A case for multi-species management of sympatric herbivore pest impacts in the central Southern Alps, New Zealand

Abstract

Five herbivorous introduced mammals are sympatric in the central Southern Alps. All of these species have the potential to affect conservation values, yet the Department of Conservation at present monitors and mitigates the impacts of only one. We outline ecological arguments for multi-species management of sympatric herbivore pest impacts and use the two-species system of sympatric thar and chamois to highlight the need for multi-species management of the central Southern Alps alpine pest community.