Global ETD Search

1	Habitat Use and Foraging Ecology of a Batoid Community in Shark Bay, Western Australia Vaudo, Jeremy 29 March 2011 (has links) Worldwide declines in populations of large elasmobranchs and the potential cascading effects on marine ecosystems have garnered considerable attention. Far less appreciated are the potential ecological impacts of changes in abundances of small to medium bodied elasmobranchs mesopredators. Crucial to elucidating the role of these elasmobranchs is an understanding of their habitat use and foraging ecology in pristine conditions. I investigated the trophic interactions and factors driving spatiotemporal variation in abundances of elasmobranch mesopredators in the relatively pristine ecosystem of Shark Bay, Australia. First, I describe the species composition and seasonal habitat use patterns of elasmobranch mesopredator on the sandflats of Shark Bay. Juvenile batoids dominated this diverse community and were extremely abundant in nearshore microhabitats during the warm season. Stomach content analysis and stable isotopic analysis revealed that there is a large degree of dietary overlap between common batoid species. Crustaceans, which tend to be found in seagrass habitats, dominated diets. Despite isotopic differences between many species, overlap in isotopic niche space was high and there was some degree of individual specialization. I then, investigated the importance of abiotic (temperature and water depth) and biotic (prey and predator abundance) factors in shaping batoid habitat use. Batoids were most abundant and tended to rest in shallow nearshore waters when temperatures were high. This pattern coincides with periods of large shark abundance suggesting batoids were seeking refuge from predators rather than selecting optimal temperatures. Finally, I used acoustic telemetry to examine batoid residency and diel use of the sandflats. Individual batoids were present on the sandflats during both the warm and cold seasons and throughout the diel cycle, suggesting lower sandflat densities during the cold season were a result of habitat shifts rather than migration out of Shark Bay. Combined, habitat use and dietary results suggest that batoids have the potential to seasonally impact sandflat dynamics through their presence, although foraging may be limited on the sandflats. Interestingly, my results suggest that elasmobranch mesopredators in pristine ecosystems probably are not regulated by food supply and their habitat use patterns and perhaps ecosystem impacts may be influenced by their predators. stingray elasmobranch predator-prey interaction mesopredator mesoconsumer trophic relationships shark
2	Cascading Effects Of Predator Removal On The Ecology Of Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches Barton, Brandon 01 January 2005 (has links) Traditional views of food web dynamics have characterized species interactions as linear and direct. However, modern food web theory suggests that interactions can also be nonlinear and indirect, so that disturbance at one trophic level is transmitted throughout the community. Many previous studies have demonstrated that the removal of top predators from terrestrial ecosystems can have broad-scale impacts on community ecology. I examined the direct and indirect effects of raccoon removal from sea turtle nesting beaches in east-central Florida during the summers of 2003 and 2004. Raccoon and ghost crab predation are among the highest causes of egg mortality for sea turtles in Florida and raccoons are intraguild predators of ghost crabs. Because of the damage done to sea turtle nests, raccoons have been removed from some beaches during the sea turtle nesting season. I compared the diet and demography of a raccoon population that had experienced two decades of raccoon removal to a population that had previously been unmanipulated. I found that long-term raccoon removal had created a significantly male-biased sex ratio in that population. I also examined the indirect effects of raccoon removal by comparing the abundances of raccoons and ghost crabs at four study sites using passive tracking plots. My data suggest intraguild predation by raccoons limits ghost crab abundance and that reduced raccoon abundance allowed ghost crab abundance to increase, resulting in a net increase in sea turtle egg predation. These results support my hypothesis that intraguild predation of ghost crabs by raccoons is an influential interaction on sea turtle nesting beach community dynamics. raccoon intraguild predation mesopredator release ghost crab sea turtle Biology
