Disturbance type and species life history predict mammal responses to humans

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(16), P. 3718 - 3731

Published: April 22, 2021

Abstract Human activity and land use change impact every landscape on Earth, driving declines in many animal species while benefiting others. Species ecological life history traits may predict success human‐dominated landscapes such that only with “winning” combinations of will persist disturbed environments. However, this link between successful coexistence humans remains obscured by the complexity anthropogenic disturbances variability among study systems. We compiled detection data for 24 mammal from 61 populations across North America to quantify effects (1) direct presence people (2) human footprint (landscape modification) occurrence levels. Thirty‐three percent exhibited a net negative response (i.e., reduced or activity) increasing and/or populations, whereas 58% were positively associated disturbance. apparent benefits tended decrease disappear at higher disturbance levels, indicative thresholds species’ capacity tolerate exploit landscapes. strong predictors their responses footprint, favoring smaller, less carnivorous, faster‐reproducing species. The positive distributed more randomly respect trait values, winners losers range body sizes dietary guilds. Differential some highlight importance considering these two forms separately when estimating impacts wildlife. Our approach provides insights into complex mechanisms through which activities shape communities globally, revealing drivers loss larger predators human‐modified

Language: Английский

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Coexistence between Przewalski's horse and Asiatic wild ass in the desert: The importance of people

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

Abstract Przewalski's horses and Asiatic wild asses were thought to have coexisted in the past. After reintroducing extinct‐in‐the‐wild within range of around 2000, it was hoped they would coexist through different resource utilization strategies. However, equid species worldwide rarely share landscapes. The Dzungarian Gobi, with limited water availability, also seems incapable supporting two equids even though exhibit differentiated niches. We delimited their fundamental realized niches use by captive experiments camera traps at watering points Kalamaili Nature Reserve, China. Using generalized linear models circular statistics, we analysed how interspecific competition, human presence environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, salinity deficits) affected each species' daily patterns. exhibited distinct water‐use In captivity, showed higher dependency than asses—drinking more frequently, consuming per unit body weight (0.095 vs. 0.032 L/kg) displaying greater sensitivity high temperatures. Field observations from 316,556 trap photos over 665 days revealed that relied on fixed avoided saline near‐depleted points, unlike asses. While both could drink freely day night when separated, interactions shared territories a clear pattern: primarily drank during daytime heat loading peaked used physical dominance keep smaller‐bodied away low‐salinity, long‐lasting until nightfall left forage. This forced either low‐salinity or high‐salinity ones day. numerical advantage asses—travelling large herds—often results depleting spring‐fed. near settlement, scarce, remain accessible as avoid them, thus providing reliable drinking spots for horses, particularly harems, after night‐time foraging. They serve crucial refuges, preventing competitive exclusion numerically—but not physically—dominant Synthesis applications : Our findings highlight importance people permitting sympatric coexistence scarcity. involvement requires careful management. Increased may benefit but restrict asses' access some quality water, potentially weakening climate resilience.

Language: Английский

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Top predators as biodiversity indicators: A meta‐analysis

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 25(9), P. 2062 - 2075

Published: July 23, 2022

Abstract Identifying efficient biodiversity indicators is a key pillar of the global conservation strategy. Top predators have been proposed as reliable signposts, but their role controversial. Here, we verified performance by meta‐analysis published studies and found solid support for efficacy indicators. As to be expected any indicator species, was stronger components ‘ecologically closer’ predator (i.e. broad groups that include species providing resources, such avian tree diversity bird‐eating nests in trees) declined more remote’ from (e.g. butterfly fish‐eating predator). This confirmed link between top predatory set context its functionality. These results show that, on average, are justified candidates prioritisation action based occurrence likely provide broader ecosystem benefits. However, should case‐by‐case basis, acknowledging no can portray everything, checking compatibility linked with established objectives ideally integrating other complementary groups.

Language: Английский

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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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Food webs reveal coexistence mechanisms and community organization in carnivores

Current Biology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(4), P. 647 - 659.e5

Published: Jan. 19, 2023

Language: Английский

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Effects of human disturbances on wildlife behaviour and consequences for predator-prey overlap in Southeast Asia

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 19, 2024

Some animal species shift their activity towards increased nocturnality in disturbed habitats to avoid predominantly diurnal humans. This may alter diel overlap among species, a precondition most predation and competition interactions that structure food webs. Here, using camera trap data from 10 tropical forest landscapes, we find hyperdiverse Southeast Asian wildlife communities peak early mornings intact dawn dusk (increased crepuscularity). Our results indicate anthropogenic disturbances drive opposing behavioural adaptations based on rarity, size feeding guild, with more the 59 rarer specialists' diurnality for medium-sized generalists, less larger hunted species. Species turnover also played role underpinning community- guild-level responses, associated markedly detections of generalists predators. However, predator-prey or competitor guilds does not vary disturbance, suggesting net be conserved.

