Predator personalities alter ecosystem services

Bump, Joseph K.; Gable, Thomas D.; Johnson‐Bice, Sean M.; Homkes, Austin T.; Freund, Danielle R.; Windels, Steve K.; Chakrabarti, Stotra

doi:10.1002/fee.2512

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 19 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…Considering ~120 ponds are created annually in the study area (Gable and Johnson-Bice, unpublished data), wolf predation is likely an important influence on broader beaver pond dynamics. Although, recent research suggests individual variation in wolf kill rates on beavers may lead to intraspecific variation in the influence wolves have on beaver pond dynamics (Bump et al 2022). Because wolves and beavers co-occur across a large portion of the Northern Hemisphere, this mechanism is likely widespread .…”

Section: Case Study: Wolves Alter Ecosystems By Killing Pond-creating...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patchy indirect effects: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Johnson‐Bice

Gable

Roth

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Predators are widely recognized for their irreplaceable roles regulating the abundance and altering the traits of lower trophic levels. Predators also have irreplaceable roles in shaping community interactions and ecological processes via highly localized pathways, irrespective of their influence on prey density or behavior. We synthesized empirical and theoretical research describing how predators have indirect ecological effects confined to discrete patches on the landscape, processes we have termed patchy indirect effects of predation. Predators generate patchy indirect effects via three main pathways: generating and distributing prey carcasses, creating biogeochemical hotspots by concentrating nutrients derived from prey, and killing ecosystem engineers that create patches. In each pathway, the indirect ecological effects are limited to discrete areas with measurable spatial and temporal boundaries (i.e., patches). Our synthesis reveals the diverse and complex ways that predators indirectly affect other species via discrete patches, ranging from mediating scavenger interactions to interspecific parasite/disease transmission risk, and from altering ecosystem biogeochemistry to facilitating local species biodiversity. We also show how existing multi-scale ecological frameworks (metapopulation, meta-ecosystem, and patch dynamics concepts) offer insight into the mechanisms underlying the formation of these patches within ecosystems. We then provide basic guidelines on how these effects can be quantified at both the patch and landscape scales, and discuss how these predator-mediated patches ultimately increase landscape heterogeneity and contribute to ecosystem functioning. Whereas density- and trait-mediated indirect effects of predation generally occur through population-scale changes, patchy indirect effects of predation occur through individual- and patch-level pathways. Our synthesis provides a more holistic view of the functional role of predation in ecosystems by addressing how predators create patchy landscapes via localized pathways, in addition to influencing the abundance and behavior of lower trophic levels.

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Section: Case Study: Wolves Alter Ecosystems By Killing Pond-creating...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patchy indirect effects: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Johnson‐Bice

Gable

Roth

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Considering ~ 120 ponds are created annually in the study area (Johnson‐Bice et al unpubl. ), wolf predation appears to be an important influence of broader beaver pond dynamics (though individual variation in kill rates of beavers means there is likely intraspecific variation in how wolves affect pond dynamics; Bump et al 2022). Because wolves and beavers co‐occur across a large portion of the Northern Hemisphere, this mechanism is likely widespread (Gable et al 2018).…”

Section: Ecosystem Engineer Removal Pathway: Predators Alter Ecosyste...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patchy indirect effects of predation: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Johnson‐Bice,

Gable,

Roth

et al. 2023

Oikos

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Predators are widely recognized for their irreplaceable roles in influencing the abundance and traits of lower trophic levels. Predators also have irreplaceable roles in shaping community interactions and ecological processes via highly localized pathways (i.e. effects with well‐defined and measurable spatio–temporal boundaries), irrespective of their influence on prey density or behavior. We synthesized empirical and theoretical research describing how predators – particularly medium‐ and large‐sized carnivores – have indirect ecological effects confined to discrete landscape patches, processes we have termed ‘patchy indirect effects (PIEs) of predation'. Predators generate PIEs via three main localized pathways: generating and distributing prey carcasses, creating ecological hotspots by concentrating nutrients derived from prey, and killing ecosystem engineers that create patches. In each pathway, the indirect effects are limited to discrete areas with measurable spatial and temporal boundaries (i.e. patches). Our synthesis reveals the diverse and complex ways that predators indirectly affect other species via patches, ranging from mediating scavenger interactions to influencing parasite/disease transmission risk, and from altering ecosystem biogeochemistry to facilitating local biodiversity. We provide basic guidelines on how these effects can be quantified at the patch and landscape scales, and discuss how predator‐mediated patches ultimately contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem functioning. Whereas density‐ and trait‐mediated indirect effects of predation generally occur through population‐scale changes, PIEs of predation occur through individual‐ and patch‐level pathways. Our synthesis provides a more holistic view of the functional role of predation in ecosystems by addressing how predators create patchy landscapes via localized pathways, in addition to influencing the abundance and behavior of lower trophic levels.

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“…Notably, the estimated number of ponds affected changes depending on wolf and beaver population density, and wolf kill rates on dispersing beavers. Recent research suggests wolf kill rates on beavers, and thus their impact on beaver pond dynamics, may vary from individual to individual (Bump et al 2022).…”

Section: Nutrient Accumulation Pathway: Predators Create Biogeochemic...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Patchy indirect effects: how predators drive landscape heterogeneity and influence ecosystem dynamics via localized pathways

Johnson‐Bice

Gable

Roth

et al. 2022

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Predators are widely recognized for their irreplaceable roles in regulating the abundance and altering the traits of lower trophic levels. Yet, predators also have irreplaceable roles in shaping community interactions and ecological processes in highly localized pathways, irrespective of their influence on prey density or behavior. We introduce a conceptual framework, patchy indirect effects, that outlines how predators indirectly affect other organisms via landscape patches. We focus on three main pathways and provide examples and detailed case studies herein: generating and distributing prey carcasses, creating biogeochemical hotspots by concentrating nutrients derived from prey, and killing ecosystem engineers that create patches. In each pathway, indirect effects of predation are localized within discrete areas with measurable spatial and temporal boundaries. Whereas density- and trait-mediated indirect effects function via population-scale changes, the patchy indirect effects concept outlines how predators drive landscape heterogeneity and influence ecosystem dynamics – including scavenger interactions, nutrient cycling, parasite/disease transmission risk, and local biodiversity – through pathways that function at individual- and patch-level scales. Our synthesis provides a more holistic view of the functional role of predation in ecosystems by addressing how predators create patchy landscapes via localized pathways, in addition to influencing the abundance and behavior of lower trophic levels.

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Predator personalities alter ecosystem services

Cited by 9 publications

References 19 publications

Patchy indirect effects: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Patchy indirect effects: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Patchy indirect effects of predation: predators contribute to landscape heterogeneity and ecosystem function via localized pathways

Patchy indirect effects: how predators drive landscape heterogeneity and influence ecosystem dynamics via localized pathways

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