Article
Ecology
S. Periquet, H. Fritz, E. Revilla, D. W. Macdonald, A. J. Loveridge, G. Mtare, M. Valeix
Summary: Apex predators such as spotted hyaenas and African lions interact in various ways, mainly resource-related during encounters, with lions dominating around carcasses in the wet season and encounters shifting to waterholes in the dry season. The study highlights two interference scenarios during dry-season encounters, showcasing the seasonal dynamics of predator interactions and the shifts in negative (interference competition) and positive (scavenging opportunities) interactions over the year.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alejandro Martinez-Abrain, Luis Llaneza, Fernando Ballesteros, Aurora Grandal-d'Anglade
Summary: In southern European ecosystems, apex predators usually cannot regulate prey populations, and instead, prey are often controlled by bottom-up mechanisms such as density-dependent disease or food availability. This highlights the importance of understanding the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of species functionality to improve conservation plans.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Itxaso Quintana, Edgar F. Cifuentes, Jeffrey A. Dunnink, Maria Ariza, Daniela Martinez-Medina, Felipe M. Fantacini, Bibek R. Shrestha, Freddie-Jeanne Richard
Summary: The global expansion of road networks poses a threat to apex predator conservation and ecosystem functioning. This is due to wildlife-vehicle collisions, habitat loss and fragmentation, reduced genetic connectivity, and increased poaching. Our review of 36 apex predator species shows that all are exposed to road impacts. The highest risk species are predominantly found in Asia, with others in the Americas, Africa, and Europe. To mitigate future road impacts, we propose a method to assess potential impact on apex predators, which is applied to proposed road developments in the Amazon, Africa, and Nepal. Around 500 protected areas will be affected by these roads, endangering core apex predator habitats. It is urgent to implement rigorous road development planning and effective mitigation measures to avoid construction in wilderness areas and predator strongholds.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robert J. Lennox, Jacob W. Brownscombe, Chris Darimont, Andrij Horodysky, Taal Levi, Graham D. Raby, Steven J. Cooke
Summary: Human predators exploit animals at high rates, targeting different age classes and phenotypes. They have significant ecological and evolutionary impacts and can replace wild predators in maintaining ecosystem services. Poorly managed human activities can harm ecosystems and human well-being.
Article
Ecology
Matthew S. Rogan, Greg Distiller, Guy A. Balme, Ross T. Pitman, Gareth K. H. Mann, Shannon M. Dubay, Gareth M. Whittington-Jones, Lisa H. Thomas, Joleen Broadfield, Thandiwe Knutson, M. Justin O'Riain
Summary: Effective conservation requires understanding the processes that determine population outcomes. The density of leopards is primarily limited by human impacts, but habitat suitability and management conditions also matter. Protected areas only play a role in large felid conservation when there is effective management of human-wildlife interface and protection from anthropogenic impacts.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Suman Nama, Ashna Shanmughan, Binaya Bhusan Nayak, Shashi Bhushan, Karankumar Ramteke
Summary: Coral reefs, as the most spectacular underwater creation, play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning and coastal community livelihood. However, marine debris poses a severe threat to these sensitive habitats and their associated organisms. Despite scientific attention, data regarding the sources, abundance, distribution, and potential consequences of marine debris on reef ecosystems are lacking. This review aims to provide an overview of the current status and impacts of marine debris, with emphasis on sources, distribution, affected species, and management strategies, as well as highlighting the adhesion mechanisms and diseases caused by microplastics to coral polyps.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amaia Astarloa, Richard Glennie, Guillem Chust, Isabel Garcia-Baron, Guillermo Boyra, Udane Martinez, Anna Rubio, Maite Louzao
Summary: This study explores the segregation mechanisms behind the co-occurrence of five phylogenetically related pelagic birds in the Bay of Biscay. By analyzing vertical ranges and prey availability features, the research reveals that niche differentiation is primarily driven by environmental and trophic niche partitioning, as well as potential vertical segregation.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
R. C. Rodriguez-Caro, E. Gracia, S. P. Blomberg, H. Cayuela, M. Grace, C. P. Carmona, H. A. Perez-Mendoza, A. Gimenez, R. Salguero-Gomez
Summary: This analysis examines 259 species of turtles, tortoises, and crocodilians, identifying anthropogenic threats that affect species with certain life history strategies and others that affect all species. The study finds that the loss of functional diversity in threatened species is greater than expected, with habitat degradation having the largest impact.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Andres Ordiz, Malin Aronsson, Jens Persson, Ole-Gunnar Stoen, Jon E. Swenson, Jonas Kindberg
Summary: Human disturbance affects terrestrial apex predators in various ways, including reducing population numbers and triggering behavioral responses that can impact lower trophic levels. However, in some cases, apex predator populations are partially recovering, posing both conservation benefits and management challenges.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lachlan Pettit, Mathew S. Crowther, Georgia Ward-Fear, Richard Shine
Summary: This study found that the invasion of cane toads had different effects on the population of giant monitor lizards in Australia, possibly due to differences in food resource availability in different regions. Additionally, anthropogenically-induced changes to natural ecosystems may produce synergistic effects, intensifying their impacts.
