Predator control alters wolf interactions with prey and competitor species over the diel cycle. Issue 8 (13th May 2022)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Predator control alters wolf interactions with prey and competitor species over the diel cycle. Issue 8 (13th May 2022)
- Main Title:
- Predator control alters wolf interactions with prey and competitor species over the diel cycle
- Authors:
- Frey, Sandra
Tejero, Daniel
Baillie‐David, Katherine
Burton, A. Cole
Fisher, Jason T. - Abstract:
- Abstract : Predator control remains one of the most common strategies for the conservation of threatened prey species. Despite significant and ongoing efforts to reduce predator populations, little is known about the impacts on the behaviour and interactions of target and non‐target species following numerical and potentially behavioural suppression of predators. We used camera‐trap data collected before and after an intensive wolf control program in northeastern Alberta's boreal forest to evaluate changes in activity patterns and overlap in wolves, competitors and prey. We hypothesized wolves would shift their activity toward increased nocturnality to avoid diurnal control efforts, and thereby cause a behavioural cascade where other species shift activity to maintain temporal segregation from wolves. Wolves shifted activity into the nighttime following predator control, reducing temporal overlap with the other, mostly diurnal, members of the community. Decreases in activity overlap between wolves and other species indicates reduced potential for wolf interactions with ungulate prey and large competitor species. Predator control may therefore not only release species from top to down regulation and competition following numerical suppression of top predators, but also through de‐coupling of temporal overlap, with potential effects on species interactions. Understanding the indirect impacts of conservation strategies such as predator control on both target and non‐targetAbstract : Predator control remains one of the most common strategies for the conservation of threatened prey species. Despite significant and ongoing efforts to reduce predator populations, little is known about the impacts on the behaviour and interactions of target and non‐target species following numerical and potentially behavioural suppression of predators. We used camera‐trap data collected before and after an intensive wolf control program in northeastern Alberta's boreal forest to evaluate changes in activity patterns and overlap in wolves, competitors and prey. We hypothesized wolves would shift their activity toward increased nocturnality to avoid diurnal control efforts, and thereby cause a behavioural cascade where other species shift activity to maintain temporal segregation from wolves. Wolves shifted activity into the nighttime following predator control, reducing temporal overlap with the other, mostly diurnal, members of the community. Decreases in activity overlap between wolves and other species indicates reduced potential for wolf interactions with ungulate prey and large competitor species. Predator control may therefore not only release species from top to down regulation and competition following numerical suppression of top predators, but also through de‐coupling of temporal overlap, with potential effects on species interactions. Understanding the indirect impacts of conservation strategies such as predator control on both target and non‐target species provides insight into potential disruptions to top–down regulation and the associated species interactions that shape community structure. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Oikos. Volume 2022:Issue 8(2022)
- Journal:
- Oikos
- Issue:
- Volume 2022:Issue 8(2022)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 2022, Issue 8 (2022)
- Year:
- 2022
- Volume:
- 2022
- Issue:
- 8
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2022-2022-0008-0000
- Page Start:
- n/a
- Page End:
- n/a
- Publication Date:
- 2022-05-13
- Subjects:
- activity patterns -- camera trap -- population management -- predator control -- species' interactions -- wolf cull
Ecology -- Periodicals
570 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0030-1299&site=1 ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1600-0706 ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1111/oik.08821 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 0030-1299
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 6248.000000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library STI - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 23261.xml