Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
REVIEW

Rodent management issues in South Pacific islands: a review with case studies from Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu

Peter R. Brown A E , Ken P. Aplin A B , Lyn A. Hinds A , Jens Jacob C , Sarah E. Thomas D and Barbara J. Ritchie D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CSIRO Australia, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

B Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C., 20013-7012, USA.

C Julius Kühn-Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for Plant Protection in Horticulture and Forests, Vertebrate Research, Toppheideweg 88, 48161 Münster, Germany.

D CABI UK, Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9TY, United Kingdom.

E Corresponding author. Email: Peter.Brown@csiro.au

Wildlife Research 44(8) 587-602 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR17104
Submitted: 27 July 2017  Accepted: 14 November 2017   Published: 16 February 2018

Abstract

Rodents are a key pest to agricultural and rural island communities of the South Pacific, but there is limited information of their impact on the crops and livelihoods of small-scale farmers. The rodent pest community is known, but the type and scales of damage to different crops on different islands are unknown. Knowledge about rodent pest management in other geographical regions may not be directly transferable to the Pacific region. Many studies on islands have largely focussed on the eradication of rodents from uninhabited islands for conservation benefits. These broadscale eradication efforts are unlikely to translate to inhabited islands because of complex social and agricultural issues. The livelihoods, culture and customs of poor small-scale farmers in the South Pacific have a large bearing on the current management of rodents. The aim of the present review was to describe the rodent problems, impacts and management of rodents on South Pacific islands, and identify gaps for further research. We compared and contrasted two case studies. The situation in Papua New Guinea is emergent as several introduced rodent species are actively invading new areas with wide-ranging implications for human livelihoods and conservation. In Vanuatu, we show how rodent damage on cocoa plantations can be reduced by good orchard hygiene through pruning and weeding, which also has benefits for the management of black pod disease. We conclude that (1) damage levels are unknown and unreported, (2) the impacts on human health are unknown, (3) the relationships between the pest species and their food sources, breeding and movements are not known, and (4) the situation in Papua New Guinea may represent an emergent crisis that warrants further investigation. In addition, there is a need for greater understanding of the invasive history of pest rodents, so as to integrate biological information with management strategies. Ecologically based rodent management can be achieved on Pacific Islands, but only after significant well funded large-scale projects are established and rodent ecologists are trained. We can learn from experiences from other locations such as Southeast Asia to guide the way.

Additional keywords: agricultural production, black pod disease, cocoa, small-scale farmer livelihoods.


References

Acebo-Guerrero, Y., Hernandez-Rodriguez, A., Heydrich-Perez, M., El Jaziri, M., and Hernandez-Lauzardo, A. N. (2012). Management of black pod rot in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.): a review. Fruits 67, 41–48.
Management of black pod rot in cacao (Theobroma cacao L.): a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XosFarsbg%3D&md5=39c2806fce005413c5e597d53a6f1a39CAS |

Aikhenvald, A., and Stebbins, T. N. (2007). Languages of New Guinea. In ‘Vanishing Languages of the Pacific Rim’. (Eds O. Miyaoka, O. Sakiyama, and M. E. Krauss.) pp. 239–266. (Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK)

Aplin, K., and Ford, F. (2013). Murine rodents: late but highly successful invaders. In ‘Invasion Biology and Ecological Theory: Insights from a Continent in Transformation’. (Eds H. H. T. Prins and I. J. Gordon.) pp. 196–240. (Cambridge University Press: UK)

Aplin, K. P., Brown, P. R., Jacob, J., Krebs, C. J., and Singleton, G. R. (2003). ‘Field Methods for Rodent Studies in Asia and the Indo-Pacific.’ (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra.)

Aplin, K. P., Suzuki, H., Chinen, A. A., Chesser, R. T., ten Have, J., Donnellan, S. C., Austin, J., Frost, A., Gonzalez, J. P., Herbreteau, V., Catzeflis, F., Soubrier, J., Fang, Y.-P., Robins, J., Matisoo-Smith, E., Bastos, A. D. S., Maryanto, I., Sinaga, M. H., Denys, C., Van Den Bussche, R. A., Conroy, C., Rowe, K., and Cooper, A. (2011). Multiple geographic origins of commensalism and complex dispersal history of black rats. PLoS One 6, e26357.
Multiple geographic origins of commensalism and complex dispersal history of black rats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhsFShsr3M&md5=02d0ba92e114231337aaa2e73af96286CAS |

Armitage, P. L. (1994). Unwelcome companions: ancient rats reviewed. Antiquity 68, 231–240.
Unwelcome companions: ancient rats reviewed.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Atkinson, U. A. E. (1973). Spread of the ship rat (Rattus r. rattus L.) in New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 3, 457–472.
Spread of the ship rat (Rattus r. rattus L.) in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bellwood, P. (1997). ‘Prehistory of the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago.’ 2nd edn. (University of Hawaii Press: Honolulu, HI.)

Belmain, S. R., Meyer, A. N., Timbrine, R., and Penicela, L. (2003). Managing rodent pests in households and food stores through intensive trapping. In ‘Rats, Mice and People: Rodent Biology and Management’. Vol. ACIAR Monograph 96. (Eds G. R. Singleton, L. A. Hinds, C. J. Krebs, and D. M. Spratt.) pp. 440–445. (ACIAR: Canberra.)

Belmain, S. R., Htwe, N. M., Kamal, N. Q., and Singleton, G. R. (2015). Estimating rodent losses to stored rice as a means to assess efficacy of rodent management. Wildlife Research 42, 132–142.
Estimating rodent losses to stored rice as a means to assess efficacy of rodent management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Berlioz-Arthaud, A., Kiedrzynski, T., Singh, N., Yvon, J.-F., Roualen, G., Coudert, C., and Uluiviti, V. (2007). Multicentre survey of incidence and public health impact of leptospirosis in the Western Pacific. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 101, 714–721.
Multicentre survey of incidence and public health impact of leptospirosis in the Western Pacific.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bordes, F., Herbreteau, V., Dupuy, S., Chaval, Y., Tran, A., and Morand, S. (2013). The diversity of microparasites of rodents: a comparative analysis that helps in identifying rodent-borne rich habitats in Southeast Asia. Infection Ecology & Epidemiology 3, .
The diversity of microparasites of rodents: a comparative analysis that helps in identifying rodent-borne rich habitats in Southeast Asia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brown, P. R., Hung, N. Q., Hung, N. M., and van Wensveen, M. (1999). Population ecology and management of rodent pests in the Mekong River Delta, Vietnam. In ‘Ecologically-based Management of Rodent Pests’. Vol. ACIAR Monograph No. 59. (Eds G. R. Singleton, L. A. Hinds, H. Leirs, and Z. Zhang.) pp. 319–337. (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra.)

Brown, P. R., Singleton, G. R., and Sudarmaji, (2001). Habitat use and movements of the rice-field rat, Rattus argentiventer, in West Java, Indonesia. Mammalia 65, 151–166.
Habitat use and movements of the rice-field rat, Rattus argentiventer, in West Java, Indonesia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brown, P. R., Tuan, N. P., Singleton, G. R., Ha, P. T. T., Hoa, P. T., Hue, D. T., Tan, T. Q., Tuat, N. V., Jacob, J., and Muller, W. J. (2006). Ecologically-based management of rodents in the real world: application to a mixed agro-ecosystem in Vietnam. Ecological Applications 16, 2000–2010.
Ecologically-based management of rodents in the real world: application to a mixed agro-ecosystem in Vietnam.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campbell, J. (2010). An overview of natural hazard planning in the Pacific island region. Australasian Journal of Disaster and Trauma Studies 2010-1, 1–9.

CIA (2014). ‘The World Factbook.’ (US Central Intelligence Agency.) Available at https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook. [Accessed 1 October 2014]

Daniel, R., Konam, J. K., Saul-Maora, J. Y., Kamuso, A., Namaliu, Y., Vano, J.-T., Wenani, R., N’nelau, P., Palinrungi, R., and Guest, D. I. (2011). Knowledge through participation: the triumphs and challenges of transferring integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) technology to cocoa farmers in Papua New Guinea. Food Security 3, 65–79.
Knowledge through participation: the triumphs and challenges of transferring integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) technology to cocoa farmers in Papua New Guinea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Denham, T. (2011). Early agriculture and plant domestication in New Guinea and Island Southeast Asia. Current Anthropology 52, S379–S395.
Early agriculture and plant domestication in New Guinea and Island Southeast Asia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dwyer, P. D. (1978). A study of Rattus exulans (Peale) (Rodentia: Muridae) in the New Guinea Highlands. Wildlife Research 5, 221–248.
A study of Rattus exulans (Peale) (Rodentia: Muridae) in the New Guinea Highlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Dwyer, P. D. (1984). From garden to forest: small rodents and plant succession in Papua New Guinea. Australian Mammalogy 7, 29–36.

