Journal
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
Volume 232, Issue -, Pages 194-207Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.02.011
Keywords
Antipredator behavior; Fear; Indirect effects; Nonlethal effects; Nonconsumptive effects; Research design
Funding
- National Science Foundation [DEB-1652420]
- Arctic - Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE)
- NASA Terrestrial Ecology project [NNX15AU20A, NNX15AU21A]
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Quantifying both the lethal and non-lethal (or risk) effects of predation has emerged as a major research focus in carnivore-ungulate systems. While numerous studies have examined predation risk and risk effects in recent decades, a lack of standardization in approaches has impeded progress in the field. We provide an overview of five major study design considerations involved in assessing predation risk and responses of prey in carnivore-ungulate systems, highlighting how different design choices can impact the strength and scope of inference. First, we stress the importance of distinguishing measures of predation risk (probability of being killed) from measures of risk effects (costs of antipredator behaviors in response to risk). Second, we recommend explicit consideration of spatial and temporal scales using a standardized framework to facilitate cross-study comparisons. Third, ungulates use visual, auditory, and olfactory sensory pathways to evaluate predation risk. Experiments that manipulate signals of risk (e.g., auditory playbacks or application of predator scent) can be powerful approaches, but the dosages and types of cues need to be carefully considered. Fourth, ungulates usually face threats from multiple predators simultaneously, and we highlight the potential for remote cameras and structural equation modeling to help address this challenge. Fifth, emerging technologies may substantially improve our ability to assess risk. We discuss several promising technologies, such as animal-borne video, unmanned aerial vehicles, and physiological sensors. We conclude with general recommendations for study design, which may improve the utility of predation risk research for the conservation and management of carnivore-ungulate systems.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available