DOI: 10.5061/dryad.9kd51c5tr
title: Data from: Act for the best, prepare for the worst: Defining strategic mesopredator management triggers that safeguard apex predator eradication benefits

description: Eradicating invasive species is critical for supporting threatened species
 recovery. In multi-invaded ecosystems, it may only be feasible to remove
 one or some of the several invasive species that are present. However,
 this may not deliver the desired benefits, and shifting the complement of
 threats in some cases can have unexpected adverse consequences. A priori
 evaluation of potential outcomes, and identifying critical thresholds
 driven by other invasives, can inform decision making and decision
 triggers for adaptive management responses to ensure benefits are
 realised. We use population viability analyses informed by field data to
 evaluate the potential outcomes of a single species removal from a
 multi-invaded ecosystem, Christmas Island. We assess whether 1) removing
 an invasive apex predator (cats; Felis catus) in isolation would allow a
 threatened seabird species (Indian Ocean red-tailed tropicbird; Phaethon
 rubicaudra westralis) to recover; and based on evidence that this bird
 species is susceptible to rat predation 2) find the nest predation
 threshold for a remaining invasive mesopredator (Rattus rattus) that
 should trigger complementary rat control to ensure seabird population
 protection. The analyses indicate that with cat eradication, the
 tropicbird population is expected to recover quickly and benefit
 long-term. The current empirical rates of nest failure due to rat
 predation are insufficient to cause tropicbird population decline.
 However, if nest failure from rat predation should exceed 40%, the
 tropicbird population is predicted to decline by 1% (SD±0.25) per year. If
 rat predation caused 70% or more nests to fail, the tropicbird population
 is predicted to decline to extinction in 17 years (~one-two generations).
 Synthesis and applications: Our results illustrate the value of PVAs as a
 tool for understanding potential invasive species management outcomes in
 multi-invaded ecosystems. Defining thresholds of ecologically significant
 rat impact informs the setting of decision triggers, which in combination
 with targeted monitoring, can help managers prepare to adapt to deficient
 or undesirable outcomes in a timely and appropriate way.
description: We collated demographic and life history parameters for a
 popuation viability analysis. Many inputs were derived from empirical data
 sources (using methods approved by the University of Queensland NEWMA
 animal ethics committee [SBS/481/16], under permits granted by the
 Australian Government Director of National Parks [CINP_2017_2] and the
 Government of Western Australia, Department of Lands [Licence:
 01506-1992_A9991101]), while others were derived from the
 literature.
description: # Data from: **Act for the best, prepare for the worst: Defining strategic
 mesopredator management triggers that safeguard apex predator eradication
 benefits**
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9kd51c5tr](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9kd51c5tr) ## Description of the data and file structure These data were derived from empirical data sources (using methods approved by the University of Queensland NEWMA animal ethics committee [SBS/481/16], under permits granted by the Australian Government Director of National Parks [CINP_2017_2] and the Government of Western Australia, Department of Lands [Licence: 01506-1992_A9991101]), while others were derived from the literature. ### Files and variables #### File: Model\_data.csv **Description:** Data inputs used for population viability analyses in the article, 'Act for the best, prepare for the worst - Defining strategic mesopredator management triggers that safeguard apex predator eradication benefits' ##### Variables * Parameter type: The modelled variable or parameter used in the PVA * Parameter description: Additional descriptive details * Estimate: The input parameter * Source: How the estimate was created or where the estimate was derived from.  ## Code/software The file is a .csv so can be read by any table/ text reader.