Rewilding Apex Predators Has Effects on Lower Trophic Levels: Cheetahs and Ungulates in a Woodland Savanna.

ABSTRACT: The restoration of ecosystems through trophic rewilding has become increasingly common worldwide, but the effects on predator-prey and ecosystem dynamics remain poorly understood. For example, predation pressure may impose spatiotemporal behavioural adjustments in prey individuals, affecting herbivory and predation success, and therefore potentially impinging on the long-term success of trophic rewilding through apex predator reintroduction. Predation risk might have detrimental effects on prey through displacement from water or other vital resources. We investigated how five species of African ungulates responded behaviourally to changes in predation risk, following cheetah releases in the system. We grouped ungulates by body size to represent preferred prey weight ranges of the cheetah a

SUBMITTER: Ruble DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9774585 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature