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- Title
Effects of predation risk on elk ( Cervus elaphus) landscape use in a wolf ( Canis lupus) dominated system.
- Authors
Eisenberg, Cristina; Hibbs, David E.; Ripple, William J.
- Abstract
Food acquisition and predation avoidance are key drivers of herbivore behaviour. We investigated the interaction of top-down (predator) and bottom-up (food, fire, thermal) effects by measuring the relationship between wolf ( Canis lupus L., 1758) predation risk perceived by elk ( Cervus elaphus L., 1758) and elk landscape use. We conducted fecal pellet and wolf scat surveys in three valleys with three wolf population levels (Saint Mary: low; Waterton: moderate; North Fork: high). In the North Fork, 90% of quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands burned recently; the other valleys had no fire. We created predictive models of elk pellet density that incorporated bottom-up and top-down variables. All valleys had a high elk pellet density (≥10 per 100 m2). Wolf scat density was similar where there was no fire, but one order of magnitude greater in burned areas. Elk pellet density was lower in the North Fork, a predation-related response. In all valleys, site-specific elk density declined as impediments to detecting or escaping wolves increased, and elk avoided aspen, except for North Fork unburned areas. Models that best predicted elk density contained bottom-up and top-down effects. At local scales, high predation risk negatively influence elk occurrence, suggesting that even with minimal wolf exposure elk avoid risky sites.
- Subjects
RED deer; WOLVES; ELK populations; PREDATION; POPULATION density; DENSITY dependence (Ecology)
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Zoology, 2015, Vol 93, Issue 2, p99
- ISSN
0008-4301
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1139/cjz-2014-0138