The influence of human activity on predator–prey spatiotemporal overlap

Scoyoc, Amy Van; Smith, Justine A.; Gaynor, Kaitlyn M.; Barker, Kristin J.; Brashares, Justin S.

doi:10.1111/1365-2656.13892

Cited by 18 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 103 publications

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“…Conversely, many wildlife species shift toward increased nocturnality in response to human activity, which could increase risk from large carnivores ( 30 ). The spatial and temporal responses to antithetical threats should thus combine to determine the net strength of indirect risk effects ( 31 ).…”

Section: Indirect Risk Effects From Antithetical Threatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear of large carnivores amplifies human-caused mortality for mesopredators

Prugh

Cunningham

Windell

et al. 2023

Science

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The challenge that large carnivores face in coexisting with humans calls into question their ability to carry out critical ecosystem functions such as mesopredator suppression outside protected areas. In this study, we examined the movements and fates of mesopredators and large carnivores across rural landscapes characterized by substantial human influences. Mesopredators shifted their movements toward areas with twofold-greater human influence in regions occupied by large carnivores, indicating that they perceived humans to be less of a threat. However, rather than shielding mesopredators, human-caused mortality was more than three times higher than large carnivore–caused mortality. Mesopredator suppression by apex predators may thus be amplified, rather than dampened, outside protected areas, because fear of large carnivores drives mesopredators into areas of even greater risk from human super predators.

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Section: Indirect Risk Effects From Antithetical Threatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fear of large carnivores amplifies human-caused mortality for mesopredators

Prugh

Cunningham

Windell

et al. 2023

Science

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“…Technological advances such as remote cameras facilitate whole‐community investigations at spatial and temporal scales that were previously not feasible (Palmer et al, 2022; Suraci et al, 2021), opening new possibilities to rapidly advance our understanding of species' responses to human impacts (Chen et al, 2022). Van Scoyoc et al (2023) take a much‐needed step back and propose an elegant framework with which to organize this flood of information, with a focus on understanding how human activities shape interactions among predators and prey. Their framework is firmly grounded in ecological theory regarding trophic interactions, organized explicitly within the context of human impacts.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their framework is firmly grounded in ecological theory regarding trophic interactions, organized explicitly within the context of human impacts. By developing this framework and applying it to data from published camera trap studies, Van Scoyoc et al (2023) have contributed a valuable resource for interpreting prior studies and guiding future work.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Van Scoyoc et al (2023) first review the varied ways that human activities can alter the behaviour of predators and prey. These behavioural effects can either reduce or increase overlap among predator–prey dyads, with subsequent implications for predation rates and cascading ecosystem‐wide effects.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, "prey refuge" occurs when prey are attracted to human activity and predators avoid it, which should likewise reduce predator-prey overlap. "Mutual attraction" occurs when both predator and prey are attracted to human activity, and "mutual avoidance" occurs when both species avoid humans; both of these responses should increase predator-prey overlap and encounter rates (reproduced with permission from Van Scoyoc et al, 2023).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Species interactions in the Anthropocene

Prugh

2023

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Research Highlight: Van Scoyoc, A., Smith, J. A., Gaynor, K. M., Barker, K., & Brashares, J. S. (2023) The influence of human activity on predator–prey spatiotemporal overlap. Journal of Animal Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2656.13892. Few corners of the globe remain untouched by humans, and thus nearly all wildlife communities are influenced by human activity. Van Scoyoc et al. (2023) present a framework that places predator–prey interactions explicitly within an anthropogenic context, revealing that predator–prey dyads fall into one of four categories depending on whether predators and prey are attracted to or avoid human activity. These responses can either increase or decrease overlap among species via divergent pathways, which can help to make sense of seemingly conflicting patterns from prior studies. Their framework facilitates hypothesis testing, which they demonstrate with a meta‐analysis of 178 predator–prey dyads from 19 camera trap studies. With evidence for each of the four pathways, yet some unexpected outcomes for temporal overlap among dyads, this review generates exciting questions and lays out a productive path forward to improve our understanding of species interactions in the Anthropocene.

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Cougars, wolves, and humans drive a dynamic landscape of fear for elk

Ganz,

DeVivo,

Wirsing

et al. 2024

Ecology

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To manage predation risk, prey navigate a dynamic landscape of fear, or spatiotemporal variation in risk perception, reflecting predator distributions, traits, and activity cycles. Prey may seek to reduce risk across this landscape using habitat at times and in places when predators are less active. In multipredator landscapes, avoiding one predator could increase vulnerability to another, making the landscape of fear difficult to predict and navigate. Additionally, humans may shape interactions between predators and prey, and induce new sources of risk. Humans can function as a shield, providing a refuge for prey from human‐averse carnivores, and as a predator, causing mortality through hunting and vehicle collisions and eliciting a fear response that can exceed that of carnivores. We used telemetry data collected between 2017 and 2021 from 63 Global Positioning System‐collared elk (Cervus canadensis), 42 cougars (Puma concolor), and 16 wolves (Canis lupus) to examine how elk habitat selection changed in relation to carnivores and humans in northeastern Washington, USA. Using step selection functions, we evaluated elk habitat use in relation to cougars, wolves, and humans, diel period (daytime vs. nighttime), season (summer calving season vs. fall hunting season), and habitat structure (open vs. closed habitat). The diel cycle was critical to understanding elk movement, allowing elk to reduce encounters with predators where and when they would be the largest threat. Elk strongly avoided cougars at night but had a near‐neutral response to cougars during the day, whereas elk avoided wolves at all times of day. Elk generally used more open habitats where cougars and wolves were most active, rather than altering the use of habitat structure depending on the predator species. Elk avoided humans during the day and ~80% of adult female mortality was human caused, suggesting that humans functioned as a “super predator” in this system. Simultaneously, elk leveraged the human shield against wolves but not cougars at night, and no elk were confirmed to have been killed by wolves. Our results add to the mounting evidence that humans profoundly affect predator–prey interactions, highlighting the importance of studying these dynamics in anthropogenic areas.

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The influence of human activity on predator–prey spatiotemporal overlap

Cited by 18 publications

References 103 publications

Fear of large carnivores amplifies human-caused mortality for mesopredators

Fear of large carnivores amplifies human-caused mortality for mesopredators

Species interactions in the Anthropocene

Cougars, wolves, and humans drive a dynamic landscape of fear for elk

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