Key insights
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1
Ecosystem Recovery: Removing invasive rats leads to the recovery of native species and habitats.
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2
Seabird Population Growth: Increased seabird populations enhance nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
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3
Coral Reef Resilience: Coral reefs near rat-free islands grow faster and recover better from bleaching.
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4
Climate Change Mitigation: Restoring islands helps combat climate change impacts on atolls.
Takeaways
The successful removal of rats demonstrates the potential for targeted conservation efforts to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity.