussed or developed to implement the programme. **KEYWORDS** Brushtail Possum; Eradication; Mustelid; Pest control; Rat; Social licence
PAPER: Review of tools being developed for PF2050
###The rise of invasive species denialism### **March 2023** **Russell JC, Blackburn TM 2017. [The Rise of Invasive Species Denialism](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534716301938/pdfft?md5=757e45239b33ea4e2e505aef6585d798&pid=1-s2.0-S0169534716301938-main.pdf). Trends Ecol Evol 32(1): 3-6.** **ABSTRACT** Scientific consensus on the negative impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) is increasingly being challenged. Whereas informed scepticism of impacts is important, science denialism is counterproductive. Such denialism arises when uncertainty on impacts is confounded by differences in values. Debates on impacts must take into account both the evidence presented and motivations. **KEYWORDS** conservation; denialism; scientific communication; extinction
PAPER: The rise of invasive species denialism
### Identifying tools and knowledge gaps to support the control of non-PF2050-targeted small mammalian predators: stakeholder perceptions of priority needs **July 2019** **Jones C. 2019. Identifying tools and knowledge gaps to support the control of non-PF2050-targeted small mammalian predators: stakeholder perceptions of priority needs. LC3567. 20 p.** **ABSTRACT** In a move to enhance information sharing in vertebrate pest management, a Small Mammal Research Collective consisting of representatives of key stakeholder groups was established in 2017 under the New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge (the Bioheritage Challenge). A key function of the Collective is to support research into near-term improvements in small mammal control. An initial focus on tools and their strategic application has subsequently fed into the prioritisation process for the Department of Conservation’s ‘Tools to Market’ investment. To align with the priority-setting in the Tools to Market process, ‘tools’ are classified as devices (e.g. traps, toxin dispensers), toxins, lures, monitoring devices, and supporting technologies. They may include: • new tools for predator control, eradication, monitoring, and data management • new tools for ‘scaling up’ the suppression of predators in the landscape • current tools that could be applied in new situations or environments • current tools that could be improved to substantially lift their contribution to controlling or eradicating small mammalian predators. A Collective workshop in September 2018 considered that although the Predator Free 2050 (PF2050) goals are being addressed through several research programmes, other research needs and wider tool development for different species – particularly those for small mammal predators that fall outside the scope of PF2050 – are not as well-resourced and could benefit from a collective approach.
REPORT: Supporting control of Non-PF2050 targeted predators
###New Zealand shouldn't ignore feral cats### **June 2017** **Rouco C, De Torre-Ceijas R, Martin-Collado D, Byrom AE 2017. [New Zealand Shouldn't Ignore Feral Cats](https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article-pdf/67/8/686/19425798/bix068.pdf). Bioscience 67(8): 685-685.** **ABSTRACT** A letter to BioScience: A publication in Nature (Owens 2017) attracted our attention recently. The article refers to the ambitious, arduous, and encouraging plan to remove invasive mammalian predators from New Zealand (NZ) by 2050 (PFNZ2050). **KEYWORDS** Invasive mammalian predators; PFNZ2050 plan; Feral cat control; Native ecosystem impacts; Public perception
PAPER: New Zealand shouldn't ignore feral cats
###Ethical responsibilities in invasion biology### **January 2018** **Parke ECR, James C. 2018. [Ethical responsibilities in invasion biology.](https://www.ecologicalcitizen.net/pdfs/v02n1-05.pdf) The Ecological Citizen 2: epub013.** **ABSTRACT** There is a classic problem in ethics of reconciling the moral standing of collectives (e.g. populations, species and ecosystems) with the moral standing of individuals. We briefly survey key issues and make recommendations for positioning viewpoints about practical ethics with particular reference to invasion biology and invasive species eradications, a context in which commitments to collectives and to individuals often come into conflict. **KEYWORDS** Animal ethics, Conservation, Ecological ethics, Values
PAPER: Ethical responsibilities in invasion biology
