Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions

Newsome, TM; Greenville, AC; Ćirović, D; Dickman, CR; Johnson, CN; Krofel, M; Letnic, M; Ripple, WJ; Ritchie, EG; Stoyanov, S; Wirsing, AJ

Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions

Newsome, TM Greenville, AC

Ćirović, D Dickman, CR Johnson, CN Krofel, M Letnic, M Ripple, WJ Ritchie, EG Stoyanov, S Wirsing, AJ

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Nature Communications, 2017, 8
Issue Date:: 2017-05-23

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Newsome, TM	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Greenville, AC https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0113-4778	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ćirović, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dickman, CR	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Johnson, CN	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Krofel, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Letnic, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ripple, WJ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ritchie, EG	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Stoyanov, S	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wirsing, AJ	en_US
dc.date.available	2017-03-29	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-05-23	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Nature Communications, 2017, 8	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125086
dc.description.abstract	© The Author(s) 2017. 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.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Nature Communications	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1038/ncomms15469	en_US
dc.title	Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	8	en_US
utslib.for	0305 Organic Chemistry	en_US
utslib.for	MD Multidisciplinary	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	8	en_US

Abstract:

© The Author(s) 2017. 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.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125086