The conflicting outcomes from previous studies provides the motivation for this more comprehensive field study assessing the effects of stoat control on mouse dynamics. Here we clarify the discrepancy between research suggesting that mesopredator release of rodents will occur in New Zealand forest systems and field studies that have presented limited but conflicting support for increases in mouse abundance following predator control. We used an experimental design to test for differences between areas with and without stoat control after accounting for known effects of resources, density and competition on mouse dynamics in NZ beech forests. We found no evidence to suggest mice will become more abundant after predator removal.
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