3	Densities, habitat-use, and mesopredator release of the ocelot in Belize Davis, Miranda L. 09 June 2009 (has links) The mesopredator release hypothesis suggests that small carnivore populations are negatively affected by competition with larger carnivore species; this could hinder the conservation of mesopredators in areas where large top-carnivores are prioritized. I investigated the ecology of ocelots in Belize and examined the role of mesopredator release in the neotropical carnivore guild to determine if ocelots are limited by competition with jaguars and pumas. I conducted remote camera surveys and sampled habitat within four protected areas: three broadleaf sites and one pine forest site. I measured ocelot activity and habitat-use with respect to the activity of jaguars and pumas at one broadleaf site and one pine forest site; additionally, I calculated estimates of ocelot and jaguar densities within those two sites. Ocelot presence was positively related to jaguar activity in the pine forest and to both jaguar and puma activity in the broadleaf forest. There were few relationships with habitat characteristics; however, in the broadleaf site, ocelot activity was positively related to road width and large avian prey activity. Both jaguar and ocelot densities were low in the pine forest and higher in the broadleaf site. Preliminary findings from the remaining two sites suggest that future results may be similar to those from the first two sites analyzed. I conclude that ocelot populations are not negatively affected by jaguars and that a negative effect of pumas is unlikely. Results imply that mesopredator release does not limit ocelot populations in these areas. / Master of Science density mesopredator release Belize ocelot habitat-use jaguar
4	Emerging Factors Associated With The Decline Of A Gray Fox Population And Multi-Scale Land Cover Associations Of Mesopredators In The Chicago Metropolitan Area Willingham, Alison N. 08 December 2008 (has links) No description available. Ecology urban mesopredator intraguild competition gray fox coyote raccoon opossum striped skunk domestic cat
5	The effect of individual variability and larger carnivores on the functional response of cheetahs Hilborn, Anne Winona 07 February 2018 (has links) Functional response is the framework thorough which we can quantify how predator hunting behaviors such as rate of successful attack and time spent handling prey interact with prey density to determine the rate at which prey are killed. Cheetahs are mesopredators and their behavior can be shaped by the need to avoid larger predators while hunting relatively large bodied and mobile prey. I used data from 34 years of observed cheetah hunts in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to investigate how reproductive condition, prey density, seasonality, and the proximity of larger predators affect cheetah kill rates, probability of successful attack, and time spent handling prey. Mothers with cubs had an asymptotic Type II functional response where kill rate increased but eventually leveled-off at high prey densities, while cheetahs without cubs had a dome shaped Type IV functional response where kill rates actually declined at high prey density. Probability of successful attack on prey was higher for mothers with cubs, and increased slightly with prey density. Mothers with cubs had different prey handling behavior than other cheetahs. Cheetah mothers spend longer at kills then other cheetahs despite the risk that the carcass can attract lions and hyenas that could steal the carcass and potentially kill her cubs. Mothers must make sure their cubs have sufficient time at the carcass to eat their fill, thus they minimize risk from larger predators by being vigilant. In contrast, cheetahs without cubs are unconcerned with cub predation and can eat quickly to minimize the risk of kleptoparasitism. My results show how the pressures of cub rearing and coexisting with larger carnivores differentially shape the hunting behavior of cheetahs, and suggest that intensity of mesopredator suppression may depend on individual variability. This is the first time the functional response for a large mesopredator, has been quantified and the first time a dome shaped response has been recorded in a mammal. My work shows the value in accounting for individual variability in functional response and how linking of carnivore hunting behavior to multiple species interactions advances our understanding of how classical ecological theory applies to wild ecosystems. / Ph. D. Carnivores predator-prey interactions mesopredators functional response attack rate handling time mesopredator suppression individual variability
6	Behavioral and reproductive consequences of predator activity to grassland birds Thieme, Jennifer Lee 20 October 2011 (has links) No description available. Ecology predator prey avian nest success grassland bird reproduction territory selection mesopredator nest site selection daily survival