###The use of AI (artificial intelligence) in New Zealand for the sorting of images and classification of animal pest species### **May 2021** **Ross J. 2021. The use of AI in New Zealand for the sorting of images and classification of animal pest species. 29 p. https://hdl.handle.net/10182/15625** **ABSTRACT** This report has been commissioned by the Biological Heritage Challenge to review the current development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for sorting and classifying pest animal species from digital images and videos. The report identifies current knowledge gaps and makes recommendations for future short- and medium-term research needs
REPORT: Using AI for sorting images and classifying pest species
###Conservation demands safe gene drive### **November 2017** **Esvelt KM, Gemmell NJ 2017. [Conservation demands safe gene drive](https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2003850&type=printable). PLoS Biol 15(11): e2003850.** **ABSTRACT** Interest in developing gene drive systems to control invasive species is growing, with New Zealand reportedly considering the nascent technology as a way to locally eliminate the mammalian pests that threaten its unique flora and fauna. If gene drives successfully eradicated these invasive populations, many would rejoice, but what are the possible consequences? Here, we explore the risk of accidental spread posed by self-propagating gene drive technologies, highlight new gene drive designs that might achieve better outcomes, and explain why we need open and international discussions concerning a technology that could have global ramifications. **KEYWORDS** Gene drive systems; Invasive species control; New Zealand; Mammalian pests; Risk of accidental spread; International discussions; Biodiversity preservation; CRISPR-based gene drives; Ecological consequences; Conservation applications
PAPER: Conservation demands safe gene drive
###Leveraging Motivations, Personality, and Sensory Cues for Vertebrate Pest Management### **November 2020** **Garvey PM, Banks PB, Suraci JP, Bodey TW, Glen AS, Jones CJ, McArthur C, Norbury GL, Price CJ, Russell JC and others 2020. [Leveraging Motivations, Personality, and Sensory Cues for Vertebrate Pest Management](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169534720301877/pdfft?md5=b135c166daeae2aa7ddd0db9e72d09ae&pid=1-s2.0-S0169534720301877-main.pdf). Trends in Ecology & Evolution 35(11): 990-1000.** **ABSTRACT** Managing vertebrate pests is a global conservation challenge given their undesirable socio-ecological impacts. Pest management often focuses on the ‘average’ individual, neglecting individual-level behavioural variation (‘personalities’) and differences in life histories. These differences affect pest impacts and modify attraction to, or avoidance of, sensory cues. Strategies targeting the average individual may fail to mitigate damage by ‘rogues’ (individuals causing disproportionate impact) or to target ‘recalcitrants’ (individuals avoiding standard control measures). Effective management leverages animal behaviours that relate primarily to four core motivations: feeding, fleeing, fighting, and fornication. Management success could be greatly increased by identifying and exploiting individual variation in motivations. We provide explicit suggestions for cue-based tools to manipulate these four motivators, thereby improving pest management outcomes. **KEYWORDS** animal behaviour; individual variation; sensory cues; pest control; behaviour-based management; wildlife conservation
PAPER: Using traits for effective pest control.
###Selection and characterization of DNA aptamers for the rat major urinary protein 13 (MUP13) as selective biorecognition elements for sensitive detection of rat pests### **November 2021** **Lucarelli V, Colbert D, Li S, Cumming M, Linklater W, Mitchell J, Travas-Sejdic J, Kralicek A. 2022. [Selection and characterization of DNA aptamers for the rat major urinary protein 13 (MUP13) as selective biorecognition elements for sensitive detection of rat pests.](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039914021009954/pdfft?md5=33aa5ee953e768b5cada370ccdaa79bd&pid=1-s2.0-S0039914021009954-main.pdf) Talanta 240: 123073.** **ABSTRACT** Among invasive mammalian predators, rats represent a major threat, endangering ecosystem functioning worldwide. After rat-control operations, detecting their continued presence or reinvasion requires more sensitive and lower cost detection technologies. Here, we develop a new sensing paradigm by using a specific rat urine biomarker (MUP13) to unambiguously signal the presence of rats. **KEYWORDS** Major urinary protein; Aptamer; SELEX; Fluorescence anisotropy; Surface plasmon resonance;
PAPER: DNA aptamers for rat pest detection
