Top‐down limitation of mesopredators by avian top predators: a call for research on cascading effects at the community and ecosystem scale

Terraube, Julien; Bretagnolle, Vincent

doi:10.1111/ibi.12581

Cited by 31 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 93 publications

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“…Although this figure is not significant from an energy point of view, it could be enough for their prey to perceive raptors as a high risk of death. Golden eagles and eagle owls are the most prominent raptors that prey on carnivores [30,57]. A relevant example of the strong effect of a raptor's predation on carnivores was that of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) on littoral grey foxes (Urocyon cineroargenteus littoralis) and spilogale (Conepatus) in the Channel Islands, California [58].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The eagle owl can also kill small-to-medium size carnivores (mesocarnivores) [7,28] such as martens (Martes spp. ), genets (Genetta genetta), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), or cats (Felix silvestris) [19,[28][29][30]. However, much less is known about the impact of the eagle owl on carnivores, although similar effects to those caused on small raptors could be expected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Intraguild Predation by the Eagle Owl Determines the Space Use of a Mesopredator Carnivore

et al. 2020

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Top predators shape the communities of sympatric predators by killing and displacing smaller predators. Predation risk pushes smaller predators to select enemy-free spaces irrespective of food availability, which results in changes in their behaviour, space use, distribution, and abundance. Although the landscape of fear dynamics are known for top predators such as the eagle owl and its impact on smaller raptors, the effect of the presence and abundance of the eagle owl on the space use of mesopredator carnivores remains poorly understood. Here, we studied this effect on the space use of the stone marten in a Mediterranean ecosystem where it shares rabbits as main prey with the eagle owl. We also accounted for the presence of another sympatric carnivore, the red fox. Using a multi-model inference, we found stone martens avoided areas with a higher abundance of eagle owls and rabbits, which suggested a hyperpredation process and a cognitive association by stone martens between rabbit hotspots and owl presence. We found a positive relationship between the space use of the red fox and the stone marten, which suggested foxes behaved as competitors and not predators of martens. Understanding intraguild predation can assist the conservation and management of predators and their prey.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraguild Predation by the Eagle Owl Determines the Space Use of a Mesopredator Carnivore

et al. 2020

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“…Raptor species are good indicators of ecosystem health because they are often apex predators and are vulnerable to modification of the landscapes they occupy (Sergio et al. , Terraube and Bretagnolle ). Although agriculture‐induced habitat changes can have negative consequences to raptor populations (Arroyo et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The lead (Pb) lining of agriculture‐related subsidies: enhanced Golden Eagle growth rates tempered by Pb exposure

et al. 2020

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2020. The lead (Pb) lining of agriculture-related subsidies:enhanced Golden Eagle growth rates tempered by Pb exposure. Ecosphere 11(1):Abstract. Supplementary food resources (e.g., subsidies) associated with agriculture can benefit wildlife species, increasing predictability and availability of food. Avian scavengers including raptors often utilize subsidies associated with both recreational hunting and pest shooting on agricultural lands. However, these subsidies can contain lead (Pb) fragments if they are culled with Pb-based ammunition, potentially leading to Pb poisoning and physiological impairment in wildlife. Nesting Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) commonly forage in agricultural lands during the breeding season, and therefore, both adults and their nestlings are susceptible to Pb exposure from scavenging shot wildlife. We assessed drivers of Pb exposure in 258 nestling Golden Eagles (401 total blood samples), along with physiological and growth responses, in agricultural lands across four western states in the United States. We also evaluated the birds' Pb stable isotope signatures to inform exposure sources. Twenty-six percent of Golden Eagle nestlings contained Pb concentrations associated with subclinical poisoning for sensitive species (0.03-0.2 lg/g ww), 4% had Pb concentrations that exceeded subclinical poisoning benchmarks (0.2-0.5 lg/g ww), and <1% exceeded either concentrations associated with clinical poisoning (0.5-1.0 lg/g ww) and or those deemed to cause severe clinical poisoning (>1.0 lg/g ww). Lead concentrations were highest in nestlings with close proximity to fields that potentially provided subsidies and declined exponentially as distance to subsidies increased. However, close proximity to agriculture, and presumably subsidies, positively influenced nestling growth rates. Across the range of Pb exposure, nestlings experienced a 67% reduction in delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (d-ALAD) activity, suggesting nestlings may have been anemic or experiencing cellular damage. Isotopic ratios of 206 Pb/ 207 Pb increased non-linearly with increasing blood Pb in Golden Eagle nestlings, and 45% of the birds were consistent with those of ammunition. However, above 0.10 lg/g ww, the proportion associated with ammunition increased to 89% of the nestlings. An improved understanding of how these positive (growth) and negative (physiology) effects associated with proximity to subsidies interact would be beneficial to managers when considering management scenarios and potentially evaluating any measures taken to reduce Pb exposure across the landscape.

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“…The subsequent cascading effects of predator-free populations of herbivores on plant communities can thus damage both natural vegetation and associated biodiversity [5–7]. These issues have placed predators near the top of the conservation biology agenda [8,9], and reintroductions have emerged as one of the main conservation tools to reverse these trends [10,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species distribution modeling reveals strongholds and potential reintroduction areas for the world’s largest eagle

et al. 2019

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The highly interactive nature of predator-prey relationship is essential for ecosystem conservation; predators have been extirpated, however, from entire ecosystems all over the Earth. Reintroductions comprise a management technique to reverse this trend. Species Distribution Models (SDM) are preemptive tools for release-site selection, and can define levels of habitat quality over the species distribution. The Atlantic Forest of South America has lost most of its apex predators, and Harpy Eagles Harpia harpyja —Earth’s largest eagle—are now limited to few forest pockets in this domain. Harpy Eagles are supposedly widespread in the Amazon Forest, however, where habitat loss and degradation is advancing at a rapid pace. We aim to describe the suitability of threatened Amazonian landscapes for this eagle. We also aim to assess the suitability of remaining Atlantic Forest sites for Harpy Eagle reintroductions. Here we show that that considerable eagle habitat has already been lost in Amazonia due to the expansion of the “Arc of Deforestation”, and that Amazonian forests currently represent 93% of the current distribution of the species. We also show that the Serra do Mar protected areas in southeastern Brazil is the most promising region for Harpy Eagle reintroductions in the Atlantic Forest. Reintroduction and captive breeding programs have been undertaken for Harpy Eagles, building the technical and biological basis for a successful restoration framework. Our distribution range for this species represents a 41% reduction of what is currently proposed by IUCN. Furthermore, habitat loss in Amazonia, combined with industrial logging and hunting suggest that the conservation status of this species should be reassessed. We suggest researchers and conservation practitioners can use this work to help expand efforts to conserve Harpy Eagles and their natural habitats.

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Top‐down limitation of mesopredators by avian top predators: a call for research on cascading effects at the community and ecosystem scale

Cited by 31 publications

References 93 publications

Intraguild Predation by the Eagle Owl Determines the Space Use of a Mesopredator Carnivore

Intraguild Predation by the Eagle Owl Determines the Space Use of a Mesopredator Carnivore

The lead (Pb) lining of agriculture‐related subsidies: enhanced Golden Eagle growth rates tempered by Pb exposure

Species distribution modeling reveals strongholds and potential reintroduction areas for the world’s largest eagle

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