Question

In the Caribbean, the first case of the failure/controversial due to attack on beneficial non-targets in the area of biological control was the use of

• A. Rattus rattus
• B. Mabuya sloanii
• C. Anolis sp
• D. Herpestes auropunctatus

Hint:

Vertebrate introductions (like the mongoose or cane toad) for biological control have a high risk of failure due to their generalist diets. Modern biological control programs prioritize highly host-specific insect parasitoids or pathogens.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Classical biological control involves introducing an exotic natural enemy to manage an invasive pest population.
While often successful, introducing generalist predators can lead to unintended ecological damage if the introduced agent begins preying on native, non-target species.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In the late 19th century, sugarcane plantations in the Caribbean suffered heavy losses from invasive rats (Rattus rattus and Rattus norvegicus).
To control the rats, plantation owners introduced the small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus).
Initially, the mongoose helped suppress rat populations.
However, the introduction turned into an ecological disaster because the mongoose is a diurnal generalist predator, whereas rats are primarily nocturnal.
Instead of hunting rats, the mongoose began preying heavily on vulnerable, native non-target fauna.
This led to severe population declines and extinctions of several native Caribbean ground-nesting birds, reptiles (such as Mabuya sloanii and Anolis species), and amphibians.
This introduction is now recognized as a classic, controversial failure of biological control, highlighting the dangers of introducing generalist vertebrate predators into island ecosystems.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The small Indian mongoose (Herpestes auropunctatus) was the agent behind this biological control controversy.
Thus, the correct option is (D).