Predicting Effects of Predation on Conservation of Endangered Prey

Sinclair, A. R. E.; Pech, Roger P.; Dickman, Chris R.; Hik, David S.; Mahon, Paul S.; Newsome, A. E.

doi:10.1046/j.1523-1739.1998.97030.x

Cited by 268 publications

(207 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Predator removal is often considered among conservation management strategies because it can increase survivorship in endangered populations (Sinclair et al 1998). …”

Section: Summary Of Outcomes and Their Implications For Population Mamentioning

confidence: 99%

Caught between two Allee effects: Trade-off between reproduction and predation risk

Pavlová

Berec

Boukal

2010

Journal of Theoretical Biology

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Abstract:Reproductive activities are often associated with conspicuous morphology or behaviour that could be exploited by predators. Individuals can therefore face a trade-off between reproduction and predation risk. Here we use simple models to explore population-dynamical consequences of such a trade-off for populations subject to a mate-finding Allee effect and an Allee effect due to predation. We present our results in the light of populations that belong to endangered species or pests and study their viability and resilience. We distinguish several qualitative scenarios characterized by the shape and strength of the trade-off and, in particular, identify conditions for which the populations survive or go extinct. Reproduction can be so costly that the population always goes extinct. In other cases, the population goes extinct only over a certain range of low, intermediate or high levels of reproductive activities. Moreover, we show that predator removal (e.g. in an attempt to save an endangered prey species) has the least effect on populations with low cost of reproduction in terms of predation and, conversely, predator addition (e.g. to eradicate a pest) is most effective for populations with high predation cost of reproduction. Our results indicate that a detailed knowledge of the trade-off can be crucial in applications: for some trade-off shapes, only intermediate levels of reproductive activities might guarantee population survival, while they can lead to extinction for others. We therefore suggest that the fate of populations subject to the two antagonistic Allee effects should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Although the literature offers no quantitative data on possible trade-off shapes in any taxa, indirect evidence suggests that the trade-off and both Allee effects can occur simultaneously, e.g. in the golden egg bug Phyllomorpha laciniata.

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“…Predator removal is often considered among conservation management strategies because it can increase survivorship in endangered populations (Sinclair et al 1998). …”

Section: Summary Of Outcomes and Their Implications For Population Mamentioning

confidence: 99%

Caught between two Allee effects: Trade-off between reproduction and predation risk

Pavlová

Berec

Boukal

2010

Journal of Theoretical Biology

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“…Sustainable predatoreprey interactions exemplify con-ditions that are difficult to achieve within protected areas (Sinclair et al , 2008Tambling & Du Toit 2005;Ripple & Beschta 2006;Hayward & Somers 2009). Pressure to offer charismatic viewing opportunities to tourists (Hutton & Leader-Williams 2003;Lindsey et al 2007) has led many small reserves to reintroduce lions, Panthera leo, as exemplified by Slotow & Hunter's (2009) study of lion introductions into 37 small reserves across South Africa.…”

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confidence: 99%

Lion hunting behaviour and vegetation structure in an African savanna

2013

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Keywords:Bayesian statistics Carnegie Airborne Observatory GPS telemetry LiDAR lion Panthera leo predatoreprey interaction vegetation structure Emerging evidence suggests that male lions are not dependent on female's hunting skills but are in fact successful hunters. But difficulty locating kills and objectively characterizing landscapes has complicated the comparison of male and female lion hunting strategies. We used airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) measurements of vegetation structure in Kruger National Park, combined with global positioning system (GPS) telemetry data on lion, Panthera leo, kills to quantify lines-of-sight where lion kills occurred compared with areas where lions rested, while controlling for time of day. We found significant differences in use of vegetation structure by male and female lions during hunts. While male lions killed in landscapes with much shorter linesof-sight (16.2 m) than those in which they rested, there were no significant differences for female lions. These results were consistent across sizes of prey species. The influence of vegetation structure in shaping predatoreprey interactions is often hypothe-sized, but quantitative evidence has been scarce. Although our sample sizes were limited, our results provide a mechanism, ambush hunting versus social hunting in the open, to explain why hunting success of male lions might equal that of females. This study serves as a case study for more complete studies with larger samples sizes and illustrates how LiDAR and GPS telemetry can be used to provide new insight into lion hunting behaviour.

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“…A second set of examples of the failure of the general model for population regulation is shown in the analysis by Sinclair et al (1998) of the impacts of predation on endangered species in Australia. In spite of the elegant theory of density-dependent predation rates, not a single example of empirical data in that paper shows any signs of density dependence, i.e.…”

Section: What Factors Prevent Population Growth?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond population regulation and limitation

Krebs¹

2002

Wildl. Res.

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Abstract. The study of population dynamics addresses three questions that are not always separated in discussions with empirical data. Two questions address population regulation. What stabilises population density is the first question, and, in spite of much theory, little progress has been made in answering this question empirically. The assumption of an equilibrium density is impossible to test and direct experimental tests to answer this question are rare. What prevents population growth is a second question, and is the classic question of population regulation. To answer this question requires an increasing population, and, with adequate experimental manipulations, the densitydependent factors preventing increase can be identified. Surprisingly, answering this question has provided little assistance in solving practical problems in population dynamics, possibly because most populations are rarely in the state of growth and show a limited range of densities. What limits population density in good and poor habitats is a third question, which addresses population limitation rather than regulation, and has been the most useful question for empirical ecologists to ask. Population limitation admits of little theory and no elegant models, and highlights the gap between theory and practice in much of ecology. Defining the question clearly and adopting an experimental approach with clear alternative hypotheses will be essential to avoiding the controversies of the past while building useful generalisations for the practical problems of population management.

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Predicting Effects of Predation on Conservation of Endangered Prey

Cited by 268 publications

References 23 publications

Caught between two Allee effects: Trade-off between reproduction and predation risk

Caught between two Allee effects: Trade-off between reproduction and predation risk

Lion hunting behaviour and vegetation structure in an African savanna

Beyond population regulation and limitation

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