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Olejarz A, Podgórski T. No evidence for the consistent effect of supplementary feeding on home range size in terrestrial mammals. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232889. [PMID: 38864336 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Food availability and distribution are key drivers of animal space use. Supplemental food provided by humans can be more abundant and predictable than natural resources. It is thus believed that supplementary feeding modifies the spatial behaviour of wildlife. Yet, such effects have not been tested quantitatively across species. Here, we analysed changes in home range size owing to supplementary feeding in 23 species of terrestrial mammals using a meta-analysis of 28 studies. Additionally, we investigated the moderating effect of factors related to (i) species biology (sex, body mass and taxonomic group), (ii) feeding regimen (duration, amount and purpose), and (iii) methods of data collection and analysis (source of data, estimator and spatial confinement). We found no consistent effect of supplementary feeding on changes in home range size. While an overall tendency of reduced home range was observed, moderators varied in the direction and strength of the trends. Our results suggest that multiple drivers and complex mechanisms of home range behaviour can make it insensitive to manipulation with supplementary feeding. The small number of available studies stands in contrast with the ubiquity and magnitude of supplementary feeding worldwide, highlighting a knowledge gap in our understanding of the effects of supplementary feeding on ranging behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Olejarz
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Tomasz Podgórski
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
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2
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Bedson CPE, Wheeler PM, Reid N, Harris WE, Mallon D, Caporn S, Preziosi R. Highest densities of mountain hares (
Lepus timidus
) associated with ecologically restored bog but not grouse moorland management. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8744. [PMID: 35386872 PMCID: PMC8968167 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last 20 years, ecological restoration of degraded habitats has become common in conservation practice. Mountain hares (Lepus timidus scoticus) were surveyed during 2017–2021 using 830 km of line transects in the Peak District National Park, England. Historically degraded bog areas were previously reported having low hare numbers. Following bog restoration, we found hare densities of 32.6 individuals km−2, notably higher than neighboring degraded (unrestored) bog with 24.4 hares km−2. Hare density on restored peatland was 2.7 times higher than on bogs managed for grouse shooting at 12.2 hares km−2 and 3.3 times higher than on heather moorland managed for grouse shooting at 10.0 hares km−2. Yearly estimates varied most on habitats managed for grouse, perhaps indicative of the impact of habitat management, for example, heather burning and/or possible hare culling to control potential tick‐borne louping ill virus in gamebirds. Acid grassland used for sheep farming had a similar density to grouse moorland at 11.8 hares km−2. Unmanaged dwarf shrub heath had the lowest density at 4.8 hares km−2. Hare populations are characterized by significant yearly fluctuations, those in the study area increasing by 60% between 2017 and 2018 before declining by ca. 15% by 2020 and remaining stable to 2021. During an earlier survey in 2002, total abundance throughout the Peak District National Park was estimated at 3361 (95% CI: 2431–4612) hares. The present study estimated 3562 (2291–5624) hares suggesting a stable population over the last two decades despite fluctuations likely influenced by weather and anthropogenic factors. Mountain hares in the Peak District favored bog habitats and were associated with restored peatland habitat. Wildlife management should be cognizant of hare density variation between habitats, which may have implications for local extinction risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos P. E. Bedson
- Department of Natural Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
| | - Philip M. Wheeler
- School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences The Open University Milton Keynes UK
| | - Neil Reid
- Institute of Global Food Security (IGFS) School of Biological Sciences Queen’s University Belfast Belfast UK
| | - Wilson Edwin Harris
- Department of Agriculture and Environment Harper Adams University Newport UK
| | - David Mallon
- Department of Natural Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
| | - Simon Caporn
- Department of Natural Sciences Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester UK
| | - Richard Preziosi
- Faculty of Science and Engineering University of Plymouth Devon UK
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3
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Majchrzak YN, Peers MJL, Studd EK, Menzies AK, Walker PD, Shiratsuru S, McCaw LK, Boonstra R, Humphries M, Jung TS, Kenney AJ, Krebs CJ, Murray DL, Boutin S. Balancing food acquisition and predation risk drives demographic changes in snowshoe hare population cycles. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:981-991. [PMID: 35148018 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Snowshoe hare cycles are one of the most prominent phenomena in ecology. Experimental studies point to predation as the dominant driving factor, but previous experiments combining food supplementation and predator removal produced unexplained multiplicative effects on density. We examined the potential interactive effects of food limitation and predation in causing hare cycles using an individual-based food-supplementation experiment over-winter across three cycle phases that naturally varied in predation risk. Supplementation doubled over-winter survival with the largest effects occurring in the late increase phase. Although the proximate cause of mortality was predation, supplemented hares significantly decreased foraging time and selected for conifer habitat, potentially reducing their predation risk. Supplemented hares also lost less body mass which resulted in the production of larger leverets. Our results establish a mechanistic link between how foraging time, mass loss and predation risk affect survival and reproduction, potentially driving demographic changes associated with hare cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine N Majchrzak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael J L Peers
