Browsing by Author "Kropidlowski, Stefan Jozef"

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    Investigating the efficacy of commercial baits for the control of yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes) and their impacts on Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda)
    (ProQuest LLC, 2014) Kropidlowski, Stefan Jozef
    Invasive ants are one of the largest threats to Pacific island ecosystem conservation. I investigated effective ant control options by examining the relative attractiveness of five commercial ant baits to yellow crazy ants (Anoplolepis gracilipes ). The results were used to select three baits whose efficacy at reducing A. gracilipes abundance was then tested in experimental treatment plots. The trials failed to identify an obvious preference for any of the baits and none of experimental treatments resulted in decreases in A. gracilipes abundance that differed from untreated plots. Additionally, the impact of A. gracilipes on nest initiation rates of Red-tailed Tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda ) was explored. The survey found 90% fewer nest occurred in plots containing A. gracilipes. These results demonstrate the negative impacts invasive ants can have on ground-nesting seabirds and suggest that commercial ant baits may be ineffective against controlling A. gracilipes supercolonies.