Incorporating anthropogenic effects into trophic ecology: predator-prey interactions in a human-dominated landscape

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
Ine DorresteijnEuan G Ritchie

Abstract

Apex predators perform important functions that regulate ecosystems worldwide. However, little is known about how ecosystem regulation by predators is influenced by human activities. In particular, how important are top-down effects of predators relative to direct and indirect human-mediated bottom-up and top-down processes? Combining data on species' occurrence from camera traps and hunting records, we aimed to quantify the relative effects of top-down and bottom-up processes in shaping predator and prey distributions in a human-dominated landscape in Transylvania, Romania. By global standards this system is diverse, including apex predators (brown bear and wolf), mesopredators (red fox) and large herbivores (roe and red deer). Humans and free-ranging dogs represent additional predators in the system. Using structural equation modelling, we found that apex predators suppress lower trophic levels, especially herbivores. However, direct and indirect top-down effects of humans affected the ecosystem more strongly, influencing species at all trophic levels. Our study highlights the need to explicitly embed humans and their influences within trophic cascade theory. This will greatly expand our understanding of species interactions ...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 15, 2016·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Euan G RitchieIne Dorresteijn
Jul 15, 2016·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·D P J KuijperJ P G M Cromsigt
Oct 26, 2016·Ecology and Evolution·Linda van Bommel, Chris N Johnson
Nov 1, 2016·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·D P J KuijperJ P G M Cromsigt
Jan 12, 2017·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Marianne Pasanen-MortensenSara A O Cousins
May 24, 2017·Nature Communications·Thomas M NewsomeAaron J Wirsing
May 31, 2017·Conservation Biology : the Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology·Lily M van EedenThomas M Newsome
Dec 6, 2018·PloS One·Bikram ShresthaPavel Kindlmann
Apr 27, 2019·Science·Andrea PerinoHelen C Wheeler
Jun 24, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Justine A SmithChristopher C Wilmers
Jan 18, 2019·PloS One·Gonçalo Curveira-SantosMargarida Santos-Reis
Jul 16, 2020·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Anthony SévêqueAntonio Uzal
Feb 23, 2020·Ecology and Evolution·Erin R TattersallA Cole Burton
Sep 16, 2020·Nature Ecology & Evolution·William L GearyEuan G Ritchie
Jul 28, 2018·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Jian ZhangJens-Christian Svenning
Nov 11, 2020·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·L Mark ElbrochHeiko U Wittmer
Nov 19, 2020·ELife·Kirby L Mills, Nyeema C Harris
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May 20, 2021·PLoS Biology·Nicolas LoiseauDavid Mouillot
Oct 22, 2021·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Juan I Zanón MartínezAlejandro Travaini
Nov 15, 2021·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Julie L P LouvrierStephanie Kramer-Schadt

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