Predator-mediated interactions through changes in predator home range size can lead to local prey exclusion

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 290(2004)

Published: Aug. 9, 2023

The strength of indirect biotic interactions is difficult to quantify in the wild and can alter community composition. To investigate whether presence a prey species affects population growth rate another species, we quantified predator-mediated interaction using multi-prey mechanistic model predation matrix model. Models were parametrized behavioural, demographic experimental data from vertebrate that includes arctic fox (

Language: Английский

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Scientific contributions and lessons learned from 30 years of ecological monitoring of the Bylot Island tundra ecosystem

Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12

Published: March 19, 2024

The Arctic tundra has a relatively low biodiversity but species living there have unique adaptations and are exposed to unprecedented rates of climate warming. Monitoring changes in identifying the driving forces is thus pressing issue. Bylot Island Canadian one longest most comprehensive monitoring programs food web, spanning four decades. We provide historical overview ecological studies on Island, summarize their key scientific contributions, show impacts, present ingredients for success program main challenges encountered. Some major contributions include demonstrating role predation structuring importance exchanges between ecosystems persistence top predators cascading effects trophic interactions, apparent resistance vertebrate biota warming, need consider multiple hypotheses explain northward range expansion benefits integrating data local knowledge into monitoring. produced >250 journal articles >80 graduate student theses, which generated >7,700 citations literature. A high proportion (65%) had more than comparable publications field. longevity can be attributed several factors, including researcher-driven (i.e. bottom-up) approach design monitoring; long-term commitment small number dedicated researchers strong participation students; adoption web rather single perspective; extensive presence field; combination methodological approaches; use spatial scales adapted research questions interest. Challenges encountered funding issues, transfer expertise over time, limited replication, statistical maintaining partnerships. Robust essential sound baseline detect future changes, lessons learned from our could improve schemes Arctic. Paradoxically, we believe that been successful large part because it was not originally designed as per se.

Language: Английский

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Foraging rates from metabarcoding: Predators have reduced functional responses in wild, diverse prey communities

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(3)

Published: March 1, 2024

Abstract Functional responses describe foraging rates across prey densities and underlie many fundamental ecological processes. Most functional response knowledge comes from simplified lab experiments, but we do not know whether these experiments accurately represent in nature. In addition, the difficulty of conducting multispecies means that it is unclear interaction strengths are weakened presence multiple types. We developed a novel method to estimate wild predators' metabarcoding data use this present for wolf spiders on 27 families. These field were considerably reduced compared responses. further find sometimes increased other types, contrary expectations. Our estimating will allow researchers determine predators address long‐standing questions about

Language: Английский

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Intraseasonal variations in the spatial behaviour of an Arctic predator

Movement Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: March 4, 2025

In highly constrained ecosystems such as in the Arctic, animals must constantly adjust their movements to cope with versatile environmental conditions. However, date most studies have focused on interseasonal differences spatial behaviour, while intraseasonal dynamics are less described. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied movement patterns of an Arctic predator, arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) at scale. unravel temporal space use and metrics, used GPS data collected 20 individual foxes between 2017 2023 North-East Greenland. We showed that weekly full core home range sizes (estimated by means Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimates), daily mean relative turning angles stayed constant throughout summer. Conversely, distance travelled, speed proportion 'active' time variations. These fine-scale metrics had a hump-shaped distribution, peaking mid-July, males non-breeding travelling longer distances being faster. Site-specific were also identified, having smaller territories two productive sites but moving shorter lower speeds poorest site. Our study provides novel insights into how predators behaviour variations Specifically, show different patterns. underline importance considering small spatiotemporal scales fully understand predators' behaviour.

Language: Английский

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Spatial Ecology and Home Range Drivers of the Weyns's Duiker (Cephalophus weynsi) in Rainforest Habitat

African Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 63(3)

Published: April 1, 2025

ABSTRACT In Central Africa's tropical forests, duikers ( Cephalophus spp.) are essential seed dispersers and prey for apex predators humans. However, little is known about their spatial ecology, with no studies available medium‐sized species south of the Congo River. Here, we study forest duiker use in buffer zone Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic Congo. We assess capture success (1) collective day nets (2) night head‐torches GPS/VHF collars to investigate species‐specific home‐range (a) size, (b) (c) overlap. Across 7 months, 47 attempts allowed collaring 13 Weyns's C. weynsi ), two bay dorsalis one black‐fronted nigrifrons ) duiker, similar between techniques. mean home range size was 29.38 ha, stable core areas dynamic boundaries. While breeding pair showed 72.80% overlap a interindividual distance 288 m, non‐breeding pairs ranged 4.5% 52.2%, an average 533 m. Our assessment suggests that anthropogenic disturbances might affect behaviour reproductive success. Further research on ecology ungulates key improving conservation strategies.

Language: Английский

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Predator home range size mediates indirect interactions between prey species in an arctic vertebrate community

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 92(12), P. 2373 - 2385

Published: Oct. 10, 2023

Abstract Indirect interactions are widespread among prey species that share a common predator, but the underlying mechanisms driving these often unclear, and our ability to predict their outcome is limited. Changes in behavioural traits impact predator space use could be key proximal mechanism mediating indirect interactions, there little empirical evidence of causes consequences such behavioural‐numerical response multispecies systems. Here, we investigate complex ecological relationships between seven sharing predator. We used path analysis approach on comprehensive 9‐year data set simultaneously tracking use, densities mortality rate simplified Arctic food web. show high availability clumped spatially predictable (goose eggs) leads twofold reduction (arctic fox) home range size, which increases local density strongly decreases nest survival an incidental (American golden plover). On contrary, scattered cyclic with potentially lower spatial predictability (lemming) had weaker effect fox overall positive prey. These contrasting effects underline importance studying responses predators multiprey systems explicitly integrate predator–prey models.

