Stop eradication of smallmammals to protect vital ecosystems, say scientists
The study has important implications for grassland management practices worldwide. Small burrowing mammals are common in grasslands, and their eradication can negatively impact ecosystem health and productivity.
The policy is part of a nationwide initiative, the Returning Grazing Land to Grassland project, and is based on the assumption that the rodents cause damage to grasslands by consuming foliage and therefore compete with grazing livestock for food, and cause soil erosion. The research team conducting experiments on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Credit: Wenjin Li and Lanzhou University
Additionally, this policy can increase human-wildlife conflict by reducing natural predator populations and creating imbalances in the ecosystem. "This then requires more human control, which is costly and negatively impacts non-target species and the environment."The researchers suggest the goal to control burrowing mammal populations should not be totally eradicated but can be regulated with a nature-based control strategy that uses natural predators and other environmental factors such as their preferred plant species and the height of vegetation.
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