Abstract Context Fenced reserves from which invasive predators are removed are increasingly used as a conservation management tool, because they provide safe havens for susceptible threatened species, and create dense populations of native wildlife that could act as a source population for recolonising the surrounding landscape. However, the latter effect might also act as a food source, and promote high densities of invasive predators on the edges of such reserves. Aims Our study aimed to determine whether activity of the feral cat is greater around the edges of a fenced conservation reserve, Arid Recovery, in northern South Australia. This reserve has abundant native rodents that move through the fence into the surrounding landscape. Methods We investigated (1) whether feral cats were increasingly likely to be detected on track transects closer to the fence over time as populations of native rodents increased inside the reserve, (2) whether native rodents were more likely to be found in the stomachs of cats caught close to the reserve edge, and (3) whether individual cats selectively hunted on the reserve fence compared with two other similar fences, on the basis of GPS movement data. Key results We found that (1) detection rates of feral cats on the edges of a fenced reserve increased through time as populations of native rodents increased inside the reserve, (2) native rodents were far more likely to be found in the stomach of cats collected at the reserve edge than in the stomachs of cats far from the reserve edge, and (3) GPS tracking of cat movements showed a selection for the reserve fence edge, but not for similar fences away from the reserve. Conclusions Invasive predators such as feral cats are able to focus their movements and activity to where prey availability is greatest, including the edges of fenced conservation reserves. This limits the capacity of reserves to function as source areas from which animals can recolonise the surrounding landscape, and increases predation pressure on populations of other species living on the reserve edge. Implications Managers of fenced conservation reserves should be aware that increased predator control may be critical for offsetting the elevated impacts of feral cats attracted to the reserve fence.

中文翻译：

---

围栏保护区产生的边缘效应使入侵的中掠食动物受益

摘要 背景 移除入侵捕食者的围栏保护区越来越多地用作保护管理工具，因为它们为易受威胁的物种提供了安全的避风港，并创造了密集的本地野生动物种群，可以作为重新殖民周围景观的源种群。然而，后一种效应也可能作为食物来源，并促进此类保护区边缘的高密度入侵捕食者。目的 我们的研究旨在确定在南澳大利亚北部有围栏的自然保护区 Arid Recovery 的边缘，野猫的活动是否更大。这个保护区有丰富的本地啮齿动物，它们穿过围栏进入周围的景观。方法 我们调查了 (1) 随着时间的推移，随着保护区内本地啮齿动物数量的增加，是否越来越有可能在靠近围栏的轨道横断面上检测到野猫，(2) 是否更有可能在保护区内发现本地啮齿动物靠近保护区边缘的猫，以及（3）根据 GPS 移动数据，与其他两个类似的栅栏相比，个别猫是否有选择地在保护区栅栏上捕猎。主要结果 我们发现 (1) 围栏保护区边缘的野猫检测率随着保护区内本地啮齿动物数量的增加而增加，(2) 本地啮齿动物更有可能在猫的胃中被发现在保留边缘收集的比在远离保留边缘的猫的胃中收集，(3) 猫运动的 GPS 跟踪显示了对保护区围栏边缘的选择，但没有对远离保护区的类似围栏进行选择。结论 野猫等入侵性捕食者能够将它们的运动和活动集中在猎物最容易获得的地方，包括围栏保护区的边缘。这限制了保护区作为动物可以重新定居周围景观的源区的能力，并增加了生活在保护区边缘的其他物种种群的捕食压力。影响 围栏保护区的管理者应该意识到，加强捕食者控制对于抵消被保护区围栏吸引的野猫所造成的影响可能至关重要。结论 野猫等入侵性捕食者能够将它们的运动和活动集中在猎物最容易获得的地方，包括围栏保护区的边缘。这限制了保护区作为动物可以重新定居周围景观的源区的能力，并增加了生活在保护区边缘的其他物种种群的捕食压力。影响 围栏保护区的管理者应该意识到，加强捕食者控制对于抵消被保护区围栏吸引的野猫所造成的影响可能至关重要。结论 野猫等入侵性捕食者能够将它们的运动和活动集中在猎物最容易获得的地方，包括围栏保护区的边缘。这限制了保护区作为动物可以重新定居周围景观的源区的能力，并增加了生活在保护区边缘的其他物种种群的捕食压力。影响 围栏保护区的管理者应该意识到，加强捕食者控制对于抵消被保护区围栏吸引的野猫所造成的影响可能至关重要。这限制了保护区作为动物可以重新定居周围景观的源区的能力，并增加了生活在保护区边缘的其他物种种群的捕食压力。影响 围栏保护区的管理者应该意识到，加强捕食者控制对于抵消被保护区围栏吸引的野猫所造成的影响可能至关重要。这限制了保护区作为动物可以重新定居周围景观的源区的能力，并增加了生活在保护区边缘的其他物种种群的捕食压力。影响 围栏保护区的管理者应该意识到，加强捕食者控制对于抵消被保护区围栏吸引的野猫所造成的影响可能至关重要。