Abstract
Periodic heavy seed production in New Zealand beech forests increases the food supply available to both native birds and exotic pests, including the house mouse. We tracked changes in beech seedfall and mouse abundance as well as rats and stoats in two valleys in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand, between 1999 and 2001. Mouse population eruptions occurred only in areas and years where the beech forest was producing large quantities of seed. This
autumn injection of highly nutritious food allowed winter breeding by mice, triggering a population eruption. Beech seed is no longer available after spring and mouse populations crash until the next beech seedfall. The presence of
stoats (a predator) did not affect the rate of increase of mouse populations, or have any modifying effect on the influence of seedfall.
autumn injection of highly nutritious food allowed winter breeding by mice, triggering a population eruption. Beech seed is no longer available after spring and mouse populations crash until the next beech seedfall. The presence of
stoats (a predator) did not affect the rate of increase of mouse populations, or have any modifying effect on the influence of seedfall.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | ACIAR Monograph Series |
| Subtitle of host publication | Rats, Mice and People: Rodent Biology and Management |
| Editors | Grant Singleton, Lyn Hinds, Charles Krebs, Dave Spratt |
| Place of Publication | Canberra |
| Publisher | Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research |
| Chapter | 5.6 |
| Pages | 334-337 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Volume | 96 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 1-86320-357-5 |
| ISBN (Print) | 1-86320-356-7 |
| Publication status | Published - 2003 |