The Ecology and Conservation Group
Idan Shapira

RESEARCH

The role of olfactory attraction in invasive rodents as a tool for conservation

Four species of rodents have been introduced to New Zealand (NZ) since 1200 AD. Their severe affects on the environment is well documented. Extensive rodent eradication programs have been executed in NZ from the 1970's. The government of NZ is currently spending around NZ$40 million annually on mammalian pest control. This, along with the issues emerging from high usage of poisoning, requires the development of more efficient, and potentially poisons free methods for rodent control. Reproduction of many rodents depends on olfactory cues. The reproductive condition of a female can affect not only her potential mates, but also other females. A preliminary study run by Gsell and colleagues (unpublished data) at a site near Albany, NZ, showed that wild rats are attracted to a caged laboratory rat. These results provide the groundwork for developing a system which incorporates the odours produced by rats for attracting conspecifics and hence improve the detection and trapping of rodents in the wild.

FUNDING BODIES

• New Zealand International Doctoral Scholarship: 2009-2011
  - 3 years fully funded PhD thesis program.
• The Society for Conservation Biology: 2006
  - Travel award for an invited symposium in the 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology.
• The Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC) Grant Program, US AID, Washington DC, USA: 2002-2005
  - 3-year fully funded MSc thesis program.
• Faculty of Science and Science Education, University of Haifa: 2003
  - A scholarship award for under graduate studies achievements.

PUBLICATION/ REPORTS

Shapira I; Sultan H & Shanas U 2008. Agricultural farming alters predator-prey interactions in nearby natural habitats. Animal Conservation,11:1-8 (Featured article and cover page).

Shanas U; Shapira I & Sultan H 2008. Behavioural alterations as part of an agricultural edge effect. Animal Conservation 11:15-16.

Shanas U; Abu Galyun Y; Alshamlih M; Cnaani J; Guscio (Ucitel) D; Khoury F; Mittler S; Nassar K; Shapira I; Simon D; Sultan H; Topel E & Ziv Y 2006. Reptile diversity and rodent community structure across a political border. Biological Conservation 132: 292-299.

Shapira I 2006. The effect of agricultural development on red fox abundance and gerbil foraging behavious in the Southern Arava Valley desert ecosystem adjoining Israel and Jordan. Unpublished MSc thesis. University of Haifa, Israel.
|Abstract (PDF, 1.2 MB)|

CONFERENCES ATTENDED

2008 - Annual conference of the New Zealand Ecological Society, Auckland, New Zealand.

2006 - 20th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, San Jose, USA.
Shapira I, Sultan H & Shanas U. The effect of agricultural development on red fox abundance and gerbil foraging behaviours in the southern Arava valley desert ecosystem adjoining Israel and Jordan.
(as part of an invited symposium)

2006 - The Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Israel, Rehovot, Israel.
Shapira I & Shanas U. Gerbils behaviour reveals possible pitfall in the giving-up density method.

2004 - The Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Israel., Haifa, Israel.
Shapira I, Sultan H & Shanas U. Farming indirectly affects gerbil foraging behaviour along the Israeli-Jordanian border.

2004 - 18th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology., NYC, USA.
Shapira I, Sultan H & Shanas U. Direct and indirect effects of agriculture: gerbils foraging behaviour along the Israeli-Jordanian border.

2003 - The Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Israel, Sde Boker, Israel.

2002 - The Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Israel, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

2002 - Biodiversity in Israel, Tel-Aviv, Israel.

2001 - The Annual Meeting of the Zoological Society of Israel, Haifa, Israel.

AWARDS

• 2004: 18th Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology, NYC, USA.
  The African Section of the SCB photo contest, First Place and Third Place in "Wild Life", Second Place in "Landscape" and two "Special Remarks".

Cheetah cubs, Tanzania - 2000
1st Place in "Africa Section"

Superb Starling, Serengeti - 2000
3rd Place in "Africa Section"

Giant sand dunes, Namibia - 1997
2nd Place in "Landscape"

Leopard, Kenya - 2001
Special Remarks

Serval Cat, Tanzania - 2000
Special Remarks