Field testing synthetic predator odors for roof rats (Rattus rattus) in Hawaiian macadamia nut orchards

• Published in: Journal of chemical ecology Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 603 - 630
• Main Authors: Burwash, M.D. (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.), Tobin, M.E, Woolhouse, A.D, Sullivan, T.P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 01.04.1998; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal behavior; ANIMAL NUISIBLE; ANIMALES NOCIVOS; Biological and medical sciences; Body weight; CONTROL DE PLAGAS; DEPREDADORES; EXPERIMENTACION EN CAMPO; EXPERIMENTATION AU CHAMP; FIELD EXPERIMENTATION; Field study; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HAWAI; HAWAII; LUTTE ANTIRAVAGEUR; MACADAMIA; MACADAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA; MARK RELEASE RECAPTURE; NOXIOUS ANIMALS; ODEUR; Odors; OLOR; Orchards; PEST CONTROL; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; PREDATEUR; PREDATORS; RAT; RATA; RATS; Rodents; SMELL; TELEMETRIA; TELEMETRIE; TELEMETRY; VERTEBRADOS; VERTEBRATES; VERTEBRE; Hawaii; Polynesia; Oceania; Macadamia ternifolia; Biological control; Rodentia; Proteaceae; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Pest; Escape behavior; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Repellent; Spermatophyta; Fruit tree; Predator; Rattus rattus; Odor; Population density; Semiochemicals
• ISSN: 0098-0331; 1573-1561
• DOI: 10.1023/a:1022304917652

Field trials were conducted to determine whether the synthetic predator odors 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dithiolane (DMDIT) and (E,Z)-2,4,5-trimethyl-delta3-thiazoline (TMT) were effective at eliciting a behavioral response in wild roof rats (Rattus rattus). The study site was a Hawaiian macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia) orchard with a recent history of roof rat feeding damage. The synthetic predator odors were encapsulated in urethane devices secured to tree branches. Mark-recapture data from live-trapping of rats and radio telemetry location data were used to assess behavioral responses of rats to the predator odors. Mark-recapture data indicated that DMDIT and TMT had no effect on capture numbers, reproduction, or body weight of rats. There was some indication that distribution of captures and number of locations relative to treated trees in TMT areas were less than in controls, but this pattern was not significant. The predator odors had no effect on home range or median distance from center of activity (MDIS) of rats as measured by telemetry. There was a trend of increasing values of MDIS on TMT areas in session 1 but not session 2. Overall we could not detect significant differences or consistent trends in responses of rats to DMDIT or TMT in these field trials