Language: Английский

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Linking geomorphological processes and wildlife microhabitat selection: nesting birds select refuges generated by permafrost degradation in the Arctic

Biogeosciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 21(14), P. 3401 - 3423

Published: July 24, 2024

Abstract. To gain better insight into the cascading impact of warming-induced changes in physical landscape on biodiversity, it is crucial to understand links between abiotic and ecological processes governing species distribution. Abiotic shaping characteristics environment could significantly influence predator movements ultimately affect biodiversity through interspecific interactions. In Arctic tundra, main terrestrial (Arctic fox) avoids patches wetlands composed ponds with islets that can act as refuges for prey. Little known about geomorphological generating selected by prey species. Our study aimed identify (i) Arctic-nesting birds (ii) available landscape. Over two breeding seasons, we determined occurrence nesting (cackling goose, glaucous gull, red-throated loon) (N=396) found over a 165 km2 area Bylot Island (Nunavut, Canada). Occupied were located further away from shore (10.6 m ± 7.3 SD vs. 7.4 6.8 SD) surrounded deeper water (33.6 cm 10.6 28.1 11.5 than unoccupied islets. As expected, all three bird less accessible foxes, increasing distance depth around Based high-resolution satellite imagery field observations, ice-wedge polygon degradation generated majority (71 %) Those average farther those other processes. projected accelerate response warming, new will likely emerge landscape, but current also disappear. Changes rate may thus tundra altering predator–prey

Language: Английский

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Macroecological constraints on species' ‘movement profiles’: Body mass does not explain it all

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(2), P. 227 - 243

Published: Nov. 29, 2023

Abstract Aim Animals couple habitats by three types of movement: dispersal, migration, and foraging, which dynamically link populations, communities, ecosystems. Across these types, movement distances tend to correlate with each other, potentially reflecting allometric scaling body mass, but ecological evolutionary species' traits may constrain weaken correlations. Here, we investigate multivariate “movement profiles” better understand patterns in across the aim improving predictions ecology from populations Location Global. Time period 1945–2019. Major taxa studied Vertebrates. Methods We synthesized all (dispersal, foraging) 300+ vertebrate species investigated how relationships between mass were modified history trophic guild. Results found that strength varied among guilds, for example, strongly positive mammals weak birds, or guilds foraging dispersal not migration. Notably, profiles interacted effects shared guild diminish covariance types. Main conclusions Overall, find distinct consequences (foraging, migration) are often correlated, although some seem able overcome biomechanical, evolutionary, metabolic constraints reducing correlations This integrative assessment can improve prediction allowing estimation unobserved parameterization models based on other

Language: Английский

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Long-term study of the tundra food web at a hotspot of Arctic biodiversity, the Bylot Island Field Station

Arctic Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 10(1), P. 108 - 124

Published: Sept. 20, 2023

We present the history of research activities at Bylot Island Field Station Centre d’études nordiques, a hotspot biodiversity in Canadian Arctic. Intensive wildlife studies started station late 1980s, initially focussing on greater snow goose ecology and its impacts tundra vegetation. Since then, have expanded to encompass whole vertebrate food web become one most comprehensive ecological monitoring programs The main species monitored include geese, lemmings, shorebirds, avian predators, buntings, Arctic foxes. Over time, we recorded 66 bird 10 mammal species, including 51 confirmed breeders. Contributions program field are numerous, but our demonstration dominant role played by predator–prey interactions is especially significant for understanding direct indirect trophic interactions. Our provided essential information management decisions taken control overabundant population supported international efforts assess state biodiversity. Future directions will reflect need deepen effects climate change using innovative advanced technologies.

Language: Английский

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Integrating predator energetic balance, risk-taking behavior and microhabitat in functional response: Untangling indirect interactions in a multispecies vertebrate community

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Dec. 22, 2024

1 Abstract Predator-prey interactions are universal, governing the flow of energy between trophic levels and shaping ecological communities. Despite >70 years research, our knowledge mechanisms modulating strength these is limited. To untangle proximate species improve ability to quantify interaction strength, we developed a mechanistic model that integrates predator risk-taking behavior, energetic balance anti-predator refuges in natural vertebrate community. Our model, based on traits was inspired by Arctic tundra, where main (the arctic fox) feeds primarily cyclic small rodents (lemmings) eggs various tundra-nesting bird such as sandpipers eggs(non-risky prey) gulls (risky prey). We confront predictions with 20 data density reproductive success. According lemmings most important contributor foxes, threshold 89 per km 2 required switch positive balance. When fox goes from (high lemming density) negative (low density), acquisition rate gull increases 1.7 times shores 9.5 islands, partial refuge riskier habitat for predator. Variation hatching success generated aligned empirical observations both habitat. results show changes balance, translating into change attack capture probabilities, can be major mechanism underlying predator-mediated effect This study critical step towards integration landscape characteristics predator-multiprey models presents one rare parameterized Such strongly strengths multi-species

Language: Английский

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