Big city life: carnivores in urban environments

Abstract

Cities may represent one of the most challenging environments for carnivorous mammals. For example, cities have a dearth of vegetation and other natural resources, coupled with increased habitat fragmentation and an abundance of roads as well as altered climate (e.g. temperature, light, rainfall and water runoff). It is therefore intriguing that several carnivore species have become established in cities across the globe. Medium-sized carnivores such as the red fox, coyote, Eurasian badger and raccoon not only survive in cities but also have managed to exploit anthropogenic food sources and shelter to their significant advantage, achieving higher population densities than are found under natural conditions. In addition, although they may not live permanently within cities, even large carnivores such as bears, wolves and hyaenas derive significant benefit from living adjacent to urbanized areas. In this review, we examine the history of urban adaptation by mammalian carnivores, explore where they are living, what they eat, what kills them and the behavioural consequences of living in urban areas. We review the biology of urban carnivores, exploring traits such as body size and dietary flexibility. Finally, we consider the consequences of having populations of carnivores in urbanized areas, both for humans and for these charismatic mammals. In conclusion, in a time of massive environmental change across the globe, the continuing encroachment of urbanization upon wilderness areas is substantially reducing the availability of natural habitats for many species; therefore, understanding the biology of any taxon that is able to adapt to and exploit anthropogenically disturbed systems must aid us in both controlling and developing suitable conservation measures for the future of such species.

Annual variation in prey composition of domestic cats in rural and urban environment

“…Bird communities are usually less species rich in cities, but their abundance is relatively high compared to other environments (Rosin et al 2016) with sparrows and pigeons being more common than in rural landscapes (Crooks et al 2004). Thus, their share in the diet of opportunistic predators is usually higher in urban than rural environments, which was observed in studies of tawny owl (Goszczyński et al 1993), martens and foxes (reviewed in Bateman and Fleming 2012). Of the rodents killed by cats, the occurrence of mice was higher in the urban environment.…”

Gut microflora may facilitate adaptation to anthropic habitat: A comparative study in Rattus

“…One of the most important factors that attract these species to an anthropic habitat is the overabundance of anthropogenic food (O'Connor, 2013). Such a change in diet type from natural to anthropogenic has been shown to have diverse impacts on the morphology, behavior, as well as physiology of the commensal species (Bateman & Fleming, 2012; Beckmann & Berger, 2003; Riyahi et al., 2013; Yom‐Tov, Yom‐Tov, & Baagøe, 2003). In this context, the intestinal microflora of the commensal species may play a substantial role in physiological adaptation by aiding digestive plasticity.…”

Cenários ambientais para o ordenamento territorial de áreas de preservação permanente no município de Sorocaba, SP

“…As APP, além de protegerem áreas fisicamente sensíveis e contribuírem para a manutenção da qualidade da água, exercem grande importância para a permanência e deslocamento da fauna e flora local. Estudos evidenciam a importância da manutenção de vegetação e árvores nativas na paisagem urbana para a contenção da perda da riqueza de espécies (MCKINNEY, 2002), como de espécies de aves (OLIVER et al, 2011;REIS et al, 2012), mamíferos carnívoros (BATEMAN;FLEMING, 2012), pequenos mamíferos (GOMES et al, 2011), morcegos insetívoros e a biomassa de insetos (THRELFALL et al, 2012).…”