Conserving large carnivores: dollars and fence

Packer, Craig; Loveridge, Andrew J.; Canney, Susan M.; Caro, Timothy; Garnett, Stephen T.; Pfeifer, Marion; Zander, Kerstin K.; Swanson, Alexandra; MacNulty, Dan R.; Balme, Guy A.; Bauer, Hans; Begg, Colleen; Begg, Keith S.; Bhalla, Shivani; Bissett, Charlene; Bodasing, Tarik; Brink, Henry; Burger, André; Burton, A. Cole; Clegg, Bruce; Dell, Stephen; Delsink, Audrey; Dickerson, Tristan; Dloniak, Stephanie M.; Druce, Dave J.; Frank, Laurence G.; Funston, Paul J.; Gichohi, Nathan; Groom, Rosemary J.; Hanekom, Catharine C.; Heath, Brian J.; Hunter, Luke; Deiongh, H. H.; Joubert, Christoffel J.; Kasiki, Samuel M.; Kissui, Bernard M.; Knocker, W.; Leathem, B.; Lindsey, Peter A.; Maclennan, Seamus; McNutt, J. Weldon; Miller, Susan M.; Naylor, Simon; Nel, Philip; Ng’weno, Caroline C.; Nicholls, Keith W.; Ogutu, Joseph O.; Okot-Omoya, E.; Patterson, Bruce D.; Plumptre, Andrew J.; Salerno, Jonathan; Skinner, Kirsten; Slotow, Rob; Sogbohossou, Etotépé A.; Stratford, Ken; Winterbach, Christiaan W.; Winterbach, Hanlie; Polasky, Stephen

doi:10.1111/ele.12091

Cited by 261 publications

(248 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…2013) and might also be causal to the limited risk effects observed. Indeed, where direct lion associated risk effects have been detected, lion densities have generally been much higher than the 2.1 lions/100 km 2 in our study site [Thaker et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Moreover, predators, including lions, occur at naturally or artificially low densities in several ecosystems already (Packer et al. 2013; Bauer et al. 2015), and studies need to incorporate such areas before general conclusions about risk effects can be reached.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2005; Packer et al. 2013), and so there is a need for improved understanding of predator–prey dynamics within them.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Limited spatial response to direct predation risk by African herbivores following predator reintroduction

Davies

Tambling

Kerley

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Predators affect ecosystems not only through direct mortality of prey, but also through risk effects on prey behavior, which can exert strong influences on ecosystem function and prey fitness. However, how functionally different prey species respond to predation risk and how prey strategies vary across ecosystems and in response to predator reintroduction are poorly understood. We investigated the spatial distributions of six African herbivores varying in foraging strategy and body size in response to environmental factors and direct predation risk by recently reintroduced lions in the thicket biome of the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa, using camera trap surveys, GPS telemetry, kill site locations and Light Detection and Ranging. Spatial distributions of all species, apart from buffalo, were driven primarily by environmental factors, with limited responses to direct predation risk. Responses to predation risk were instead indirect, with species distributions driven by environmental factors, and diel patterns being particularly pronounced. Grazers were more responsive to the measured variables than browsers, with more observations in open areas. Terrain ruggedness was a stronger predictor of browser distributions than was vegetation density. Buffalo was the only species to respond to predator encounter risk, avoiding areas with higher lion utilization. Buffalo therefore behaved in similar ways to when lions were absent from the study area. Our results suggest that direct predation risk effects are relatively weak when predator densities are low and the time since reintroduction is short and emphasize the need for robust, long‐term monitoring of predator reintroductions to place such events in the broader context of predation risk effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Limited spatial response to direct predation risk by African herbivores following predator reintroduction

Davies

Tambling

Kerley

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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“…However, our Masai Mara analysis was based on the best available data for the reserve as a whole: A 12-mo study in 1991-1992 and Dloniak's 2005 survey, cited by Packer et al (2), that replicated the earlier methods and indicated a 40% decline in 14 years. Kiffner et al's 2005 survey in Katavi (3) responded to conservation concerns over declining ecosystem health (4) and reported a lion density of only 15% of estimated carrying capacity (168 lions compared with an expected 1,100) (2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Reply to Riggio et al.: Ongoing lion declines across most of Africa warrant urgent action

Bauer

Chapron

Nowell³

et al. 2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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“…Packer et al, 2010). While some are advocating radical new measures for protection such as fencing (Packer et al, 2013) and lifting the rhino horn trade ban (Biggs et al, 2013), we do not yet know whether they will be implemented nor how effective they will be. How soon before the Big 5 becomes the Big 4 or the Big 3?…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%