Individual variability in foraging success of a marine predator informs predator management.

ABSTRACT: The complexities of trophic dynamics complicate the management of predator populations. Targeted culling campaigns are one management strategy meant to control predation for the benefit of the prey population. In these campaigns, individual predators are often considered "rogue" based on visitation rates to the site of concern. This definition assumes that all predators impact prey equally. However, individual variability in foraging success may compromise this assumption. To examine this hypothesis, we studied harbor seals preying on adult salmonids during the 2014-2019 fall runs in Whatcom Creek, Bellingham, Washington, USA, and recorded visitation rate and foraging success of individual seals from photographs and field observations. We then used Generalized Linear Mixed-Effects Models t

SUBMITTER: Freeman G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9249773 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature