poor woodland regeneration which, eventually, causes
a decline in the number of natural species present
in the area (Phillips and Murdy, 1985). The fact that
R. ponticum is unpalatable to insects (Klocke et al.,
1991) also means that predation is not a limiting
factor for the survival of this invasive species.
Current aims in conservation lean more towards
the preservation of ecosystems in the state they
were in before human interference, often leading
to non-native species being removed immediately
before they can become problematic if funding
and techniques available allow it (Simberloff, 2014,
Dehnen-Schmutz et al., 2004). However, this type of
conservation ignores any positive impacts a species
might have, the public opinion/support for some
species (Calladine et al., 2017) or the dynamic nature
of ecosystems particularly as climate change become
an ever-increasing problem (Araújo et al., 2011,
Hannah et al., 2005).
H02 states that there was no significant difference in
activity per species between traps at R. ponticum and
T. baccata shrubs. H03 states that there will be no
significant difference in mouse activity between traps
at R. ponticum and T. baccata shrubs.
Method
Footprint tracking tunnels were set up per the
instructions provided by the supplier, which can be
found in appendix A. Diagrams of the setup of the
tunnels can be seen in figures 1 and 2. Inks were
supplied with the traps and mixed with vegetable oil,
as per the supplier’s instructions, and peanut butter
was used as a bait.
Conciliation Biology suggests an alternate
conservation approach, where native species can
adapt in response to non-native/ invasive species
(Carroll, 2011). Non- native plants may also provide
habitat for native species present in protected areas,
preventing movement (Schlaepfer, Sax and Olden,
2011). Following this concept, it may be possible
that non-native species such as R. ponticum can be
considered beneficial in a community and therefore
have a right to exist there, a suggestion supported
by Mattos et al. (2010), who found that R. ponticum
positively impacted wood mouse populations.
The aim of this study is to understand what- if
any- positive affects R. ponticum may have on
small mammal populations on Keele campus and if
the species could be used in approaches such as
Conciliation Biology. To establish this, species richness
and activity were analysed through footprint tracking.
Three null hypotheses were established: H01 states
that there will be no difference between the number
of species found between R. ponticum and T. baccata.
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