The ratting of North America: A 350-year retrospective on <i>Rattus</i> species compositions and competition.

ABSTRACT: While the impacts of black (Rattus rattus) and brown (Rattus norvegicus) rats on human society are well documented-including the spread of disease, broad-scale environmental destruction, and billions spent annually on animal control-little is known about their ecology and behavior in urban areas due to the challenges of studying animals in city environments. We use isotopic and ZooMS analysis of archaeological (1550s-1900 CE) rat remains from eastern North America to provide a large-scale framework for species arrival, interspecific competition, and dietary ecology. Brown rats arrived earlier than expected and rapidly outcompeted black rats in coastal urban areas. This replacement happened despite evidence that the two species occupy different trophic positions. Findings incl

SUBMITTER: Guiry E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10990262 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature