BIOL 329 Lecture Notes - Lecture 44: Warfarin, Haida Gwaii, Melilotus
8 May 2018
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Lect 44
Warfarin: poison which lyses blood cells. From sweet clover. Major oral anticoagulant in human
medicine. Inhibits Vit K formation. Results in hemorrhaging, highly toxic to all vertebrates. Major global
pesticide against rats and mice. Odourless and tasteless. 100% mortality. Extensive use led to evolution
of warfarin resistance. Second generation pesticides: brodifacoum.
Towhee: include multiple methodologies for each part of the coloring (e.g. front, back, spots).
Eradication of Norway rats for recovery of seabird habitat. Several ravens died from consumption of
poisoned rats. Eradication was successful.
Ancient Murrelets: Colony size increased to twice its size during the rat infestation but burrow density
decreased after rat eradication. Few if any predators. Widespread everywhere throughout the
archipelago. Significant predator on ground nesting birds. These have no defense against raccoon.
Sitka deer: widely distributed in mainland, inner islands. Mainly consume soft plant tissues. No upper
incisors, grind plant with molars. Wolf, cougar, black bear, grizzly bear are predators. 1878: 8 deer
introduced to Haida Gwaii; introduction did not take.
Introduced again in 1912 and 1925. By 2005 = 150,000. Low predation levels other than humans. Small
body size. Important protein source for locals. Haida Gwaii has no understory due to the deer. Much
more ground ioass here deer do’t eist.
Deer free vs long-term deer populated forests: much higher insect populations in deer free areas,
decreasing with the amount of time that deer have been present. Same rates whether at forest edge or
in the interior.
Deer browsing changes in vegetation reduces understory abundance fewer herbivores
fewer pollinators
= fewer predators and parasites
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