| Anthropogenic resource subsidies decouple predator-prey relationships. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 21639056 Owner: NLM Status: In-Process |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
The extent to which resource subsidies affect food web dynamics is poorly understood in anthropogenic landscapes. To better understand how species interactions are influenced by subsidies, we studied breeding birds and nest predators along a rural-to-urban landscape gradient that varied in subsidies provided to generalist predators. We hypothesized that resource subsidies in urban landscapes would decouple predator-prey relationships, as predators switch from natural to anthropogenic foods. From 2004 to 2009, we surveyed nest predators and monitored 2942 nests of five songbird species breeding in 19 mature forest stands in Ohio, USA. Eighteen species were video-recorded depredating nests. Numbers of avian and mammalian nest predators were positively associated with the amount of urban development surrounding forests, with the exception of Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater). Although nest survival strongly declined with detections of nest predators in rural landscapes, nest survival and predator numbers were unrelated in urban landscapes. Thus, the strength of interaction between breeding birds and nest predators diminished as landscapes surrounding forested parks became more urbanized. Our work suggests that decoupling of predator-prey relationships can arise when synanthropic predators are heavily subsidized by anthropogenic resources. In this way, human drivers can alter, and completely disarticulate, relationships among species that are well established in more natural systems. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Amanda D Rodewald; Laura J Kearns; Daniel P Shustack |
Related Documents
:
|
22851776 - Occupational health hazards in veterinary medicine: physical, psychological, and chemic... 21988746 - Mercury concentrations in fish jerky snack food: marlin, ahi, and salmon. 22429296 - Industry challenge to best practice risk communication. 22479136 - Progressive parenting behavior in wild golden lion tamarins. 15906956 - Cases of swallow syncope induced by the activation of mechanorecepters in the lower eso... 23424896 - Rice fortification: an emerging opportunity to contribute to the elimination of vitamin... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Ecological applications : a publication of the Ecological Society of America Volume: 21 ISSN: 1051-0761 ISO Abbreviation: Ecol Appl Publication Date: 2011 Apr |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2011-06-06 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 9889808 Medline TA: Ecol Appl Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 936-43 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. rodewald.1@osu.edu |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Changes in habitat heterogeneity alter marine sessile benthic communities.
Next Document: Fine-scale movement decisions of tropical forest birds in a fragmented landscape.