Language: Английский

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The relationships between biotic uniqueness and abiotic uniqueness are context dependent across drainage basins worldwide

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(4)

Published: April 5, 2024

Abstract Context Global change, including land-use change and habitat degradation, has led to a decline in biodiversity, more so freshwater than terrestrial ecosystems. However, the research on freshwaters lags behind marine studies, highlighting need for innovative approaches comprehend biodiversity. Objectives We investigated patterns relationships between biotic uniqueness abiotic environmental drainage basins worldwide. Methods compiled high-quality data aquatic insects (mayflies, stoneflies, caddisflies at genus-level) from 42 spanning four continents. Within each basin we calculated (local contribution beta diversity, LCBD) of insect assemblages, types heterogeneity, LCEH), categorized into upstream land cover, chemical soil properties, stream site landscape position, climate. A mixed-effects meta-regression was performed across examine variations strength LCBD-LCEH relationship terms latitude, human footprint, major continental regions (the Americas versus Eurasia). Results On average, LCBD LCEH were weak. direction varied among basins. Latitude, footprint index, or location did not explain significant variation relationship. Conclusions detected strong context dependence Varying conditions gradient lengths basins, historical contingencies, stochastic factors may these findings. This underscores basin-specific management practices protect biodiversity riverine systems.

Language: Английский

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Human disturbance compresses the spatiotemporal niche

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 119(52)

Published: Dec. 19, 2022

Human disturbance may fundamentally alter the way that species interact, a prospect remains poorly understood. We investigated whether anthropogenic landscape modification increases or decreases co-occurrence—a prerequisite for interactions—within wildlife communities. Using 4 y of data from >2,000 camera traps across human gradient in Wisconsin, USA, we considered 74 pairs (classifying as low, medium, high antagonism to account different interaction types) and used time between successive detections measure their co-occurrence probability define networks. Pairs averaged 6.1 [95% CI: 5.3, 6.8] d low-disturbance landscapes (e.g., national forests) but 4.1 [3.5, 4.7] high-disturbance landscapes, such those dominated by urbanization intensive agriculture. Co-occurrence networks showed higher connectance (i.e., larger proportion possible co-occurrences) greater proportions low-antagonism disturbed landscapes. Human-mediated abundance (possibly via resource subsidies) appeared more important than behavioral mechanisms changes daily activity timing) driving these patterns compressed The spatiotemporal compression co-occurrences likely strengthens interactions like competition, predation, infection unless can avoid each other at fine scales. Regardless, human-mediated with—and hence increased exposure to—predators competitors might elevate stress levels individual animals, with cascading effects populations, communities, ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Mitigation of urbanization effects on aquatic ecosystems by synchronous ecological restoration

Water Research, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 204, P. 117587 - 117587

Published: Aug. 21, 2021

Language: Английский

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Habitat alteration facilitates the dominance of invasive species through disrupting niche partitioning in floodplain wetlands

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 27(9), P. 1861 - 1871

Published: July 6, 2021

Abstract Aim Exotic species invasion often leads to declines in local and regional biodiversity, particularly freshwater ecosystems. This biodiversity loss is generally facilitated by human activities such as land cover change hydrological alternation. Recent advances stable isotope analysis (SIA) have been highlighted many studies addressing fundamental issues ecology, especially quantifying competition for resources between native exotic species. However, how anthropogenic disturbance influences trophic relationships among invasive remains poorly understood. Location Middle‐lower Yangtze River Region, China. Methods To investigate the effects of on interspecific interactions, this study compared isotopic niche space overlap introduced red swamp crayfish ( Procambarus clarkii ) oriental river shrimp Macrobrachium nipponense snail Bellamya aeruginosa natural modified wetlands. Results Based carbon nitrogen SIA, we found ubiquitous shifts macroinvertebrates with increased competition, which might lead significant contraction habitats at both community population scales. Moreover, width was twice larger that natives habitats, suggesting P . had great competitive superiority over habitat modification were inconsistent. While significantly higher than open waters, reduced. Main conclusions Collectively, our findings highlight outcomes interactions can be dependent prey availability diversity, embraces classic optimal foraging theory understand environmental change, alternation, affects biological processes.

Language: Английский

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