How do introduced rats impact the ecology of seabird islands?

Rats have been introduced by humans to thousands of islands worldwide and can have important short-term effects on the ecology of these ecosystems. However, it is not clear to which degree these impacts persist in the long run. This ongoing project, conducted in collaboration with the Hellenic Ornithological society, investigates the role of rats (Rattus rattus) on numerous seabird islands in the Aegean Sea (Greece). Following experimental rat eradications, we investigate the changes in the vegetation, as well as the vertebrate and invertebrate populations on these islands. The aim of this project is to generate insights that can be used to guide management practices in island ecosystems in this part of the world.