To feed or not to feed? Evidence of the intended and unintended effects of feeding wild ungulates

Journal of Wildlife Management, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 78(8), P. 1322 - 1334

Published: Oct. 20, 2014

Ungulate populations are important natural resources, associated with both costs and benefits. Conflicts have arisen between stakeholders who benefit from high ungulate numbers those faced the costs. Supplementary or diversionary feeding may potentially mitigate conflicts while maintaining harvest yields but can conservation implications. We quantified empirical evidence for whether intended effects, hence management goals, of met. also examined any potential unintended consequences occur under what conditions. found clear that supplementary enhanced reproduction population growth certain By contrast, we limited effectiveness to protect crops, forestry, habitats, positive effects often undermined by increases in density. However, use reduce traffic collisions seems promising requires further investigation. The typically complex, involving changes demography, behavior, vegetation consequent cascading on other trophic levels, as well exacerbated risks disease transmission. Increased density is primary driver behind these which tend increase longevity affect a range stakeholders. urge managers take seriously economic ethical issues before deciding feed ungulates. © 2014 Wildlife Society.

Language: Английский

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Supplementary feeding and endangered avian scavengers: benefits, caveats, and controversies

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 14(4), P. 191 - 199

Published: May 1, 2016

Large avian scavengers are among the most vulnerable vertebrates, and many of their populations have declined severely in recent decades. To help mitigate this marked reduction abundance, supplementary feeding stations ( SFS ; colloquially termed “vulture restaurants”) been created worldwide, often without consideration scientific evidence supporting suitability practice. effective important tools for conservation reintroduction scavengers. However, negative consequences can result from large aggregations individual birds, disrupting intraguild processes promoting density‐dependent decreases productivity. At community level, favor congregation predators (ie facultative scavengers), increasing predation risk on small‐ medium‐sized vertebrates vicinity . These might also affect natural selection even render maladapted to environments. We examine future scenarios relation ecosystem services, changes agro‐grazing economies land uses, ultimately rewilding landscapes where play a controversial role.

Language: Английский

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Inter‐specific interactions linking predation and scavenging in terrestrial vertebrate assemblages

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 89(4), P. 1042 - 1054

Published: March 7, 2014

ABSTRACT Predation and scavenging have been classically understood as independent processes, with predator–prey interactions scavenger–carrion relationships occurring separately. However, the mere recognition that most predators also scavenge at variable rates, which has traditionally ignored in food‐web community ecology, leads to a number of emergent interaction routes linking predation scavenging. The general goal this review is draw attention main inter‐specific connecting (particularly, large mammalian carnivores), their live prey (mainly ungulates), vultures carrion production terrestrial assemblages vertebrates. Overall, we report an intricate network both direct (competition, facilitation) indirect (hyperpredation, hypopredation) provide conceptual framework for future development promising topic ecological, evolutionary biodiversity conservation research. classic view does not affect population dynamics consumed organisms questioned, multiple top‐down effects emerge when considering its facultative consumption by fundamental dynamic components food webs. Stimulating although challenging research opportunities arise from study among living detrital or non‐living resource pools

Language: Английский

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From regional to global patterns in vertebrate scavenger communities subsidized by big game hunting

Diversity and Distributions, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 21(8), P. 913 - 924

Published: April 23, 2015

Abstract Aim Anthropogenic food subsidies are increasingly present in ecosystems, but their impacts remain poorly understood. Big game hunting is a growing activity that annually subsidizes ecosystems with tonnes of carrion world‐wide. By feeding on carrion, scavengers support key ecosystem functions and services, becoming vectors to transfer the human‐mediated across ecosystems. We characterize compare structure vertebrate communities these subsidies, namely big remains, at global scale. Location Global. Methods collected data from countrywide field study Spain broadened it up nine regions four continents by reviewing scientific literature. analysed scavenger considering species composition, richness scavenging frequency. Results Seventy‐nine species, 19% globally threatened, scavenged Scavenger (2.0–11.0% vertebrates/region) positively correlated total richness. Although remains varied among regions, we describe general structural pattern. Birds mammals dominate consumption, birds twice more frequently than – mammal scavenge compared birds. Generalists globally, especially where presence obligate (vultures) apex predators (e.g. wolves, hyenas, eagles) low. Main conclusions many different trophic levels conservation status thus expected affect populations Obligate seem play role structuring community through top‐down mechanisms. The here provides benchmark for comparisons subsidized non‐subsidized communities. More spatio‐temporal availability anthropogenic consumption world‐wide needed efficiently preserve biodiversity, associated ecological

Language: Английский

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The evolutionary consequences of human–wildlife conflict in cities

Evolutionary Applications, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 14(1), P. 178 - 197

Published: Sept. 17, 2020

Human-wildlife interactions, including human-wildlife conflict, are increasingly common as expanding urbanization worldwide creates more opportunities for people to encounter wildlife. Wildlife-vehicle collisions, zoonotic disease transmission, property damage, and physical attacks or their pets have negative consequences both wildlife, underscoring the need comprehensive strategies that mitigate prevent conflict altogether. Management techniques often aim deter, relocate, remove individual organisms, all of which may present a significant selective force in urban nonurban systems. Management-induced selection significantly affect adaptive nonadaptive evolutionary processes populations, yet few studies explicate links among wildlife management, evolution. Moreover, intensity management can vary considerably by taxon, public perception, policy, religious cultural beliefs, geographic region, underscores complexity developing flexible tools reduce conflict. Here, we cross-disciplinary perspective integrates evolution address how social-ecological drive adaptation cities. We emphasize variance implemented actions shapes strength rate phenotypic change. also consider specific either promote genetic plastic changes, leveraging those biological inferences could help optimize while minimizing Investigating an phenomenon provide insights into arises plays critical role shaping phenotypes.

