newsome-acontinentalscaletrophic-2015.pdf (935.36 kB)
A continental scale trophic cascade from wolves through coyotes to foxes
journal contribution
posted on 2015-01-01, 00:00 authored by Thomas Newsome, W J RippleTop-down processes, via the direct and indirect effects of interspecific competitive killing (no consumption of the kill) or intraguild predation (consumption of the kill), can potentially influence the spatial distribution of terrestrial predators, but few studies have demonstrated the phenomenon at a continental scale. For example, in North America, grey wolves Canis lupus are known to kill coyotes Canis latrans, and coyotes, in turn, may kill foxes Vulpes spp., but the spatial effects of these competitive interactions at large scales are unknown. Here, we analyse fur return data across eight jurisdictions in North America to test whether the presence or absence of wolves has caused a continent-wide shift in coyote and red fox Vulpes vulpes density. Our results support the existence of a continental scale cascade whereby coyotes outnumber red foxes in areas where wolves have been extirpated by humans, whereas red foxes outnumber coyotes in areas where wolves are present. However, for a distance of up to 200 km on the edge of wolf distribution, there is a transition zone where the effects of top-down control are weakened, possibly due to the rapid dispersal and reinvasion capabilities of coyotes into areas where wolves are sporadically distributed or at low densities. Our results have implications for understanding how the restoration of wolf populations across North America could potentially affect co-occurring predators and prey. We conclude that large carnivores may need to occupy large continuous areas to facilitate among-carnivore cascades and that studies of small areas may not be indicative of the effects of top-down mesopredator control.
History
Journal
Journal of animal ecologyVolume
84Issue
1Pagination
49 - 59Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell PublishingLocation
Chichester, Eng.Publisher DOI
ISSN
0021-8790eISSN
1365-2656Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2014, The Authors. Journal of Animal EcologyUsage metrics
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No categories selectedKeywords
Apex predatorBottom‐upInterference competitionMesopredator releaseSpecies interactionstop‐downtrophic cascadesAnimalsCanadaCoyotesFood ChainFoxesPopulation DensityPopulation DynamicsPredatory BehaviorUnited StatesWolvesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEcologyZoologyEnvironmental Sciences & Ecologybottom-uptop-downMOUNTAIN-NATIONAL-PARKCAUSE-SPECIFIC MORTALITYRED FOXESCANIS-LATRANSABUNDANCEDINGOESRESTORATIONREGULATOR
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