Dracula's Menagerie Reloaded: Assessing the Relative Roles of Habitat and Interspecific Interactions in an Intact
Marissa A Dyck1, Ruben Iosif2, Barbara Promberger-Fürpass2
1School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Victoria British Columbia Canada.
Ecology and Evolution
|April 28, 2025
Summary
Landscape features significantly influence predator-prey dynamics in the Romanian Carpathians, impacting both top-down and bottom-up regulation in wildlife communities. Conservation must prioritize natural habitats for successful rewilding.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Wildlife Conservation
- Community Dynamics
Background:
- Interspecific interactions are crucial for structuring animal communities and food webs.
- Carnivores act as top-down regulators, while prey availability drives bottom-up processes.
- Trophic rewilding aims to restore these natural regulation processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the relative importance of top-down and bottom-up regulation in a stable mammalian assemblage.
- To provide a benchmark for understanding rewilding success in terrestrial ecosystems.
- To assess the influence of landscape characteristics on predator-prey dynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized camera trap data from the Romanian Carpathians over two consecutive years.
- Employed piecewise structural equation modeling (SEM) to analyze interaction pathways.
- Investigated top-down (wolf, Eurasian lynx) and bottom-up (ungulate, hare abundance) influences.
Main Results:
- Both top-down and bottom-up processes significantly shape community structure.
- Landscape characteristics (terrain ruggedness, roads, elevation, forest cover) exert a greater influence than species interactions alone.
- Predator and prey populations are demonstrably affected by habitat features.
Conclusions:
- Landscape conservation is paramount for effective species conservation and coexistence.
- Findings provide critical insights for rewilding initiatives in Europe and globally.
- Preserving natural habitats is essential for maintaining ecological balance and supporting rewilding efforts.
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