Fabre, P. H., Pagès, M., Musser, G. G., Fitriana, Y. S., Fjeldsa, J., Jennings, A., Jonsson, K. A., Kennedy, J., Michaux, J., Semiadi, G., Supriatna, N., and Helgen, K. M. (2013). A new genus of rodent from Wallacea (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae: Rattini) and its implication for biogeography and Indo-Pacific Rattini systematics. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 169, 408–447.
A new genus of rodent from Wallacea (Rodentia: Muridae: Murinae: Rattini) and its implication for biogeography and Indo-Pacific Rattini systematics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

FAOSTAT (2014). ‘World-wide Cocoa Production Statistics.’ Available at http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/. [Accessed 1 October 2014]

Flannery, T. F. (1995a). ‘Mammals of New Guinea.’ 2nd edn. (Reed Books: Sydney.)

Flannery, T. F. (1995b). ‘Mammals of the South-west Pacific and Moluccan Islands.’ (Reed Books: Sydney.)

Gabriel, S. I., Stevens, M. I., da Luz Mathias, M., and Searle, J. B. (2011). Of mice and ‘convicts’: origin of the Australian house mouse, Mus musculus. PLoS One 6, e28622.
Of mice and ‘convicts’: origin of the Australian house mouse, Mus musculus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XoslCj&md5=fcd03e794d99dab77102984cf3434022CAS |

Han, B. A., Schmidt, J. P., Bowden, S. E., and Drake, J. M. (2015). Rodent reservoirs of future zoonotic diseases. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 112, 7039–7044.
Rodent reservoirs of future zoonotic diseases.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2MXosVKrtbw%3D&md5=91d6eadb22aee73c3a8ad81730a4bc4aCAS |

Hanson, L. W., Allen, B. J., Bourke, R. M., and McCarthy, T. J. (2001). ‘Papua New Guinea Rural Development Handbook.’ (The Australian National University: Canberra.)

Harris, D. B. (2009). Review of negative effects of introduced rodents on small mammals on islands. Biological Invasions 11, 1611–1630.
Review of negative effects of introduced rodents on small mammals on islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hinds, L. A., and Aplin, K. P. (2004). The impacts of mammal pests, particularly rodents, affecting agriculture/livestock production in the Pacific Region. Scoping study report to ACIAR. CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra.

Holdaway, S. N. (1996). Arrival of rats in New Zealand. Nature 384, 225–226.
Arrival of rats in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK28XntFSqsrk%3D&md5=45b7cd1c517f734f59e46d075c43e4e9CAS |

Hoque, M. M., Sanchez, F. F., and Benigno, E. A. (1988). Rodent problems in selected countries in Southeast Asia and islands in the Pacific. In ‘Rodent Pest Management’. (Ed. I. Prakash.) pp. 85–99. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL.)

Howald, G., Donlan, C. J., Galvan, J. P., Russell, J. C., Parkes, J., Samaniego, A., Wang, Y. W., Veitch, D., Genovesi, P., Pascal, M., Saunders, A., and Tershy, B. (2007). Invasive rodent eradication on islands. Conservation Biology 21, 1258–1268.
Invasive rodent eradication on islands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Huan, N. H., Nga, V. T. Q., Brown, P. R., My Phung, N. T., and Singleton, G. R. (2010). Rodent impacts in lowland irrigated intensive rice systems in Vietnam. In ‘Rodent Outbreaks: Ecology and Impacts’. (Eds G. R. Singleton, S. R. Belmain, P. R. Brown, and B. Hardy.) pp. 139–152. (International Rice Research Institute: Los Baños, Philippines)

Jacob, J. (2002) Assessment of rodent damage to food crops in the Kingdom of Tonga. Technical report to FAO. 22 p. CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Canberra.