7	Co-ocorrência, interações tróficas e distribuição potencial da onça-pintada (Panthera onca) no bioma Amazônia / Co-occurrence, trophic interactions and potential distribution of jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Amazon biome Palmeira, Francesca Belem Lopes 27 May 2015 (has links) Predadores de topo desempenham um papel importante na manutenção dos sistemas em que eles ocorrem porque influenciam diretamente a estrutura e a dinâmica de comunidades. Desta forma, este estudo descreveu alguns mecanismos de co-ocorrência espaço-temporal entre a onça-pintada (Panthera onca) e duas espécies de mesopredadores (Puma concolor e Leopardus pardalis), o seu controle top-down na comunidade de mamíferos e os requerimentos ambientais que determinam a sua distribuição no bioma Amazônia. Para as análises de co-ocorrência espaço-temporal foram utilizados o modelo de ocupação e a densidade de Kernel utilizando os registros de armadilhamento fotográfico (2008-2011). Para descrever o controle top-down foi elaborada uma rede trófica utilizando os itens alimentares consumidos pelas espécies e disponíveis na literatura (1983-2014). Para indicar quais as áreas mais adequadas foi utilizado o modelo de distribuição de espécies utilizando as localizações geográficas de ocorrência da espécie que foram compiladas de três diferentes bases de dados (2000-2013). A ocorrência das duas espécies de mesopredadores não foi diferente nos sítios com e sem a onça-pintada nas quatro temporadas de amostragem. A probabilidade de detecção da jaguatirica foi maior nos sítios com a presença da onça-pintada em apenas uma temporada de amostragem. A sobreposição no período de atividade das espécies de mesopredadores com a onça-pintada foi baixa, com cerca de 55% de sobreposição. Também ocorreu uma mudança razoável no período de atividade das espécies entre as temporadas de amostragem, com mínima de 32% e máxima de 56% de sobreposição. As maiores diferenças na detecção e na sobreposição temporal ocorreram na terceira temporada quando teve o maior número de capturas e recapturas da onça-pintada. A rede trófica apresentou seis níveis e grande riqueza de espécies e densidade de interações. Após a remoção da onça-pintada, houve a perda de um nível trófico e de aproximadamente 20% de interações. Quando comparada a distribuição atual da onça-pintada com a histórica, foi possível constatar a perda de espaço ambiental em áreas mais frias (< 6,3 °C), mais secas (< 288 mm), mais úmidas (> 7517 mm) e com maior elevação (> 3597 m). O modelo de distribuição também indicou que muitas áreas potenciais estão disponíveis à ocorrência da onça-pintada e que algumas merecem atenção, especialmente, nas porções leste e sul da Amazônia onde a espécie corre maior risco de desaparecimento local devido à antropização acelerada. Este estudo forneceu significativa contribuição para a compreensão da população de onça-pintada na Amazônia, bioma que ainda possui a maior lacuna de conhecimento sobre a biologia e ecologia da espécie. Demonstrou o efeito da sua presença na detectabilidade e no período de atividade de outras espécies. Também demonstrou seu papel ecológico como predador de topo exclusivo porque foi a única espécie que predou todas as outras de níveis tróficos inferiores. Descreveu o espaço ambiental originalmente ocupado (distribuição histórica) e o perdido (distribuição atual). Indicou as áreas mais adequadas à sua ocorrência e aquelas potenciais ao seu desaparecimento. / Apex predators play an important role in the maintenance of systems in which occur because they directly influence the structure and dynamics of communities Thus, this thesis aims to describe some of the mechanisms of spatio-temporal co-occurrence between the jaguar (Panthera onca) and mesopredators (Puma concolor and Leopardus pardalis), their top-down control on the community and environmental requirements that determine their distribution. To the analyses of spatio-temporal co-occurrence were used the occupancy model and the Kernel density with records derived from camera trapping (2008-2011). To the analysis of trophic networks was used a foodweb model with prey spectra of felids compiled from the available literature (1983-2014). To indicate the most suitable areas to its occurrence was used a species distribution model with geographic location of the species compiled from three different databases. The occupation of the two species of mesopredators was not different among sites with and without jaguar. The probability of detection was different for ocelot, with higher detection on sites with