Article
Biology
Giacinto De Vivo, Stephan Lautenschlager, Jakob Vinther
Summary: Radiodonts evolved into the largest nektonic predators during the Cambrian period, with different species having adaptations for feeding on prey of various sizes. The limited dexterity and inefficient feeding methods may have contributed to their eventual replacement by other marine predators.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Paul Tixier, Mary-Anne Lea, Mark A. Hindell, Dirk Welsford, Camille Maze, Sophie Gourguet, John P. Y. Arnould
Summary: Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts has become a major challenge globally, especially with large marine predators feeding on fisheries catches. Depredation poses threats to the socio-economic viability of fisheries and species conservation, highlighting the need for enhanced mitigation efforts.
FISH AND FISHERIES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Eoin J. O'Gorman, Lei Zhao, Rebecca L. Kordas, Steve Dudgeon, Guy Woodward
Summary: This study investigates the interactive effects of warming and fish predators on freshwater ecosystems. The presence of fish and warming together result in changes in the food web and a reduction in consumer species.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meghna Bandyopadhyay, Suvankar Biswas, Tryambak Dasgupta, Ramesh Krishnamurthy
Summary: Species' coexistence is influenced by species-specific resource utilization. Human disturbances can alter community dynamics and constrain realized niche. This study investigates the impact of human disturbances on mesocarnivore coexistence patterns in the Western Himalaya. Red fox and leopard cat were considered focal species for assessing coexistence in low and high human disturbance areas. Spatial segregation was observed in the low disturbance area, while dietary segregation was the means of coexistence in the high disturbance area. The altered coexistence pattern suggests intensive anthropogenic activities near natural forests, increasing the potential for disease spread and conflicts.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Timothy L. Staples, Wolfgang Kiessling, John M. Pandolfi
Summary: Anthropogenic disturbance and climate change can greatly increase the emergence of new, ecologically novel communities. Post-glacial warming of the past 8000 years led to a threefold increase in the emergence of local novel communities. However, in the last 200 years, the emergence of local novel communities has already matched estimates of glacial retreat. These novel communities are mainly found in high latitude regions and are influenced by global and local temperature changes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Igor Khorozyan
Summary: Research shows that conflicts between humans and mammalian predators should be addressed with robust study designs, but currently, interventions mostly rely on less reliable study designs. Over the past few decades, the use of poorer study designs in interventions has increased, while the contribution of more robust study designs remains relatively minor.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Romane Darul, Alexander Gavashelishvili, Alexander P. Saveljev, Ivan Seryodkin, John D. C. Linnell, Henryk Okarma, Guna Bagrade, Aivars Ornicans, Janis Ozolins, Peep Mannil, Igor Khorozyan, Dime Melovski, Aleksandar Stojanov, Aleksander Trajce, Bledi Hoxha, Mikhail G. Dvornikov, Naranbaatar Galsandorj, Innokentiy Okhlopkov, Jimsher Mamuchadze, Yuriy A. Yarovenko, Muzigit Akkiev, Giorgi Sulamanidze, Vazha Kochiashvili, Mehmet Kursat Sahin, Sergey A. Trepet, Alim B. Pkhitikov, Mohammad S. Farhadinia, Jose A. Godoy, Tomas Jaszay, Miroslaw Ratkiewicz, Krzysztof Schmidt
Summary: The study investigated the relationship between the variability of pelage phenotypes in the Eurasian lynx and environmental conditions. Despite the impact of various environmental variables on lynx distribution and habitat suitability, the least-cost distances from locations of inferred glacial refugia during the Last Glacial Maximum were found to best explain the distribution of lynx coat patterns.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Manuel Puettmanns, Laura Boettges, Tim Filla, Franziska Lehmann, Annika Sophie Martens, Friederike Siegel, Anna Sippel, Marlene von Bassi, Niko Balkenhol, Matthias Waltert, Eckhard Gottschalk
Summary: The study investigated foraging habitat selection by chick-raising Eurasian Skylarks, focusing on seasonal dynamics of habitat use and food availability. Skylarks mainly selected foraging habitats based on proximity to nests, and the importance of various habitats within home ranges changed over time. Feeding frequency increased throughout the breeding season, contrary to expectations of decreased food availability. The findings suggest that the diverse farmland composition in the study area supported Skylarks in raising offspring, highlighting the importance of crop diversity in their conservation.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Igor Khorozyan, Marco Heurich
Summary: Recovery of the wolf population in Germany has led to conflicts arising from livestock depredation, particularly sheep losses. However, the primary factors influencing these losses are the state, year, and available sheep numbers, rather than the actual wolf population size. The study recommends focusing on non-lethal interventions, monitoring enforcement, and promoting wolf tolerance as part of Germany's wolf conservation policy.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mahmood Soofi, Ali T. Qashqaei, Jan-Niklas Trei, Shirko Shokri, Javad Selyari, Benjamin Ghasemi, Pooriya Sepahvand, Lukas Egli, Bagher Nezami, Navid Zamani, Gholam Hosein Yusefi, Bahram H. Kiabi, Niko Balkenhol, Andrew Royle, Chris R. Pavey, Steve M. Redpath, Matthias Waltert
