Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions

Newsome, Thomas M. (author), Greenville, Aaron (author), Ćirović, Duško (author), Dickman, Christopher R. (author), Johnson, Chris (author), Krofel, Miha (author), Letnic, Mike (author), Ripple, William J. (author), Ritchie, Euan G. (author), Stoyanov, Stoyan (author), Wirsing, Aaron (author)

Top predators can suppress mesopredators by killing them, competing for resources and instilling fear, but it is unclear how suppression of mesopredators varies with the distribution and abundance of top predators at large spatial scales and among different ecological contexts. We suggest that suppression of mesopredators will be strongest where top predators occur at high densities over large areas. These conditions are more likely to occur in the core than on the margins of top predator ranges. We propose the Enemy Constraint Hypothesis, which predicts weakened top-down effects on mesopredators towards the edge of top predators% ranges. Using bounty data from North America, Europe and Australia we show that the effects of top predators on mesopredators increase from the margin towards the core of their ranges, as predicted. Continuing global contraction of top predator ranges could promote further release of mesopredator populations, altering ecosystem structure and contributing to biodiversity loss.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Top predators, mesopredators, ecosystem structure, biodiversity
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Number of pages: 7 str.
• Numbering: #Vol. #8
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-97254
• UDC: 630*156
• ISSN on article: 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15469
• COBISS.SI-ID: 4809638
• Publication date in RUL: 23.10.2017

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Nature communications
• Shortened title: Nat. Commun.
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2315876

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.
• Licensing start date: 23.10.2017

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0059
• Name: Gozd, gozdarstvo in obnovljivi gozdni viri