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Emily K Studd
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Allyson K Menzies
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Philip D Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shotaro Shiratsuru
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Laura K McCaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rudy Boonstra
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Murray Humphries
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Thomas S Jung
- Department of Environment, Government of Yukon, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.,Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alice J Kenney
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Charles J Krebs
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dennis L Murray
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Fenn SR, Bignal EM, Bignal S, Trask AE, McCracken DI, Monaghan P, Reid JM. Within‐year and among‐year variation in impacts of targeted conservation management on juvenile survival in a threatened population. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Fenn
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | | | - Sue Bignal
- Scottish Chough Study Group Isle of Islay UK
| | | | - Davy I. McCracken
- Department of Integrated Land Management Scotland’s Rural College Ayr UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health & Comparative Medicine Graham Kerr Building University of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Jane M. Reid
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Institutt for Biologi NTNU Trondheim Norway
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5
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Fenn SR, Bignal EM, Trask AE, McCracken DI, Monaghan P, Reid JM. Collateral benefits of targeted supplementary feeding on demography and growth rate of a threatened population. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R. Fenn
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - Eric M. Bignal
- Scottish Chough Study Group Kindrochaid, Bridgend, Isle of Islay Argyll UK
| | | | - Davy I. McCracken
- Department of Integrated Land Management Scotland's Rural College Ayr UK
| | - Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health & Comparative MedicineUniversity of Glasgow Glasgow UK
| | - Jane M. Reid
- School of Biological Sciences, Zoology Building University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Institutt for Biologi Realfagbygget, NTNU Trondheim Norway
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6
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Thierry A, De Bouillane De Lacoste N, Ulvund K, Andersen R, MeÅs R, Eide NE, Landa A. Use of Supplementary Feeding Dispensers by Arctic Foxes in Norway. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne‐Mathilde Thierry
- Norsk institutt for naturforskning (NINA) P.O. Box 5685, Torgard, NO‐7485 Trondheim Norway
| | | | | | - Roy Andersen
- NINA P.O. Box 5685, Torgard, NO‐7485 Trondheim Norway
| | - Roger MeÅs
- NINA P.O. Box 5685, Torgard, NO‐7485 Trondheim Norway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- NINA P.O. Box 5685, Torgard, NO‐7485 Trondheim Norway
| | - Arild Landa
- NINA Thormøhlens gate 55, NO‐5006 Bergen Norway
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Borowski Z, Bałazy R, Ciesielski M, Korzeniewski K. Does winter supplementary feeding affect deer damage in a forest ecosystem? A field test in areas with different levels of deer pressure. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2019; 75:893-899. [PMID: 29956445 DOI: 10.1002/ps.5131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Supplementary feeding is a widespread but controversial practice in game management. While many studies have been conducted on this issue, there is limited empirical evidence on how feeding affects damage caused by wildlife. In this context, the present study focused on the effect of artificial winter feeding on tree damage in three mountain regions in Poland. RESULTS The presence of additional winter food did not increase tree damage caused by deer in any region, as expected. Moreover, we observed that additional feeding mitigated forest damage in one region, where the highest level of deer impact had occurred. However, in this mountain region, the most important factor was elevation, which was used to classify additional feeding practice as efficient or inefficient. In the two other study regions, we did not observe any effect of supplementary feeding. CONCLUSIONS Additional winter supplementary feeding can reduce damage caused by deer in forest stands, but only in areas with high deer pressure. Moreover, feeders should be situated in locations > 600 m above sea level in our study area. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zbigniew Borowski
- Department of Forest Ecology, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Raszyn, Poland
| | - Radomir Bałazy
- Laboratory of Geomatics, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Raszyn, Poland
| | - Mariusz Ciesielski
- Laboratory of Geomatics, Forest Research Institute, Sękocin Stary, Raszyn, Poland
