OUTLINE

Invasion of the Black Rat – Rattus rattus

I.        Rattus rattus 

a.       Introduction

                                                              i.      Common Names

                                                            ii.      Origins

                                                          iii.      Common Locations

b.      Physical Description

                                                              i.      Size/Characteristics

c.       Lifestyle

                                                              i.      Diet

                                                            ii.      Reproduction

                                                          iii.      Social Structure 

d.      Geographic Distribution

                                                              i.      Locations/Areas Found

II.     Invasiveness

a.       Santiago Rice Rat

                                                              i.      Competition Between Species

b.      California Channel Islands – Deer Mice

                                                              i.      Parasite Introduction

                                                            ii.      Parasite Transfer 

c.       Black Rat Affect on Sea Birds

d.      Invasion of the Canary Islands

                                                              i.      Canary Islands Geography

                                                            ii.      Rattus rattus invasion

                                                          iii.      Ecological effects

III.      Human Prevention

a. Safety Measures

b. Eradication

IV.        References

V.          Questions

a. “Benny” the Black Rat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

Rattus rattus, also known as the black rat, ship rat, and roof rat is found on every continent of the earth. It is commonly found in tropical coastal areas and thrives in areas inhabited by humans and large ships. The black rat can cause severe damage to farms and livestock as it consumes and destroys its food source during feeding. They impact plant communities as well as the animal populations that feed on those plants. In addition to affecting plant regeneration and structure, the black rat is a known predator of birds, especially eggs and chicks, causing decreased breeding success in birds in the Canary Islands (Nogales et al., 2006). The black rat is also known to prey on seabirds and other small burrow nesters greatly contributing to the seabird’s extinction worldwide (Jones, 2007).

 

The black rat tends to live in groups with multiple males and females. There is usually a dominant male and multiple aggressive but less mobile females. These aggressive behaviors are apparent when Rattus rattus competes with endemic species like the Santiago rice rat (Nesoryzomys swarthi) the Galapagos for limited food and habitat resources (Harris et al., 2006; Harris et al., 2007). Rattus rattus is also a disease vector, helping spread diseases like the bubonic plague in the Middle Ages while hosting other internal and external parasites. Recent studies suggest that the whipworm, Trichuris muris, spread from introduced black rats (Rattus rattus) to endemic deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) populations on the California Channel Islands (Smith & Carpenter, 2006). These parasites can potentially remain in a system even after their introduced host is eradicated.

 

REFERENCES

 

Harris, Donna B., Gregory, S.H., Macdonald, D.W.  2006. Space invaders? A search for patterns underlying the coexistence of alien black rats and Galápagos rice rats. Oecologia 149:276-288.

 

Harris, Donna B., Macdonald, D.W.  2007.  Interference competition between introduced black rats and endemic Galapagos rice rats. Ecology 88:2330.

Jones. 2007. Severity of the Effects of Invasive Rats on Seabirds: A Global Review. Conservation Biology 22:16-26.

 

Nogales, M., Rodriguez, J.L., Marrero, P. 2006. Ecological effects and distribution of invasive non-native mammals on the Canary Islands. Mammal Society 36:49-65.

 

Smith, Katherine F., Carpenter, S.M. 2006. Potential spread of introduced black rat (Rattus rattus) parasites to endemic deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) on the California Channel Islands. Diversity Distributions 12:742-48.