Control of pest mammals for biodiversity protection in Australia. II. Reliability of knowledge

摘要

Substantial resources are expended in reducing the abun-ndance of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), wild dogs (Canis lupus famil-niaris, Canis lupus dingo, and hybrids), feral cats (Felixncatus), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), feral pigs (Susnscrofa), and feral goats (Capra hircus) in Australia. Bomfordnand Hart (2002) estimated the total cost of controlling thosensix species to be about AU$21.5 × 106nper annum. Reddiexnet al. (2006) estimated that more than AU$11 × 106 was spentnon the labour component of controlling those six mammaliannpest species by conservation-focused organisations innAustralia in 2003. However, despite these substantial expen-nditures there is little evidence of the benefits of controllingnthese six pest species for native biodiversity (reviews innSaunders et al. 1995; Williams et al. 1995; Choquenot et al.n1996; Dickman 1996; Parkes et al. 1996; Fleming et al.n2001). Estimates of the ecological effects of pest control arenneeded to justify and prioritise such expenditure. The eco-nlogical effects of mammalian pest control may also benrequired to justify pest control in terms of individual animalnwelfare (O’Connor et al. 2005).