than without jaguar. The overlap in the activity pattern among jaguar and mesopredators was low, with approximately 55% of overlapping. Also there was a reasonable change in the overlap between sampling seasons, with a minimum of 32% and maximum of 56% of the difference in the activity pattern. The differences in the detection and temporal overlap occurred in the third season when occurred the highest number of jaguar captures and recaptures. The trophic network presented six levels and, a high species richness and links density. After removal of the jaguar, a trophic level and approximately 20% of links were lost. When compared historical and current distributions, the loss of environmental space occurred in areas colder (< 6.3 ° C), drier (< 288 mm), wetter (> 7517 mm) and at higher elevation (> 3597 m). The distribution model also indicated that there is many potential suitable areas available to the jaguar occurrence and, some of them deserve attention, particularly, in eastern and southern portions of Amazonia where the species is most at risk of local extinction. This study provided a significant contribution to the knowledge of the population of jaguar in the Amazon biome which still has the largest gap of information on the biology and ecology of the species. It demonstrated the effect of the presence of the species in the detectability and the activity pattern of others. Also, it demonstrated their ecological role as an apex predator exclusive because it was the only one that ate all other species of lower trophic levels. It described the environmental space originally occupied (historical distribution) and lost (current distribution). It indicated potential suitable areas to its occurrence and threatened areas to its disappearance. Apex predator Co-occurrence Co-ocorrência Controle top-down Distribuição potencial Liberação mesopredador Mesopredator release Potential distribution Predador de topo Rede trófica Top-down control Trophic network
8	Co-ocorrência, interações tróficas e distribuição potencial da onça-pintada (Panthera onca) no bioma Amazônia / Co-occurrence, trophic interactions and potential distribution of jaguar (Panthera onca) in the Amazon biome Francesca Belem Lopes Palmeira 27 May 2015 (has links) Predadores de topo desempenham um papel importante na manutenção dos sistemas em que eles ocorrem porque influenciam diretamente a estrutura e a dinâmica de comunidades. Desta forma, este estudo descreveu alguns mecanismos de co-ocorrência espaço-temporal entre a onça-pintada (Panthera onca) e duas espécies de mesopredadores (Puma concolor e Leopardus pardalis), o seu controle top-down na comunidade de mamíferos e os requerimentos ambientais que determinam a sua distribuição no bioma Amazônia. Para as análises de co-ocorrência espaço-temporal foram utilizados o modelo de ocupação e a densidade de Kernel utilizando os registros de armadilhamento fotográfico (2008-2011). Para descrever o controle top-down foi elaborada uma rede trófica utilizando os itens alimentares consumidos pelas espécies e disponíveis na literatura (1983-2014). Para indicar quais as áreas mais adequadas foi utilizado o modelo de distribuição de espécies utilizando as localizações geográficas de ocorrência da espécie que foram compiladas de três diferentes bases de dados (2000-2013). A ocorrência das duas espécies de mesopredadores não foi diferente nos sítios com e sem a onça-pintada nas quatro temporadas de amostragem. A probabilidade de detecção da jaguatirica foi maior nos sítios com a presença da onça-pintada em apenas uma temporada de amostragem. A sobreposição no período de atividade das espécies de mesopredadores com a onça-pintada foi baixa, com cerca de 55% de sobreposição. Também ocorreu uma mudança razoável no período de atividade das espécies entre as temporadas de amostragem, com mínima de 32% e máxima de 56% de sobreposição. As maiores diferenças na detecção e na sobreposição temporal ocorreram na terceira temporada quando teve o maior número de capturas e recapturas da onça-pintada. A rede trófica apresentou seis níveis e grande riqueza de espécies e densidade de interações. Após a remoção da onça-pintada, houve a perda de um nível trófico e de aproximadamente 20% de interações. Quando comparada a distribuição atual da onça-pintada com a histórica, foi possível constatar a perda de espaço ambiental em áreas mais frias (< 6,3 °C), mais secas (< 288 mm), mais úmidas (> 7517 mm) e com maior elevação (> 3597 m). O modelo de distribuição também indicou que muitas áreas potenciais estão disponíveis à ocorrência da onça-pintada e que algumas merecem atenção, especialmente, nas porções leste e sul da Amazônia onde a espécie corre maior risco de desaparecimento