Emerging ecosystems change the spatial distribution of top carnivores even in poorly populated areas.

ABSTRACT: Humans affect biological diversity and species distribution patterns by modifying resource availability and generating novel environments where generalist species benefit and specialist species are rare. In particular, cities create local homogenization while roads fragment habitat, although both processes can increase food availability for some species that may be able to take advantage of this new source. We studied space use by birds of prey in relation to human construction, hypothesizing that these birds would be affected even in poorly populated areas. We worked in Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, which is experiencing a high population growth, but still having very large unpopulated areas. We related the presence of raptors with different sources of human disturbance and found tha

SUBMITTER: Barbar F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4370498 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature