Duron Q. auteur aut IRD Bourguet E. auteur aut IRD De Meringo H. auteur aut IRD Millon A. auteur aut IRD Vidal Eric auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access Invasive rats (Rattus spp.) are known to have pervasive impacts on island birds, particularly on their nesting success. To conserve or restore bird populations, numerous invasive rat control or eradication projects are undertaken on islands worldwide. However, such projects represent a huge investment and the decision-making process requires proper assessment of rat impacts. Here, we assessed the influence of two sympatric invasive rats (Rattus rattus and R. exulans) on native bird eggs in a New Caledonian rainforest, using artificial bird-nest monitoring. A total of 178 artificial nests containing two eggs of three different sizes were placed either on the ground or 1.5 m high and monitored at the start of the birds' breeding season. Overall, 12.4% of the nests were depredated during the first 7 days. At site 1, where nests were monitored during 16 days, 41.8% of the nests were depredated. The main predator was the native crow Corvus moneduloides, responsible for 62.9% of the overall predation events. Rats were responsible for only 22.9% of the events, and ate only small and medium eggs at both heights. Our experiment suggests that in New Caledonia, predation pressure by rats strengthens overall bird-nest predation, adding to that by native predators. Experimental rat control operations may allow reduced predation pressure on nests as well as the recording of biodiversity responses after rat population reduction. specialized bird-nest predation forest birds invasive rodents island conservation rat management NOUVELLE CALEDONIE 080 082 63 6 583-590 2017 1674-5507 https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071393 10.1093/cz/zox009 1674-5507 [F B010071393] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010071393 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/divers17-12/010071393.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2018-01-05 2023-07-11 fdi:010071393 fre