Satellite-Based Monitoring of Primary Production in a Mediterranean Islet Post Black Rat Eradication

Invasive rodents have a detrimental impact on terrestrial ecosystem functioning, this is often exacerbated small islands. Rat eradication campaigns are used to deal with environmental perturbation given their classification as invasive species. Studies assessing the effects of rodent control at scale scarce and thus little known about subsequent functional response vegetation rat control. In work, we use remote sensing assess black (Rattus rattus) Mediterranean productivity in Sa Dragonera Islet, Mallorca (Spain). Rats feed seeds, sprouts, leaves woody hence expect primary production increase nine years after rodenticide campaign. The Break Detection approach for additive season trend (BFAST method) was adopted examine changes density before campaign Islet (Balearic Islands), using temporal series monthly NDVI data extracted from Landsat imagery. same trends were examined zone where no took place, order weather-driven changes. results study revealed across 21-year time series. However, dates, magnitude, these could not be explicitly attributed action rats, when compared historical islet found co-occur within zone. These finding could, perhaps, explained by high resilience shrubs browsing including that invasion. appear show damage specific plant species, contribution global values, would overshadowed broader factors approach. suggest current passive restoration scheme imposed following sufficient effective restoration.