The influence of human activity on predator–prey spatiotemporal overlap

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 92(6), P. 1124 - 1134

Published: Jan. 30, 2023

Abstract Despite growing evidence of widespread impacts humans on animal behaviour, our understanding how reshape species interactions remains limited. Here, we present a framework that draws key concepts from behavioural and community ecology to outline four primary pathways by which can alter predator–prey spatiotemporal overlap. We suggest dyads exhibit similar or opposite responses human activity with distinct outcomes for predator diet, predation rates, population demography trophic cascades. demonstrate assess these response hypothesis testing, using temporal data 178 published camera trap studies terrestrial mammals. found each the proposed pathways, revealing multiple patterns influence Our case study highlight current challenges, gaps, advances in linking behaviour change dynamics. By hypothesis‐driven approach estimate potential altered interactions, researchers anticipate ecological consequences activities whole communities.

Language: Английский

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Cougars, wolves, and humans drive a dynamic landscape of fear for elk

Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 105(4)

Published: Feb. 15, 2024

Abstract To manage predation risk, prey navigate a dynamic landscape of fear, or spatiotemporal variation in risk perception, reflecting predator distributions, traits, and activity cycles. Prey may seek to reduce across this using habitat at times places when predators are less active. In multipredator landscapes, avoiding one could increase vulnerability another, making the fear difficult predict navigate. Additionally, humans shape interactions between prey, induce new sources risk. Humans can function as shield, providing refuge for from human‐averse carnivores, predator, causing mortality through hunting vehicle collisions eliciting response that exceed carnivores. We used telemetry data collected 2017 2021 63 Global Positioning System‐collared elk ( Cervus canadensis ), 42 cougars Puma concolor 16 wolves Canis lupus ) examine how selection changed relation carnivores northeastern Washington, USA. Using step functions, we evaluated use cougars, wolves, humans, diel period (daytime vs. nighttime), season (summer calving fall season), structure (open closed habitat). The cycle was critical understanding movement, allowing encounters with where they would be largest threat. Elk strongly avoided night but had near‐neutral during day, whereas all day. generally more open habitats were most active, rather than altering depending on species. day ~80% adult female human caused, suggesting functioned “super predator” system. Simultaneously, leveraged shield against not night, no confirmed have been killed by wolves. Our results add mounting evidence profoundly affect predator–prey interactions, highlighting importance studying these dynamics anthropogenic areas.

Language: Английский

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Mammalian predator and prey responses to recreation and land use across multiple scales provide limited support for the human shield hypothesis

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(9)

Published: Sept. 1, 2023

Outdoor recreation is widespread, with uncertain effects on wildlife. The human shield hypothesis (HSH) suggests that could have differential predators and prey, predator avoidance of humans creating a spatial refuge 'shielding' prey from people. generality the HSH remains to be tested across larger scales, wherein shielding may prove generalizable, or diminish variability in ecological contexts. We combined data 446 camera traps 79,279 sampling days 10 landscapes spanning 15,840 km

Language: Английский

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Human-induced fear in wildlife: A review

Journal for Nature Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 74, P. 126448 - 126448

Published: July 3, 2023

Language: Английский

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Landscape of fear or landscape of food? Moose hunting triggers an antipredator response in brown bears

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(4)

Published: March 13, 2023

Abstract Hunters can affect the behavior of wildlife by inducing a landscape fear, selecting individuals with specific traits, or altering resource availability across landscape. Most research investigating influence hunting on selection has focused target species and less attention been devoted to nontarget species, such as scavengers that be both attracted repelled activities. We used functions identify areas where hunters were most likely kill moose ( Alces alces ) in south‐central Sweden during fall. Then, we step‐selection determine whether female brown bears Ursus arctos selected avoided these resources season. found that, day nighttime, more moose. evidence varied substantially fall some behavioral changes consistent disturbance associated hunters. Brown select concealed locations young (i.e., regenerating) coniferous forests further away from roads Our results suggest react spatial temporal variations apparent risk fall: create fear trigger an antipredator response large carnivore even if are not specifically targeted Such responses might lead indirect habitat loss lower foraging efficiency resulting consequences should considered when planning seasons.