###The tails of two invasive species: genetic responses to acute and chronic bottlenecks### **July 2022** **Gatto-Almeida F, Pichlmueller F, Bodey TW, Samaniego A, Russell JC. 2022. [The tails of two invasive species: genetic responses to acute and chronic bottlenecks](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10530-022-02844-0.pdf). Biological Invasions.** **ABSTRACT** Genetic diversity can affect population viability and can be reduced by both acute and chronic mechanisms. Using the history of the establishment and management of two invasive rat species on Tetiaroa atoll, French Polynesia, we investigated the intensity and longevity of contrasting population bottleneck mechanisms on genetic diversity and bottleneck signal. Using microsatellite loci we show how both a chronic reduction over approximately 50 years of a *Rattus exulans* population caused by the arrival of its competitor *R. rattus*, and an acute reduction in a *R. rattus* population caused by a failed eradication approximately 10 years ago, caused similar magnitudes of genetic diversity loss. Furthermore, these strong bottleneck signals were in addition to the lasting signal from initial colonisation by each species many decades to centuries earlier, characterising a genetic paradox of biological invasion. These findings have implications for the study of population genetics of invasive species, and underscore how important historical context of population dynamics is when interpreting snapshots of genetic diversity. **KEYWORDS** *Rattus exulans*; *Rattus rattus*; Genetic paradox; Genetic diversity; Competition; Microsatellites
PAPER: Invasive species genetic responses to bottlenecks
###The admixed brushtail possum genome reveals invasion history in New Zealand and novel imprinted genes **October 2023** **Bond DM, Ortega-Recalde O, Laird MK, Hayakawa T, Richardson KS, Reese FCB, Kyle B, McIsaac-Williams BE, Robertson BC, van Heezik Y; Adams AL, Chang W-S, Haase B, Mountcastle J, Driller M, Collins J. Howe K, Gao Y, Thibund-Nissen F, Lister NC, Waters PD, Fedrigo O, Jarvis ED, Gemmell NJ, Alexander A. & Hore TA. 2023. [The admixed brushtail possum genome reveals invasion history in New Zealand and novel imprinted genes](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41784-8.pdf). Nature Communications 14(1): 6364.** **ABSTRACT** Combining genome assembly with population and functional genomics can provide valuable insights to development and evolution, as well as tools for species management. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of the common brushtail possum (*Trichosurus vulpecula*), a model marsupial threatened in parts of their native range in Australia, but also a major introduced pest in New Zealand. Functional genomics reveals post-natal activation of chemosensory and metabolic genes, reflecting unique adaptations to altricial birth and delayed weaning, a hallmark of marsupial development. Nuclear and mitochondrial analyses trace New Zealand possums to distinct Australian subspecies, which have subsequently hybridised. This admixture allowed phasing of parental alleles genome-wide, ultimately revealing at least four genes with imprinted, parent-specific expression not yet detected in other species (*MLH1, EPM2AIP1, UBP1* and *GPX7*). We find that reprogramming of possum germline imprints, and the wider epigenome, is similar to eutherian mammals except onset occurs after birth. Together, this work is useful for genetic-based control and conservation of possums, and contributes to understanding of the evolution of novel mammalian epigenetic traits. **KEYWORDS** Brushtail possum; Australia; New Zealand; Genome assembly; RNA sequencing; Methylation analysis; Chemical communication; Imprinted genes
PAPER: Admixed brushtail possum genome revelations
###Landholder participation in regional-scale control of invasive predators: an adaptable landscape model### **October 2016** **Glen AS, Latham MC, Anderson D, Leckie C, Niemiec R, Pech RP, Byrom AE 2017. [Landholder participation in regional-scale control of invasive predators: an adaptable landscape model](https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10530-016-1282-3.pdf). Biological Invasions 19(1): 329-338.** **ABSTRACT** We developed a spatially explicit model to estimate the effects of varying levels of landholder participation in landscape-scale programs to control invasive predators. We demonstrate the use of this model with a case study from the North Island of New Zealand in which the results of predator control are projected over a 6-year period. **KEYWORDS** Agro-ecosystem; Community support; Feral cat; Ferret; Social-ecological models; Stoat
PAPER: Landholder participation in invasive predator control