Multiple threats, or multiplying the threats? Interactions between invasive predators and other ecological disturbances

By T. Doherty, Chris R. Dickman, Dale Nimmo, Euan G. Ritchie. 2015

241 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Invasive species have reshaped the composition of biomes across the globe, and considerable cost is now associated with minimising their ecological, social and economic impacts. Mammalian predators are among the most damaging invaders, having caused numerous species extinctions. Here, we review evidence of interactions between invasive predators and six key threats that together have strong potential to influence both the impacts of the predators, and their management. We show that impacts of invasive predators can be classified as either functional or numerical, and that they interact with other threats through both habitat- and community-mediated pathways. Ecosystem context and invasive predator identity are central in shaping variability in these relationships and their outcomes. Greater recognition of the ecological complexities between major processes that threaten biodiversity, including changing spatial and temporal relationships among species, is required to both advance ecological theory and improve conservation actions and outcomes. We discuss how novel approaches to conservation management can be used to address interactions between threatening processes and ameliorate invasive predator impacts.

Subfields: Ecological Modeling, Ecology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/ebe34afdfb717afaffed1a16a422488730f24cba

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Citations in the corpus

Stop Jumping the Gun: A Call for Evidence‐Based Invasive Predator Management (2017, background): “The maintenance of ecological refuges through less intense grazing and patchy fire (e.g., via appropriate prescribed burning) may increase the ability of native fauna to coexist with predators (Doherty et al. 2015).”
Invasive predators and global biodiversity loss (2016, background): “On continents or large islands where eradications are difficult, alternative approaches are needed, such as predator-proof fencing (37), improved land management (38, 39), restoration of top predators (40, 41), and lethal control (42).”
The global impacts of domestic dogs on threatened vertebrates (2017, background): “For example, urbanization and road construction can facilitate dog access to primary habitats, potentially resulting in synergistic effects with wildlife poaching and road-kill (Doherty et al., 2015).”
Responses of invasive predators and native prey to a prescribed forest fire (2017, background): “Interactions between threatening processes can exacerbate the risk of species extinction, and require a sophisticated approach to management (Didham et al. 2007; Doherty et al. 2015).”