<p> Invasive ants are one of the largest threats to Pacific island ecosystem conservation. I investigated effective ant control options by examining the relative attractiveness of five commercial ant baits to yellow crazy ants (<i>Anoplolepis gracilipes</i>). The results were used to select three baits whose efficacy at reducing <i>A. gracilipes</i> abundance was then tested in experimental treatment plots. The trials failed to identify an obvious preference for any of the baits and none of experimental treatments resulted in decreases in <i>A. gracilipes</i> abundance that differed from untreated plots. Additionally, the impact of <i>A. gracilipes</i> on nest initiation rates of Red-tailed Tropicbirds (<i>Phaethon rubricauda </i>) was explored. The survey found 90% fewer nest occurred in plots containing <i>A. gracilipes.</i> These results demonstrate the negative impacts invasive ants can have on ground-nesting seabirds and suggest that commercial ant baits may be ineffective against controlling <i> A. gracilipes</i> supercolonies.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:1556762 |
| Date | 13 August 2014 |
| Creators | Kropidlowski, Stefan Jozef |
| Publisher | University of Hawai'i at Hilo |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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