Jacob, J., Sudarmaji, R., Rahmini, S. G., Herawati, N. A., and Brown, P. R. (2010). Ecologically based management of rodents in lowland irrigated rice fields in Indonesia. Wildlife Research 37, 418–427.
Ecologically based management of rodents in lowland irrigated rice fields in Indonesia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

John, A. (2014). Rodent outbreaks and rice pre-harvest losses in Southeast Asia. Food Security 6, 249–260.
Rodent outbreaks and rice pre-harvest losses in Southeast Asia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Johnson, D. H. (1962). Rodents and other Micronesian mammals collected. In ‘Pacific Island Rat Ecology: Report of a Study Made on Ponape and Adjacent Islands, 1955–1958. Volume 225 of Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin’. (Ed. I. I. Storer.) pp. 21–38. (Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin: Honolulu, HI.)

Kayser, M., Brauer, S., Weiss, G., Underhill, P. A., Roewer, L., Schiefenhövel, W., and Stoneking, M. (2000). Melanesian origin of Polynesian Y chromosomes. Current Biology 10, 1237–1246.
Melanesian origin of Polynesian Y chromosomes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXotVSrsr8%3D&md5=20e799f15137e63a60f624670e683a39CAS |

Kirch, P. V. (1997). ‘The Lapita Peoples: Ancestors of the Oceanic World.’ (Blackwells: Cambridge, MA.)

Kirch, P. V. (2010). Peopling of the Pacific: a holistic anthropological perspective. Annual Review of Anthropology 39, 131–148.
Peopling of the Pacific: a holistic anthropological perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kitchener, D. J., Aplin, K. P., and Boeadi, (1991). A new species of Rattus from Gunung Mutis, south west Timor Island, Indonesia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 15, 445–465.

Lam, Y. M. (1983). Reproduction in the rice field rat Rattus argentiventer. Malayan Nature Journal 36, 249–282.

Macholán, M., Vyskocilova, M. M., Bejcek, V., and Stastny, K. (2012). Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation and evolution of Old World house mice (Mus musculus). Folia Zoologica 61, 284–307.
Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation and evolution of Old World house mice (Mus musculus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Marshall, J. T. (1977). Family Muridae: rats and mice. In ‘Mammals of Thailand’. (Eds B. Lekagul, and J. A. McNeely.) pp. 397–487. (Association of Conservation of Wildlife: Bangkok.)

Martin, L. B., Weil, Z. M., and Nelson, R. J. (2008). Seasonal changes in vertebrate immune activity: mediation by physiological trade-offs. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London. Series B. Biological Science 51, 933–938.

Martyn, T. (2015). The Impact of Customary Inter-Household Transfers on Labour-led Cash Crop Intensification among the Smallholder Farmers of Malekula Island, Vanuatu. PhD thesis, University of Adelaide.

Matisoo-Smith, E., and Robins, J. H. (2004). Origins and dispersals of Pacific peoples: evidence from mtDNA phylogenies of the Pacific rat. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA 101, 9167–9172.
Origins and dispersals of Pacific peoples: evidence from mtDNA phylogenies of the Pacific rat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXltlWqtrY%3D&md5=904c77ad3c6e7c546f2e8f614cd4586fCAS |

Matisoo-Smith, E., and Robins, J. (2009). Mitochondrial DNA evidence for the spread of Pacific rats through Oceania. Biological Invasions 11, 1521–1527.
Mitochondrial DNA evidence for the spread of Pacific rats through Oceania.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

McFarlane, R., Sleigh, A., and McMichael, T. (2012). Synanthropy of wild mammas as a determinant of emerging infectious diseases in the Asia–Australasian region. EcoHealth 9, 24–35.
Synanthropy of wild mammas as a determinant of emerging infectious diseases in the Asia–Australasian region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Medway, L., and Marshall, A. G. (1975). Terrestrial vertebrates of the New Hebrides: origin and distribution. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 272, 423–465.
Terrestrial vertebrates of the New Hebrides: origin and distribution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE287ns1yhuw%3D%3D&md5=8789853d9ee90765b1cbac2d60c5579cCAS |

Meerburg, B. G., Singleton, G. R., and Kijlstra, A. (2009). Rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health. Critical Reviews in Microbiology 35, 221–270.
Rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mulungu, L. S. (2017). Control of rodent pests in maize cultivation: the case of Africa. In ‘Achieving Sustainable Maize Cultivation. Vol. 2’. (Ed. D. Watson.) pp. 317–337. (Burleigh Dodds Scientific Publishing: Cambridge, UK)

Musser, G. G., and Carleton, M. (2005). Superfamily Muroidea. In ‘Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Vol. 2’. 3rd edn. (Ed. D. E. Wilson, and D. M. Reeder.) pp. 894–1531. (Johns Hopkins University: Baltimore, MD.)

