The disappearance of a natural predator paved the way to another, which invades by various ways. Who suffers is the Ecosystem of New York Island.
Fire Island, a close track of coastal land south of Long Island, New York, recently saw its wild cat population firing unexpectedly.
Now, the huge population of wild cats is endangering the survival of the bustle (Charadrius melodus), small, threatened coastal bird, which nests directly on the ground, advances this month.
The island is only 300 meters wide and is natural refuge for those looking for isolated beaches and rare forests of holly. Already in the past decade, these birds were under threat because of tourism and increased frequency of storms.
In 2012, Hurricane Sandy broke the island in various segments, but birds escaped relatively unharmed. In 2015, another “plague” arrived: a highly contagious sarcoptic scabies epidemic between canids, almost exterminated the populations of red foxes – The main natural predators of the lambs.
Initially, the decline of the foxes was a relief to the birds, but the ecological emptiness left by the predators who attacked their nests was quickly filled by other predatory species – raccoons, skunks and many, but many wild cats.
The cats They will have invaded the island by various ways – crossing bridges, taking advantage of the ice in winter to walk there or even being left by humans. Some animals showed signs of participation in capture, sterilization and return programs-it became evident by the cut ears.
These programs, however, do not prevent reproduction, the dissemination of diseases or the displacement of animals to other areas: cats must be removed.
Even though The impact is already noted of the invasion. The catfrail predation rate is higher than the foxes were the main predators.
National Park authorities and researchers focus efforts on restoring bird habitats, trying to keep the dune zones open and sparse vegetation – ideal for borers to detect threats and minimize human disturbances.
