Eradication and Control of Invasive Mammal Species as a Seabird Conservation Tool

Abstract

Invasive alien species (IAS) are amongst the top three threats to seabirds. Presently, IAS directly affect 165 species and it is historically documented that they are implicated in the extinction of more than 70 seabird species. This problem is especially critical on islands, where breeding seabirds lack appropriate defences. Control and eradication of invasive mammals are essential tools to overcome these threats. Such measures contribute to restoring the breeding habitats of these intrinsically vulnerable species. The first intentional invasive mammal (rodent) eradication program on islands took place in New Zealand in 1980. In Europe, the first initiative was in the late 1980s, and the first relatively large European island to undergo an intervention was Deserta Grande in the Madeira archipelago (Macaronesia, North East Atlantic). Since then, many other projects have been carried out throughout this archipelago. The general state of the art applied worldwide in habitat restoration projects involving the control and eradication of invasive mammal species, and zoom in to a case study of the Madeira and Selvagens archipelagos have been reviewed here. We specifically describe the techniques, benefits and challenges of these projects, the constraints deriving from the current legal framework, and novel social trends.