Nunome, M., Ishimori, C., Aplin, K. P., Tsuchiya, K., Yonekawa, H., Moriwaki, K., and Suzuki, H. (2010). Detection of recombinant haplotypes in wild mice (Mus musculus) provides new insights into the origin of Japanese mice. Molecular Ecology 19, 2474–2489.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXpslahurg%3D&md5=862c223cccbcb4d7cca17782d875df6bCAS |

Ostfeld, R. S., Levi, T., Jolles, A. E., Martin, L. B., Hosseini, P. R., and Keesing, F. (2014). Life history and demographic drivers of reservoir competence for three tick-borne zoonotic pathogens. PLoS One 9, e107387.
Life history and demographic drivers of reservoir competence for three tick-borne zoonotic pathogens.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Park, S. E., Howden, S. M., and Crimp, S. (2012). Informing regional level policy development and actions for increased adaptive capacity in rural livelihoods. Environmental Science & Policy 15, 23–37.
Informing regional level policy development and actions for increased adaptive capacity in rural livelihoods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Parkes, J., and Murphy, E. (2003). Management of introduced mammals in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 30, 335–359.
Management of introduced mammals in New Zealand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Parkes, J. P., Nugent, G., Forsyth, D. M., Byrom, A. E., Pech, R. P., Warburton, B., and Choquenot, D. (2017). Past, present and two potential futures for managing New Zealand’s mammalian pests. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 41, 151–161.
Past, present and two potential futures for managing New Zealand’s mammalian pests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

PCCAPHH (2015). ‘Fiji Climate Change and Health Adaptation. Proceedings of the Symposium’, 9 February 2015, Suva, Fiji. Piloting Climate Change Adaptation to Protect Human Health Project in Fiji. Available at http://www.health.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/CCHAF-Symposium-Booklet-for-submission_21Aug2015_FINAL.pdf [Accessed 26 January 2018]

Perez, J., and Goarant, C. (2010). Rapid Leptospira identification by direct sequencing of the diagnostic PCR products in New Caledonia. BMC Microbiology 10, .
Rapid Leptospira identification by direct sequencing of the diagnostic PCR products in New Caledonia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Robins, J. H., Hingston, M., Matisoo-Smith, E., and Ross, H. (2007). Identifying Rattus species using small fragments of mitochondrial DNA: a barcoding approach. Molecular Ecology Notes 7, 717–729.
Identifying Rattus species using small fragments of mitochondrial DNA: a barcoding approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXht1ertLzF&md5=a324b1243b1b1e7363b991b04c5ee9f1CAS |

Rowe, K. C., Reno, M. L., Richmond, D. M., Adkins, R. M., and Steppan, S. J. (2008). Pliocene colonization and adaptive radiations in Australia and New Guinea (Sahul): multilocus systematics of the old endemic rodents (Muroidea: Murinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 47, 84–101.
Pliocene colonization and adaptive radiations in Australia and New Guinea (Sahul): multilocus systematics of the old endemic rodents (Muroidea: Murinae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXktV2jtLo%3D&md5=a4fa3ea0c058baec2750f38c0556fd05CAS |

Rowe, K. C., Aplin, K. P., Baverstock, P. R., and Moritz, C. (2011). Recent and rapid speciation with limited morphological disparity in the genus Rattus. Systematic Biology 60, 188–203.
Recent and rapid speciation with limited morphological disparity in the genus Rattus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ruffino, L., Zarzoso-Lacoste, D., and Vidal, E. (2015). Assessment of invasive rodent impacts on island avifauna: methods, limitations and the way forward. Wildlife Research 42, 185–195.
Assessment of invasive rodent impacts on island avifauna: methods, limitations and the way forward.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Russell, J. C., and Broome, K. G. (2016). Fifty years of rodent eradications in New Zealand: another decade of advances. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 40, 197–204.
Fifty years of rodent eradications in New Zealand: another decade of advances.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Searle, J. B., Jamieson, P. M., Gündüz, I., Stevens, M. I., Jones, E. P., Gemmill, C. E. C., and King, C. M. (2009). The diverse origins of New Zealand house mice. Proceedings. Biological Sciences 276, 209–217.
The diverse origins of New Zealand house mice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXjtF2gsrs%3D&md5=65ee0cfee00a8ec8428a866bc503ad7cCAS |

Singleton, G. R. (1997). Integrated management of rodents: a Southeast Asian and Australian perspective. Belgian Journal of Zoology 127, 157–169.

