Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions

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

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.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: Top predators, mesopredators, ecosystem structure, biodiversity
• Vrsta gradiva: Delo ni kategorizirano
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Št. strani: 7 str.
• Številčenje: #Vol. #8
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-97254
• UDK: 630*156
• ISSN pri članku: 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15469
• COBISS.SI-ID: 4809638
• Datum objave v RUL: 23.10.2017

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Nature communications
• Skrajšan naslov: Nat. Commun.
• Založnik: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• COBISS.SI-ID: 2315876

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva-Nekomercialno-Brez predelav 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: Najbolj omejujoča licenca Creative Commons. Uporabniki lahko prenesejo in delijo delo v nekomercialne namene in ga ne smejo uporabiti za nobene druge namene.
• Začetek licenciranja: 23.10.2017

Projekti

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P4-0059
• Naslov: Gozd, gozdarstvo in obnovljivi gozdni viri