Summary: Poaching is a major driver of wildlife population decline globally, and accurately quantifying its scale and intensity, as well as understanding its drivers, is crucial for its reduction. This study developed a model using data from Iran to accurately estimate annual poaching of ungulates and identified the relationship between poaching intensity and economic conditions, law enforcement, and other factors.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Arash Ghoddousi, Corinna Van Cayzeele, Pegah Negahdar, Mahmood Soofi, Amirhossein Kh. Hamidi, Benjamin Bleyhl, Guillermo Fandos, Igor Khorozyan, Matthias Waltert, Tobias Kuemmerle
Summary: Poaching is threatening species with extinction, and reducing poaching pressure is crucial for conservation efforts. Analyzing ranger patrol data can help understand and map the patterns of poaching pressure. In the case of Golestan National Park in Iran, poaching distribution is mainly determined by prey availability.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mahmood Soofi, Ali T. Qashqaei, Marzieh Mousavi, Ehsan Hadipour, Marc Filla, Bahram H. Kiabi, Benjamin Bleyhl, Arash Ghoddousi, Niko Balkenhol, Andrew Royle, Chris R. Pavey, Igor Khorozyan, Matthias Waltert
Summary: Illegal killing and habitat modification are causing population declines in large mammalian carnivores. Using data from Iran, a single-visit N-mixture model was applied to understand the magnitude and drivers of leopard killing events. The study found a positive relationship between protected area size, livestock density, wild prey abundance, and the intensity of leopard killing.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Amelie Laux, Matthias Waltert, Eckhard Gottschalk
Summary: The study found that vegetation type is the most important factor influencing predator activity, with capture rates in flower strips lower than in hedges or field margins. Red fox is an important predator for ground-nesting birds, with capture rates increasing with woodland area and decreasing with structural richness and distance to settlements. In flower strips, capture rates at the center are approximately 9 times lower than at the edge.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Manuel Puettmanns, Franziska Lehmann, Fabian Willert, Jasmin Heinz, Antje Kieburg, Tim Filla, Niko Balkenhol, Matthias Waltert, Eckhard Gottschalk
Summary: The lack of suitable nesting sites is a key driver behind the decline of farmland birds in Europe. Crop diversification is believed to be a potential solution to this problem. This study found that in heterogeneous farmland, Skylarks responded to the decreasing suitability of winter cereals by switching nesting habitats, but overall nest success did not decrease throughout the breeding season.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Christian Kiffner, Richard A. Giliba, Pascal Fust, Jacqueline Loos, Matthias Waltert
Summary: In many parts of East Africa, wildlife populations have declined over the past decades. This study focuses on two areas in Tanzania, Rukwa Game Reserve and Katavi National Park, to assess the relative performance of different management strategies in conserving wildlife populations. The researchers compared densities and group sizes of large mammal populations between 2004 and 2021 and found no significant declines, suggesting a possible stabilization phase after earlier declines. This highlights the importance of considering appropriate temporal baselines and historical contexts when assessing conservation effectiveness.
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. Laux, K. Mayer, W. Beeke, M. Waltert, E. Gottschalk
Summary: Predation and habitat deterioration are the main reasons for the decline in ground-nesting farmland birds. Flower blocks can reduce predator activity, and the surrounding landscape affects predator activity in flower blocks. Distance to the edge of the nesting habitat is the most important predictor for nest predation, and increasing habitat diversity and coverage of extensive vegetation types can minimize nest predation. These measures can also benefit other ground-nesting farmland birds.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Biographical-Item
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthias Waltert
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tim Caro, Andrew Dobson, Christian Kiffner, Matthias Waltert
Article
Ecology
Marc Filla, Rinzin Phunjok Lama, Tim Filla, Marco Heurich, Niko Balkenhol, Matthias Waltert, Igor Khorozyan
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various intervention strategies to protect snow leopards and livestock. The results suggest that the current main intervention strategies were not effective in reducing livestock losses, while the use of dogs, deterrents, and multiple interventions showed some potential. Controlled experiments should be conducted to further investigate and promote the most effective measures.
Article
Ecology
Margaretha Pangau-Adam, Marlina Flassy, Jan-Niklas Trei, Matthias Waltert, Mahmood Soofi
Summary: This study aims to assess the population status of introduced rusa deer in West Papua and investigate hunting practices. The study found a high density of rusa deer and highlighted the socioeconomic importance of hunting for rural communities, while also emphasizing the potential adverse effects on native flora and fauna. The study also emphasizes the importance of traditional knowledge and wildlife taboos in wildlife management.
ECOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND EVIDENCE
(2022)