Singleton, G. R., and Brown, P. R. (1999). Management of mouse plagues in Australia: integration of population ecology, bio-control and best farm practice. In ‘Advances in Vertebrate Pest Management’. (Eds D. P. Cowan and C. J. Feare.) pp. 189–203. (Filander-Verlag: Berlin.)

Singleton, G. R., Leirs, H., Hinds, L. A., and Zhang, Z. (1999). Ecologically-based management of rodent pests: re-evaluating our approach to an old problem. In ‘Ecologically-based Management of Rodent Pests’. ACIAR Monograph No. 59. (Eds G. R. Singleton, L. A. Hinds, H, Leirs, and Z. Zhang.) pp. 17–29. (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra.)

Singleton, G. R., Brown, P. R., and Jacob, J. (2004). Ecologically-based rodent management; its effectiveness in cropping systems in South-east Asia. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 52, 163–171.

Singleton, G. R., Belmain, S. R., Brown, P. R., Aplin, K. P., and Htwe, N. M. (2010). Impacts of rodent outbreaks on food security in Asia. Wildlife Research 37, 355–359.
Impacts of rodent outbreaks on food security in Asia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Spriggs, M. (1997). ‘The Island Melanesians.’ (Blackwell Publishers: Cambridge, MA.)

Stinson, D. W. (1994). Birds and mammals recorded from the Mariana Islands. Natural History Research Special Issue 1, 333–344.

Sudarmaji, S. G. R., Brown, P. R., Jacob, J., and Herawati, N. A. (2010). Rodent impacts in lowland irrigated intensive rice systems in West Java, Indonesia. In ‘Rodent Outbreaks: Ecology and Impacts’. (Eds G. R. Singleton, S. R. Belmain, P. R. Brown, and B. Hardy.) pp. 115–127. (International Rice Research Institute: Los Baños, Philippines.)

Summerhayes, G. R., Leavesley, M., and Fairbairn, A. (2009). Impact of human colonization on the landscape: a view from the western Pacific. Pacific Science 63, 725–745.
Impact of human colonization on the landscape: a view from the western Pacific.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Suzuki, H., Nunome, M., Kinoshita, G., Aplin, K. P., Vogel, P., Kryukov, A. P., Jin, M.-L., Han, S.-H., Maryanto, I., Tsuchiya, K., Ikeda, H., Shiroishi, T., Yonekawa, H., and Moriwaki, K. (2013). Evolutionary and dispersal history of Eurasian house mice Mus musculus clarified by more extensive geographic sampling of mitochondrial DNA. Heredity 111, 375–390.
Evolutionary and dispersal history of Eurasian house mice Mus musculus clarified by more extensive geographic sampling of mitochondrial DNA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhs1CltbrJ&md5=3b14e04b911ff05c653c5e383bbbdf1eCAS |

Swanepoel, L. H., Swanepoel, C. M., Brown, P. R., Eiseb, S. J., Goodman, S. M., Keith, M., Kirsten, F., Leirs, H., Mahlaba, T. A. M., Makundi, R. H, Melabane, P., von Maltitz, E. F., Massawe, A. W., Monadjem, A., Mulungu, L. S., Singleton, G. R., Taylor, P. J., Soarimalala, V., and Belmain, S. R. (2017). A systematic review of rodent pest research in Afro-Malagasy small-holder farming systems: are we asking the right questions? PLoS One 12, e0174554.
A systematic review of rodent pest research in Afro-Malagasy small-holder farming systems: are we asking the right questions?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tahana, Y. (2010). Rare rats off the hook as DoC gives them island sanctuary. New Zealand Herald 3 June 2010. Available at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=10649358. [Accessed 5 June 2017]

Tamarin, R. H., and Malecha, S. R. (1971). The population biology of Hawaiian rodents: demographic parameters. Ecology 52, 383–394.
The population biology of Hawaiian rodents: demographic parameters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tamarin, R. H., and Malecha, S. R. (1972). Reproductive parameters in Rattus rattus and Rattus exulans of Hawaii, 1968 to 1970. Journal of Mammalogy 53, 513–528.
Reproductive parameters in Rattus rattus and Rattus exulans of Hawaii, 1968 to 1970.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE3s%2FhtFyksQ%3D%3D&md5=094d688da845a92461384a3510c859c3CAS |

Tate, G. H. H. (1935). Rodents of the genera Rattus and Mus from the Pacific Islands, collected by the Whitney South Sea Expedition, with a discussion of the origin and races of the Pacific Island Rat. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 68, 145–178.