local devido à antropização acelerada. Este estudo forneceu significativa contribuição para a compreensão da população de onça-pintada na Amazônia, bioma que ainda possui a maior lacuna de conhecimento sobre a biologia e ecologia da espécie. Demonstrou o efeito da sua presença na detectabilidade e no período de atividade de outras espécies. Também demonstrou seu papel ecológico como predador de topo exclusivo porque foi a única espécie que predou todas as outras de níveis tróficos inferiores. Descreveu o espaço ambiental originalmente ocupado (distribuição histórica) e o perdido (distribuição atual). Indicou as áreas mais adequadas à sua ocorrência e aquelas potenciais ao seu desaparecimento. / Apex predators play an important role in the maintenance of systems in which occur because they directly influence the structure and dynamics of communities Thus, this thesis aims to describe some of the mechanisms of spatio-temporal co-occurrence between the jaguar (Panthera onca) and mesopredators (Puma concolor and Leopardus pardalis), their top-down control on the community and environmental requirements that determine their distribution. To the analyses of spatio-temporal co-occurrence were used the occupancy model and the Kernel density with records derived from camera trapping (2008-2011). To the analysis of trophic networks was used a foodweb model with prey spectra of felids compiled from the available literature (1983-2014). To indicate the most suitable areas to its occurrence was used a species distribution model with geographic location of the species compiled from three different databases. The occupation of the two species of mesopredators was not different among sites with and without jaguar. The probability of detection was different for ocelot, with higher detection on sites with than without jaguar. The overlap in the activity pattern among jaguar and mesopredators was low, with approximately 55% of overlapping. Also there was a reasonable change in the overlap between sampling seasons, with a minimum of 32% and maximum of 56% of the difference in the activity pattern. The differences in the detection and temporal overlap occurred in the third season when occurred the highest number of jaguar captures and recaptures. The trophic network presented six levels and, a high species richness and links density. After removal of the jaguar, a trophic level and approximately 20% of links were lost. When compared historical and current distributions, the loss of environmental space occurred in areas colder (< 6.3 ° C), drier (< 288 mm), wetter (> 7517 mm) and at higher elevation (> 3597 m). The distribution model also indicated that there is many potential suitable areas available to the jaguar occurrence and, some of them deserve attention, particularly, in eastern and southern portions of Amazonia where the species is most at risk of local extinction. This study provided a significant contribution to the knowledge of the population of jaguar in the Amazon biome which still has the largest gap of information on the biology and ecology of the species. It demonstrated the effect of the presence of the species in the detectability and the activity pattern of others. Also, it demonstrated their ecological role as an apex predator exclusive because it was the only one that ate all other species of lower trophic levels. It described the environmental space originally occupied (historical distribution) and lost (current distribution). It indicated potential suitable areas to its occurrence and threatened areas to its disappearance. Co-ocorrência Controle top-down Distribuição potencial Liberação mesopredador Predador de topo Rede trófica Apex predator Co-occurrence Mesopredator release Potential distribution Top-down control Trophic network
9	THE ROLE OF SHARKS IN MARINE ECOSYSTEMS: EVALUATING OVEREXPLOITED MARINE FISH COMMUNITIES TO DETECT LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PREDATOR REMOVAL Ferretti, Francesco 15 December 2010 (has links) Elasmobranchs are among the oldest and most successful predators in the ocean, yet one of the most vulnerable to the direct and indirect effects of fishing. Many populations are rapidly declining around the world, and an increasing number is listed as threatened or endangered. The broader ecosystem consequences of these declines, and whether other marine predators can replace sharks, are open questions. In this thesis, I used a diverse set of data and modeling techniques to analyze long-term changes in elasmobranch populations in the Mediterranean Sea, and the consequences of shark declines on marine ecosystems. Because of its long history of fishing, the Mediterranean offers a unique perspective on the response