JADE Student Edition 2019 JADE JSLUG 2019 | Seite 97

Although ground dwelling mammals may benefit from
the increase in R. ponticum, aerial predators would
lose out on a food source. R. ponticum has large,
evergreen leaves which would heavily protect small
mammals from predation, leading to the reduced
hunting success of predatory birds such as eagles
and owls (Southern and Lowe, 1968). Further study
is always recommended to establish what impact
R. ponticum may have on aerial predators at Keele.
Other areas of further research may include assessing
the impact that mice populations may have of seed
germination, as well as how weather conditions and
human disturbance may impact the results found in
this study.
Conclusion
Overall, this study has found that the presence of
R. ponticum does not necessarily increase species
richness compared to native species such as T.
baccata, however in woodland areas such as Keele
University campus, the presence of R. ponticum can
increase the observed activity of species, particularly
the wood mouse. Future research would be required
to see if this increase in activity actually reflects an
increase in species abundance, or if this increased
activity is just one individual, such as using live
trapping or observations.
These results somewhat support conciliation biology,
suggesting that R. ponticum can potentially provide
habitat for native species of mustelid and small
mammal, specifically rodents such as the wood
mouse, meaning that rhododendron could be used
as a tool for conservation of these species. However,
any potential uses of R. ponticum are limited by the
well documented negative effects such as woodland
degradation and potential damage to aerial predator
populations.
It has also been established that R. ponticum is
naturalised in the UK, with removal being difficult. If
R. ponticum were to be used as a conservation tool
for small mammal species, extensive management
plans would need to be put in place in order to
monitor its growth and ensure that the negative
effects of this invasive species are not allowed
to occur. If rhododendron were to be used, plans
to remove the plant must also be in place for all
rhododendron plants in the area if something were
to go wrong, be that infection from Phytopthora
ramorum or unplanned growth and spread of plants
used.
Overall, we cannot ignore the positive effects of R.
ponticum and with carefully organised management
using it to help native species and to allow
co-evolution is possible. Essentially, rhododendron
could be used as a tool for the conservation of small
mammals and mustelids. However, we don’t want
to rule out the detrimental effect it could have on
the environment, including its potential to spread
infection. Currently, it cannot be advised that R.
ponticum should be maintained and managed rather
than removed.
References
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D. and Thuiller, W., 2011. Climate change threatens
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Bellard, C., Cassey, P. and Blackburn, T.M., 2016.
Alien species as a driver of recent extinctions. Biology
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Calladine, J., Humphreys, E.M., Gilbert, L., Furness,
R.W., Robinson, R.A., Fuller, R.J., Littlewood, N.A.,
Pakeman, R.J., Ferguson, J. and Thompson, C., 2017.
Continuing influences of introduced hedgehogs
Erinaceus europaeus as a predator of wader
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