[ad_1]
Black rats introduced to tropical islands over the past 300 years have caused devastating damage to coral reefs, according to one study.
Scientists evaluated the impact of rodents by comparing the neighboring islands of the infested or infested Indian Ocean.
They showed that the ecological effects of rats destroying seabird populations extended beyond the shores of the island to the surrounding reefs
The rat-free islands had significantly more birds, which increased the amount of nitrogen from the droppings of birds that penetrated in the soil and ending in the sea.
Fish biombad near rat-infested islands was half that of rat-free populations.
Research Scientist Prof. Professor Nick Graham, of Lancaster University, said: "Seabirds are crucial for these types of islands as they can fly to highly productive areas on the high seas
"They then return to their island homes. reproduce and reproduce by depositing guano or feces of birds on the ground
"This guano is rich in nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus.
" Until now, we do not the results of this study are clear
"The eradication of rats should be a high conservation priority on oceanic islands.
"Getting rid of rats is likely to benefit terrestrial ecosystems and improve the productivity and functioning of coral reefs by restoring nutrient subsidies derived from seabirds over large ocean areas."
"This could tip the scales the balance for the future survival of these reefs and their ecosystems. "
An ocean acted as a" natural laboratory "where the ecological impact of invasive rats could be studied, said the researchers.
Some of the islands were rat-free while others were infested with rodents that were introduced As a result, scientists were able to make direct comparisons between neighboring reef ecosystems.
The study, published in the journal Nature, found that algae grazing, an important role played by fish Rats are voracious predators of oi buckets, feeding on eggs, chicks and even adult birds.
It is estimated that they have decimated seabird populations 90% of the world's temperate and tropical island groups, scientists said.
However, until now, the extent of the damage they caused to coral reefs was not known.
– Association of the Press [196] 59024]
[ad_2]
Source link