of marine communities to exploitation over long time scales. Here, I reconstructed the history of elasmobranch exploitation over the past 200 years in pelagic, coastal and demersal communities. Results were combined meta-analytically to derive a general pattern of change for the entire region. Overall, I detected multiple cases of regional species extirpations, a strong correlation between historical intensity of exploitation and the stage of community degradation, and some cases of compensatory species increases. My results suggest that compared to other marine ecosystems worldwide, the Mediterranean Sea might be in an advanced stage of overexploitation. To gain more general conclusions about the patterns and consequences of shark declines in the ocean, I reviewed and reanalyzed documented changes in exploited elasmobranch communities around the world, and synthesized the effects of sharks on their prey and wider communities. This work revealed that sharks are abundant and diverse in little exploited or unexploited marine ecosystems but vulnerable to even light levels of fishing. The decline in large sharks has reduced natural mortality in a range of their prey, contributing to changes in abundance, distribution, and behaviour of marine megafauna that have few other predators. In some cases, this has resulted in cascading changes in prey populations and food-web structure. Overall, my thesis greatly enhanced our knowledge about the critical state of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean Sea and the consequences of the declines of these important marine predators on marine ecosystems.
10	Birds, bats and arthropods in tropical agroforestry landscapes: Functional diversity, multitrophic interactions and crop yield Maas, Bea 20 November 2013 (has links) No description available. 630 birds bats arthropods multitrophic interactions agroforestry tropical landscape forest margin landscape functional diversity crop yield exclosure experiments experimental exclusion arthropod suppression avian predation ecosystem services mist netting point counts artificial plasticine caterpillar dummy experiment biological control monitoring mapping Lemon-bellied White-eye Grosbeak Starling Zosterops chloris Scissiostrum dubium Theobroma cacao cacao agroforestry cacao diseases cacao harvest cacao pests flying vertebrates aerial insectivores volant vertebrates logging breeding colony flower herbivory mesopredator release predatory insects ants spiders aphids Lepidoptera Coleoptera Lepidopteran larvae sustainable agriculture sustainable agroforestry management implications management recommendations applied managament extensive land use management landscape management conservation biodiversity-friendly dbh distance to forest forest proximity habitat conversion herbivory Indonesia insectivorous bats insectivorous birds invertebrates Central Sulawesi Napu valley leaf gleaning leaf herbivory pests insects phytophagous insects plant productivity remnant forest trees shade tree managament South-east Asia Paleotropics tropical landscape tree height landscape gradient local shade management Cacao Pod Borer Cherelle Wilt fruit abortion Helopeltis sulawesi deforestation habitat fragmentation land use intensification forest margin species critical decline predation experiment species-specific functions Southeast Asia biodiversity conservation mesopredators food security human welfare human well-being poverty alleviation poverty reduction smallholder cacao smallholder plantation cacao farmers sustainable cacao management landscape perspective landscape scale large scale field experiment long term field experiment human wellbeing economic importance economic value valuation ecosystem services landscape matrix yield quality yield quantity fruit productivity species identity species diversity species richness ecosystem functioning pesticide use chemical compounds complex food web tritrophic interactions wildlife-friendly rural livelihoods endangered bird species endangered bat species endemic endemic birds endemic bats beneficial impact IUCN Lore Lindu National Park bioindicator indicator species forest margin agricultural habitat agroforestry systems population density predation activity species activity cacao flower cacao pod Orthoptera linear mixed effect models Tukey Post Hoc Test AICc model selection generalized least squares restricted maximum likelihood model simplification species richness estimator species accumulation linear mixed-effects models Likelihood Ratio Test Maximum Likelihood nocturnal insects diurnal arthropods nocturnal arthropods diurnal insects landscape context Land- und Forstwirtschaft (PPN621302791)

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