Taylor, J. M., Calaby, J. H., and van Deusen, H. M. (1982). A revision of the genus Rattus (Rodentia, Muridae) in the New Guinean region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 173, 177–336.

Theuerkauf, J., Perez, J., Taugamoa, A., Niutoua, I., Labrousse, D., Gula, R., Bogdanowicz, W., Jourdan, H., and Goarant, C. (2013). Leptospirosis risk increases with changes in species composition of rat populations. Naturwissenschaften 100, 385–388.
Leptospirosis risk increases with changes in species composition of rat populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXltl2mtLk%3D&md5=58c609b5db67dc80522daf863e30d883CAS |

Thomson, V., Aplin, K. P., Cooper, A., Hisheh, S., Suzuki, H., Maryanto, I., Yap, G., and Donnellan, S. C. (2014). Molecular genetic evidence for the place of origin of the Pacific rat, Rattus exulans. PLoS One 9, e91356.
Molecular genetic evidence for the place of origin of the Pacific rat, Rattus exulans.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Timm, R. M., Weijola, V., Aplin, K. P., Donnellan, S. C., Flannery, T. F., Thomson, V., and Pine, R. H. (2016). A new species of Rattus (Rodentia: Muridae) from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea. Journal of Mammalogy 97, 861–878.
A new species of Rattus (Rodentia: Muridae) from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tomich, P. Q. (1986). ‘Mammals in Hawaii: a Synopsis and Notational Bibliography. 2nd edn. Volume 76 of Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin.’ (Bernice P. Bishop Museum Bulletin: Honolulu, Hawaii.)

Towns, D. R., West, C. J., and Broome, K. G. (2013). Purposes, outcomes and challenges of eradicating invasive mammals from New Zealand islands: an historical perspective. Wildlife Research 40, 94–107.
Purposes, outcomes and challenges of eradicating invasive mammals from New Zealand islands: an historical perspective.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tristiani, H., Priyono, J., and Murakami, O. (1998). Seasonal changes in the population density and reproduction of the ricefield rat, Rattus argentiventer (Rodentia: Muridae), in West Java. Mammalia 62, 227–239.
Seasonal changes in the population density and reproduction of the ricefield rat, Rattus argentiventer (Rodentia: Muridae), in West Java.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tubiana, S., Mikulski, M., Becam, J., Lacassin, F., Lefèvre, P., Gourinat, A., Goarant, C., and D’Ortenzio, E. (2013). Risk factors and predictors of severe Leptospirosis in New Caledonia. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 7, e1991.
Risk factors and predictors of severe Leptospirosis in New Caledonia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

White, J. P., Clark, G., and Bedford, S. (2000). Distribution, present and past, of Rattus praetor in the Pacific and its implications. Pacific Science 54, 105–117.

Wickler, S. (2004). Modelling colonisation and migration from a zooarchaeological perspective. In ‘Colonisation, Migration, and Marginal Areas: a Zooarchaeological Approach’. (Eds M. Mondini, S. Munoz, and S. Wickler.) pp. 28–41. (Oxbow Books: Oxford, UK.)

Wilkinson, I. S., and Priddel, D. (2011). Rodent eradication on Lord Howe Island: challenges posed by people, livestock, and threatened endemics. In ‘Island Invasives: Eradication and Management. Vol. 42’. (Eds C. R. Veitch, M. N. Clout, and D. R. Towns.) pp. 508–514. (IUCN: Gland, Switzerland.)

Wirtz, W. O. (1973). Growth and development of Rattus exulans. Journal of Mammalogy 54, 189–202.
Growth and development of Rattus exulans.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yosida, T. H. (1980). ‘Cytogenetics of the Black Rat.’ (University of Tokyo Press: Tokyo.)