CONTROL OF ABUNDANT NATIVE VERTEBRATES FOR CONSERVATION OF ENDANGEREDSPECIES

Abundant native vertebrates which we define as those that have increas ed in abundance due to human-induced changes in communities or ecosyst ems have contributed to the Beeline of rare vertebrates through predat ion, competition, habitat change, disease transmission and hybridizati on. Recent literature dealing with the negative effects of abundant na tive vertebrates on rare native vertebrates argues for population cont rol by killing or translocating animals. We identify several potential problems with these methods, including the high cost of population co ntrol, community changes such as mesopredator release that favor other harmful vertebrate species, and increases in diseases harmful to the rare species. Also, public opposition to and lack of species specifici ty in population control techniques often make population control diff icult. We propose alternatives to population reduction for management of abundant native vertebrates, including techniques that prevent abun dant vertebrates from causing harm, and community and ecosystem rehabi litation and restoration. The latter provide the best solutions to Pro blems caused by abundant native vertebrates because community and ecos ystem degradation are the primary factors responsible for some species becoming rare and others becoming abundant. These solutions are long term, biologically sound, and involve little direct human intervention into ecosystem processes. But population control may be necessary as a short-term solution when abundant vertebrates pose an immediate thre at to the survival of a rare species We conclude that those involved i n the conservation of rare species should consider population control of abundant native vertebrates only as a last resort.