Spatio-temporal responses of predators to hyperabundant geese affect risk of predation for sympatric-nesting species.

ABSTRACT: The Arctic is undergoing rapid changes, with anthropogenic shifts in climate having important and well-documented impacts on habitat. Populations of predators and their prey are affected by changing climate and other anthropogenic factors, and these changing trophic interactions could have profound effects on breeding populations of Arctic birds. Variable abundance of lemmings (a primary prey of generalist Arctic predators) and increasing abundance of light geese (Lesser Snow and Ross' Geese; a secondary prey) could have negative consequences for numerous sympatric shorebirds (an incidental prey). Using 16 years of predator-prey observations and 13-years of shorebird nest survival data at a site near a goose colony we identify relationships among geese, lemmings, and their shared predators

SUBMITTER: Flemming SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6713384 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature