Risk-Sensitive Foraging Facilitates Species-Level Trophic Cascades Among Terrestrial Mammals: A Meta-Analysis
Year: 2009
Type: review
Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis
Abstract: The widespread removal of large carnivores from terrestrial ecosystems may be contributing to plant species loss and biotic homogenization through trophic cascades.A few plants not preferred by ungulates are increasing in abundance while the majority of preferred plants are in decline.A meta-analysis of recruitment gaps in browse-sensitive tree species demonstrated that failed recruitment coincided in time with carnivore loss.In all studies recruitment continued in nearby browsing refugia.A second meta-analysis revealed that the mechanism of mammalian herbivore-mediated trophic cascades contains a behavioral component.Foraging mammals exhibited higher giving-up densities (GUDs) when under higher predation risk.GUDs were highest in microhabitats perceived to be risky when predators were present, intermediate in safe microhabitats when predators were present, and lowest in safe and risky microhabitats in the absence of predators.Removing the landscape of fear may decrease spatial heterogeneity in plant communities, contributing to biotic homogenization.iv
Author: Bryan D. Murray
Institution: Wright State University
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2535397890