Behaviourally-mediated interactions of landscape pattern shape predator-prey dynamics in highly altered landscapes
Author and article information
Abstract
Landscape structure plays a fundamental role in shaping predator-prey dynamics, often being a key determinant of predator-prey coexistence. Rapid alteration of landscape structure, however, can lead to changes in predator-prey interactions with the magnitude of such changes dependent upon the scale and intensity of alteration and animal behavioural responses to novel environmental stimuli. In the boreal forests of western Canada, linear features (e.g. roads, seismic lines and pipelines) from industrial activity are a ubiquitous form of landscape alteration and increasing evidence suggests their presence has impacted interactions between wolves (Canis lupus) and boreal caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), leading to caribou population declines. Using simulation analyses parameterized by empirical data, we demonstrate how linear features affect the ability of wolves to predate caribou and evaluate how the spatial configuration and density of linear features interacts with animal behaviour to influence caribou-wolf encounter rates. Model outputs yield insights into the spatial requirements of caribou for effectively reducing predation risk and further illustrate behavioural strategies that are theoretically optimal for caribou. We discuss how our spatially explicit modelling of predator-prey encounter rates can inform management actions aimed at minimizing anthropogenic impacts within caribou range as well as in other predator-prey systems.
Cite this as
2016. Behaviourally-mediated interactions of landscape pattern shape predator-prey dynamics in highly altered landscapes. PeerJ Preprints 4:e1955v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1955v1Author comment
This abstract was accepted for an oral presentation at the Predator-Prey Dynamics: From Theory to Management conference that was held from April 5-7, 2016 in Revelstoke, BC, Canada.
Sections
Additional Information
Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Author Contributions
Craig DeMars conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, wrote the paper, prepared figures and/or tables, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Greg A Breed conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Jonathan Potts conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Robert Serrouya conceived and designed the experiments, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Stan Boutin conceived and designed the experiments, reviewed drafts of the paper.
Animal Ethics
The following information was supplied relating to ethical approvals (i.e., approving body and any reference numbers):
University of Alberta Animal Care and Use Committee.
Approval #AUP00001309
Field Study Permissions
The following information was supplied relating to field study approvals (i.e., approving body and any reference numbers):
British Columbia Wildlife Act Permit #FJ14-153031
Funding
Funding was provided by Nexen and the British Columbia Oil and Gas Research and Innovation Society. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
