Predation thresholds for reintroduction of native avifauna following suppression of invasive Brown Treesnakes on Guam.

ABSTRACT: The brown treesnake (BTS) (Boiga irregularis) invasion on Guåhan (in English, Guam) led to the extirpation of nearly all native forest birds. In recent years, methods have been developed to reduce BTS abundance on a landscape scale. To help assess the prospects for the successful reintroduction of native birds to Guåhan following BTS suppression, we modeled bird population persistence based on their life history characteristics and relative sensitivity to BTS predation. We constructed individual-based models and simulated BTS predation in hypothetical founding populations for each of seven candidate bird species. We represented BTS predation risk in two steps: risk of being encountered and risk of mortality if encountered. We link encounter risk from the bird's perspective to snake contact

SUBMITTER: McElderry RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10078581 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature