Predation risk and the functional response of elk–aspen herbivory

White, Clifford; Feller, M. C.; Bayley, Suzanne E.

doi:10.1016/s0378-1127(03)00119-1

Cited by 79 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The hypothesis that elk typically browse on the edge of aspen thickets to avoid predation by wolves is also supported by empirical data from the Canadian Rockies. When elk were under risk of predation by wolves, the number of elk pellets was higher on the edge of aspen thickets than in the interior of aspen patches (White et al 2003).…”

Section: The Yellowstone Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Wolves and the Ecology of Fear: Can Predation Risk Structure Ecosystems?

Ripple¹,

Beschta²

2004

BioScience

647

429

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Section: The Yellowstone Experimentsmentioning

confidence: 92%

Wolves and the Ecology of Fear: Can Predation Risk Structure Ecosystems?

Ripple¹,

Beschta²

2004

BioScience

647

429

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“…2 and 3, Beschta 2006, 2007). White et al (2003) also noted that distribution patterns of aspen (Populus tremuloides) could be explained by predation-driven foraging patterns of elk. The amount of browsing on preferred plants of a prey then, could also be a method of mapping the landscape of fear.…”

Section: Ice Lenses and Crustsmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Landscape of Fear: Ecological Implications of Being Afraid~!2009-09-09~!2009-11-16~!2010-02-02~!

Laundré¹,

Hernández²,

Ripple³

2010

TOECOLJ

634

540

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"Predation risk" and "fear" are concepts well established in animal behavior literature. We expand these concepts to develop the model of the "landscape of fear". The landscape of fear represents relative levels of predation risk as peaks and valleys that reflect the level of fear of predation a prey experiences in different parts of its area of use. We provide observations in support of this model regarding changes in predation risk with respect to habitat types, and terrain characteristics. We postulate that animals have the ability to learn and can respond to differing levels of predation risk. We propose that the landscape of fear can be quantified with the use of well documented existing methods such as givingup densities, vigilance observations, and foraging surveys of plants. We conclude that the landscape of fear is a useful visual model and has the potential to become a unifying ecological concept.

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“…According to Thomas et al (1979), a depth of dead and fallen material higher than 0.6 m substantially limits deer use of the area, and when the depth is high enough to make deer jump, the energetic cost of locomotion increases dramatically (Hanley et al 1989;Nyberg 1990). Another complementary explanation for deer to avoid areas with deep slash is that they would not be able to escape easily if a predator does attack (White et al 2003).…”

Section: Interactive Effects Of Forest Mortality and Deer Use On Planmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of introduced ungulates on forest understory communities in northern Patagonia are modified by timing and severity of stand mortality

2008

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Natural disturbances such as fires, windstorms, floods, and herbivory often act on plant communities, affecting their structure and the abundance and composition of their species. Most research has focused on the effects of single disturbances on plant communities whereas the synergistic effects of several disturbances have received less attention. In this study, we evaluated how timing and severity of tree mortality modified plant use by introduced deer and early post-mortality successional trajectories in northern Patagonian conifer forests. We sampled understory composition and deer use in Austrocedrus chilensis (ciprés de la cordillera) forest stands undergoing varying timing and severity of forest mortality as reconstructed using dendroecological techniques. In addition, we evaluated the effect of fallen logs on plant composition and deer use of plants by monitoring areas of massive dieback where fallen logs had been removed for fire hazard reduction, and nearby control areas not subjected to such removal. Stepwise regression analyses showed that history and severity of tree mortality strongly influence plant composition and deer use of plants. For deer use (with pellet counts and browsing index as response variables), results showed a positive relationship with degree of stand mortality and a negative relationship with cover of fallen logs. Similarly, cover of unpalatable shrub species was explained by canopy mortality history, whereas cover of palatable shrub species was positively associated with severity of canopy mortality. In areas where fallen logs had been removed, pellet counts were six times higher than those in control areas. Though total shrub species cover was similar between log removal and control areas, proportion of unpalatable shrubs increased in areas where fallen logs had been removed. In conclusion, deer use of plants was strongly limited by tall fallen logs, allowing palatable species to establish and grow. Fallen log removal accelerated deer entrance and changed understory composition toward more browse-resistant and unpalatable species. These results underscore the importance of considering the dynamics (timing, severity, and extent) of fallen woody debris influencing understory herbivory and post-disturbance succession. In addition, experimental results underpin the importance of maintaining snags and large woody debris in disturbed landscapes where salvage logging is a routine procedure.

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Predation risk and the functional response of elk–aspen herbivory

Cited by 79 publications

References 43 publications

Wolves and the Ecology of Fear: Can Predation Risk Structure Ecosystems?

Wolves and the Ecology of Fear: Can Predation Risk Structure Ecosystems?

The Landscape of Fear: Ecological Implications of Being Afraid~!2009-09-09~!2009-11-16~!2010-02-02~!

Effects of introduced ungulates on forest understory communities in northern Patagonia are modified by timing and severity of stand mortality

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