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A spatial theory for characterizing predator-multiprey interactions in heterogeneous landscapes.

Daniel Fortin¹, Pietro-Luciano Buono², Oswald J Schmitz³

¹Chaire de Recherche Industrielle CRSNG-Université Laval en Sylviculture et Faune, Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada daniel.fortin@bio.ulaval.ca.

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

|July 31, 2015

Summary

Habitat heterogeneity alters predator-prey dynamics by changing prey distribution and mortality risk. Prey species’ distinct responses to landscape features can reverse expected density-dependent effects, impacting survival.

Keywords:

animal movement apparent competition caribou density dependence mortality risk predator–prey interaction

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Area of Science:

Ecology
Theoretical Ecology
Wildlife Ecology

Background:

Classic predator-prey models often assume spatially uniform interactions.
Prey distribution significantly influences trophic interactions in multiprey systems.
Habitat heterogeneity can impact predator-prey dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a spatially informed theory predicting how habitat heterogeneity affects prey mortality risk and predator interactions.
To investigate how distinct prey responses to habitat edges influence multiprey systems.
To test the theory using data on boreal caribou, moose, and grey wolves.

Main Methods:

Developed a spatially explicit, multiprey functional response model.
Incorporated species-specific advection-diffusion models to simulate prey responses to habitat edges.
Analyzed empirical data from a large boreal forest landscape.

Main Results:

Habitat heterogeneity alters the landscape distribution of predation mortality risk.
Distinct prey responses to habitat heterogeneity can change the effects of conspecific aggregation, from increasing safety to increasing risk.
Empirical data supported the theoretical predictions regarding prey responses to landscape heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

Spatially informed theory can accurately predict predator-prey dynamics in heterogeneous environments.
Distinct prey responses to landscape heterogeneity, including human disturbances, can reverse density dependence in fitness.
Understanding landscape-scale processes is crucial for wildlife management and conservation.