Language: Английский

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Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(7)

Published: Aug. 21, 2023

Humans are increasingly recognized as important players in predator-prey dynamics by modifying landscapes. This trend has been well-documented for large mammal communities North American boreal forests: logging creates early seral forests that benefit ungulates such white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), while the combination of infrastructure development and resource extraction practices generate linear features allow predators wolves (Canis lupus) to travel forage more efficiently throughout landscape. Disturbances from recreational activities residential other major sources human activity ecosystems may further alter wolf-ungulate dynamics. Here, we evaluate influence several types anthropogenic landscape modifications (timber harvest, features, infrastructure) have on where how hunt ungulate neonates a southern forest ecosystem Minnesota, USA. We demonstrate each disturbance significantly influences wolf predation fawns (n = 427 kill sites). In contrast with "human shield hypothesis" posits prey use human-modified areas refuge, killed closer buildings than expected based spatial availability. Fawns were also within recently-logged expected. Concealment cover was higher at sites random sites, suggesting senses vision, probably olfaction, detect hidden fawns. Wolves showed strong selection hunting along hypothesize facilitated allowing among high-quality patches (recently logged areas, near buildings), increase encounter rates olfactory cues them These findings provide novel insight into strategies many ways alters neonate dynamics, which remained elusive due challenges locating small prey. Our research management conservation implications systems subjected pressures, particularly range overlap between expands appears be altering food web ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Functional landscape connectivity for a select few: Linkages do not consistently predict wildlife movement or occupancy

Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 243, P. 104953 - 104953

Published: Nov. 24, 2023

Landscape-level connectivity models developed in geographic information systems (GIS) produce hypothetical objects proposed to connect areas of habitat fragmented landscapes, hereafter called "linkages". Assuming they are used by organisms nature, linkages could be an important tool for the maintenance viable wildlife populations and biodiversity conservation. We evaluated five California linkage (four statewide one desert specific) use common mammal, reptile amphibian species two ways using >180,000 detections over 20 years. If more often than surrounding areas, we expect find evidence their occurrence within significantly outside linkages. First, focused on wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) data as a proxy movement across landscapes tested whether were predictor presence WVCs. Second, occupancy modeling with inferred non-detections assess predictors landscape. found that not consistent WVCs, exception certain large-bodied mammals individual models. Linkage also probability landscape most species. These results show that, lacking validation, alone will support functional general Therefore, caution should exercised when land transportation-based conservation planning. In urban environments, modeled may reflect critical last places move reserved. However, mixed-use where easily, gradient target conservation, including land-use transportation

Language: Английский

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Carnivore activity across landuse gradients in a Mexican biosphere reserve

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 5, 2025

Anthropogenic activities are increasingly encroaching into wildland areas, heightening interactions between human and carnivore communities. Area-based conservation measures, such as protected areas (PAs), employ different management strategies via land-use designations to mitigate anthropogenic pressures reduce human-wildlife conflicts in shared landscapes. Here, we assessed diel activity temporal overlap around El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve (REBITRI) Chiapas, Mexico, along a designation gradient. We deployed 33 camera traps the gradient, leveraging reserve's core buffer zones, private lands surrounding reserve. calculated species detect changes interspecific competition predator-prey In total, detected 14 carnivores 10 zone, 9 on land across 4777 trap-night survey. Significant shifts single-species zones were for margay (Leopardus wiedii) grey fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Activity was highest zone all pairs, two competitor suggesting reduced niche partitioning this due varied pressures. Our findings contribute assessing PA efficacy understanding multiple-use landscapes where ubiquitous.

Language: Английский

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A Game of Risk: Human Activities Shape Roe Deer Spatial Behavior in Presence of Wolves in the Southwestern Alps

Diversity, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(2), P. 115 - 115

Published: Feb. 5, 2025

In human-dominated landscapes, human activities shape prey spatial behavior, creating complex landscapes of risks. We investigated habitat selection roe deer using resource functions in a mountain system located the southwestern Alps, characterized by high presence wolves and disturbance. Our study aimed to assess how interplay hunting, infrastructures, recreational influenced responses inside outside protected area. documented that during hunting period, increased high-wolf-density areas, with strongest effect observed wild boar drive hunts, supporting risk enhancement hypothesis, where avoiding one predator increases exposure another, highlighting temporary yet significant impact on predator–prey dynamics. During period hunt, also showed stronger for proximity buildings, shield hypothesis. Protected areas had an avoidance trails, hiking are more concentrated. findings revealed trade-offs face navigating multiple risks within human-modified important development effective conservation sustainability strategies.

Language: Английский

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When the wild things are: Defining mammalian diel activity and plasticity

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 11(9)

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Circadian rhythms are a mechanism by which species adapt to environmental variability and fundamental understanding behavior. However, we lack data standardized framework accurately assess compare temporal activity for during rapid ecological change. Through global network representing 38 countries, leveraged 8.9 million mammalian observations create library of 14,587 diel estimates 445 species. We found that less than half the species’ were in agreement with classifications from reference literature commonly used more one classification. Species was highly plastic when exposed anthropogenic Furthermore, body size distributional extent strongly associated whether is diurnal or nocturnal. Our findings provide essential knowledge behavior an era change suggest need new, quantitative defines logically consistently while capturing plasticity.

Language: Английский

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