Language: Английский

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Context dependency of animal resource subsidies

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 94(2), P. 517 - 538

Published: Sept. 24, 2018

The transport of resource subsidies by animals has been documented across a range species and ecosystems. Although many these studies have shown that animal can significant effects on nutrient cycling, ecosystem productivity, food-web structure, there is great deal variability in the occurrence strength effects. Here we propose conceptual framework for understanding context dependency subsidies, developing testing predictions about over space time. We general framework, which abiotic characteristics vector from donor interact to determine quantity, quality, timing, duration (QQTD) an input. input translated through lens recipient characteristics, include both consumer yield QQTD subsidy. subsidy influences dynamics trophic structure function, may influence ecosystem's response further inputs feed back ecosystem. present review research boundaries, placed within this discuss how function explore importance increasingly altered ecosystems, vectors ecosystems be changing rapidly. Finally, make recommendations future general, will increase our predictive capacity their

Language: Английский

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Happy Feet in a Hostile World? The Future of Penguins Depends on Proactive Management of Current and Expected Threats

Frontiers in Marine Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 6

Published: May 28, 2019

Penguins face a wide range of threats. Most observed population changes have been negative and happened over the last 60 years. Today, populations 11 18 penguin species are decreasing. Here we present review that synthesizes details threats faced by world's penguins. We discuss alterations to their environment at both breeding sites on land sea where they forage. The major drivers change appear be climate, food web marine fisheries. In addition, also consider other critical and/or emerging threats, namely human disturbance near nesting sites, pollution due oil, plastics chemicals such as mercury persistent organic compounds. Finally, assess importance pathogens diseases health suggest in context climate change, habitat degradation, introduced exotic resource competition with fisheries, successful conservation outcomes will require new unprecedented levels science advocacy. Successful stories across geographical occurred there has concerted effort local, national international boundaries implement effective planning.

Language: Английский

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Macroimmunology: The drivers and consequences of spatial patterns in wildlife immune defence

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 89(4), P. 972 - 995

Published: Dec. 19, 2019

Abstract The prevalence and intensity of parasites in wild hosts varies across space is a key determinant infection risk humans, domestic animals threatened wildlife. Because the immune system serves as primary barrier to infection, replication transmission following exposure, we here consider environmental drivers immunity. Spatial variation parasite pressure, abiotic biotic conditions, anthropogenic factors can all shape immunity spatial scales. Identifying most important could help pre‐empt infectious disease risks, especially context how large‐scale such urbanization affect defence by changing conditions. We provide synthesis apply macroecological approaches study ecoimmunology (i.e. macroimmunology). first review that generate defence, highlighting need for studies differentiate competing predictors detailing contexts where this approach might be favoured over small‐scale experimental studies. next conduct systematic literature assess frequency classify them according taxa, measures, extent, statistical methods. 210 sampling multiple host populations. show whereas are relatively common, generally low unlikely sufficient or power hypotheses. also highlight biases macroimmunology, few characterize account dependence statistically, potentially affecting inferences relationships between conditions defence. use these findings describe tools from geostatistics modelling improve inference about associations immunological variation. In particular, emphasize exploratory guide greater mixed‐effects models variability while allowing researchers both individual‐ habitat‐level covariates. finally discuss future research priorities including focusing on latitudinal gradients, range expansions being amenable approaches. Methodologically, critical opportunities posed assessing tolerance, using metagenomics quantify coupling field with experiments longitudinal approaches, applying macroecology meta‐analysis identify generalizable patterns. Such work will facilitate scaling insights predict change may alter risk.

Language: Английский

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The Complexity of Urban Eco-evolutionary Dynamics

BioScience, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 70(9), P. 772 - 793

Published: July 7, 2020

Abstract Urbanization is changing Earth's ecosystems by altering the interactions and feedbacks between fundamental ecological evolutionary processes that maintain life. Humans in cities alter eco-evolutionary play simultaneously both actors stage on which takes place. modifies land surfaces, microclimates, habitat connectivity, networks, food webs, species diversity, composition. These environmental changes can lead to phenotypic, genetic, cultural makeup of wild populations have important consequences for ecosystem function essential services nature provides human society, such as nutrient cycling, pollination, seed dispersal, production, water air purification. Understanding monitoring urbanization-induced inform strategies achieve sustainability. In present article, we propose understanding these dynamics requires rigorous characterization urbanizing regions rapidly evolving, tightly coupled human–natural systems. We explore how emergent properties urbanization affect across space time. identify five key urban drivers change—habitat modification, heterogeneity, novel disturbances, biotic interactions—and highlight direct urbanization-driven change nature's contributions people. Then, emerging complexities—landscape complexity, discontinuities, socio-ecological cross-scale interactions, legacies time lags—that need be tackled future research. evolving metacommunity concept a powerful framework study dynamics.

Language: Английский

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Urban and rural habitats differ in number and type of bird feeders and in bird species consuming supplementary food

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 22(19), P. 15097 - 15103

Published: May 23, 2015

Bird feeding is one of the most widespread direct interactions between man and nature, this has important social environmental consequences. However, activity can differ rural urban habitats, due to inter alia habitat structure, human behaviour composition wintering bird communities. We counted birds in 156 squares (0.25 km(2) each) December 2012 again January 2013 locations around 26 towns cities across Poland (in each area, we surveyed 3 also nearby areas). At count, noted number feeders, feeders with food, type additional food supplies potentially available for (bread offered by people, bins) finally themselves. In winter, areas availability intentionally unintentionally humans. Both types are higher areas. Our findings suggest that different feeder support only those species specialized particular relationship similar

Language: Английский

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