IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v8y2017i1d10.1038_ncomms15469.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions

Author

Listed:
  • Thomas M. Newsome

    (School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University
    School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney
    Global Trophic Cascades Program, Oregon State University
    School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington)

  • Aaron C. Greenville

    (School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney
    National Environmental Science Programme Threatened Species Recovery Hub, University of Sydney)

  • Duško Ćirović

    (Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade)

  • Christopher R. Dickman

    (School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney
    National Environmental Science Programme Threatened Species Recovery Hub, University of Sydney)

  • Chris N. Johnson

    (School of Biological Sciences and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Tasmania)

  • Miha Krofel

    (Wildlife Ecology Research Group, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana)

  • Mike Letnic

    (Centre for Ecosystem Science, and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales)

  • William J. Ripple

    (Global Trophic Cascades Program, Oregon State University)

  • Euan G. Ritchie

    (School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University)

  • Stoyan Stoyanov

    (University of Forestry)

  • Aaron J. Wirsing

    (School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington)

Abstract

Top predators can suppress mesopredators by killing them, competing for resources and instilling fear, but it is unclear how suppression of mesopredators varies with the distribution and abundance of top predators at large spatial scales and among different ecological contexts. We suggest that suppression of mesopredators will be strongest where top predators occur at high densities over large areas. These conditions are more likely to occur in the core than on the margins of top predator ranges. We propose the Enemy Constraint Hypothesis, which predicts weakened top-down effects on mesopredators towards the edge of top predators’ ranges. Using bounty data from North America, Europe and Australia we show that the effects of top predators on mesopredators increase from the margin towards the core of their ranges, as predicted. Continuing global contraction of top predator ranges could promote further release of mesopredator populations, altering ecosystem structure and contributing to biodiversity loss.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas M. Newsome & Aaron C. Greenville & Duško Ćirović & Christopher R. Dickman & Chris N. Johnson & Miha Krofel & Mike Letnic & William J. Ripple & Euan G. Ritchie & Stoyan Stoyanov & Aaron J. Wirsi, 2017. "Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15469
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15469
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15469
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/ncomms15469?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms15469. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.