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Starkey A, delBarco-Trillo J. Supplementary feeding can attract red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) to optimal environments. Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Ewen JG, Walker L, Canessa S, Groombridge JJ. Improving supplementary feeding in species conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2015; 29:341-349. [PMID: 25354808 PMCID: PMC4405093 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Supplementary feeding is often a knee-jerk reaction to population declines, and its application is not critically evaluated, leading to polarized views among managers on its usefulness. Here, we advocate a more strategic approach to supplementary feeding so that the choice to use it is clearly justified over, or in combination with, other management actions and the predicted consequences are then critically assessed following implementation. We propose combining methods from a set of specialist disciplines that will allow critical evaluation of the need, benefit, and risks of food supplementation. Through the use of nutritional ecology, population ecology, and structured decision making, conservation managers can make better choices about what and how to feed by estimating consequences on population recovery across a range of possible actions. This structured approach also informs targeted monitoring and more clearly allows supplementary feeding to be integrated in recovery plans and reduces the risk of inefficient decisions. In New Zealand, managers of the endangered Hihi (Notiomystis cincta) often rely on supplementary feeding to support reintroduced populations. On Kapiti island the reintroduced Hihi population has responded well to food supplementation, but the logistics of providing an increasing demand recently outstretched management capacity. To decide whether and how the feeding regime should be revised, managers used a structured decision making approach informed by population responses to alternative feeding regimes. The decision was made to reduce the spatial distribution of feeders and invest saved time in increasing volume of food delivered into a smaller core area. The approach used allowed a transparent and defendable management decision in regard to supplementary feeding, reflecting the multiple objectives of managers and their priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Ewen
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, NW1 4RY, London, United Kingdom.
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10
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Selva N, Berezowska-Cnota T, Elguero-Claramunt I. Unforeseen effects of supplementary feeding: ungulate baiting sites as hotspots for ground-nest predation. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90740. [PMID: 24599216 PMCID: PMC3944607 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the ubiquity and magnitude of food provision to wildlife, our understanding of its ecological effects and conservation implications is very limited. Supplementary feeding of ungulates, still one of the main paradigms of game management in Europe, occurs in natural areas on an enormous scale. We investigated the indirect effects of this practice on nest predation risk in the Polish Eastern Carpathians (Bieszczady Mountains). We hypothesized that the predators attracted to ungulate baiting sites would also forage for alternative prey nearby, increasing the nest predation risk for ground-nesting birds in the vicinity. We conducted a paired experiment by placing artificial nests (N=120) in feeding and control sites (N=12) at different distances from the ungulate feeding site. We also documented the use of three ungulate feeding sites by potential nest predators with automatic cameras. The proportion of depredated nests was 30% higher in the vicinity of feeding sites than at control sites (65%± 31.5 vs 35%± 32.1). The probability of a nest being depredated significantly increased with time and at shorter distances from the feeding site. We predicted that the area within 1-km distance from the feeding site would have a high risk (>0.5) of nest predation. We recorded 13 species of potential ground-nest predators at ungulate baiting sites. Most frequent were Eurasian jays Garrulus glandarius, mice and voles Muroidea, ravens Corvus corax, brown bears Ursus arctos, and wild boar Sus scrofa. Nest predators made most use of supplementary feeding sites (82% pictures with predators vs 8% with ungulates, the target group). Our study alerts of the impacts of ungulate feeding on alternative prey; this is of special concern when affecting protected species. We urge for a sensible management of ungulate feeding, which considers potential indirect effects on other species and the spatial and temporal components of food provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza, Kraków
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11
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Knipe A, Fowler PA, Ramsay S, Haydon DT, McNeilly AS, Thirgood S, Newey S. The effects of population density on the breeding performance of mountain hareLepus timidus. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2013. [DOI: 10.2981/12-109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Oro D, Genovart M, Tavecchia G, Fowler MS, Martínez-Abraín A. Ecological and evolutionary implications of food subsidies from humans. Ecol Lett 2013; 16:1501-14. [PMID: 24134225 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 336] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Revised: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Human activities are the main current driver of global change. From hunter-gatherers through to Neolithic societies-and particularly in contemporary industrialised countries-humans have (voluntarily or involuntarily) provided other animals with food, often with a high spatio-temporal predictability. Nowadays, as much as 30-40% of all food produced in Earth is wasted. We argue here that predictable anthropogenic food subsidies (PAFS) provided historically by humans to animals has shaped many communities and ecosystems as we see them nowadays. PAFS improve individual fitness triggering population increases of opportunistic species, which may affect communities, food webs and ecosystems by altering processes such as competition, predator-prey interactions and nutrient transfer between biotopes and ecosystems. We also show that PAFS decrease temporal population variability, increase resilience of opportunistic species and reduce community diversity. Recent environmental policies, such as the regulation of dumps or the ban of fishing discards, constitute natural experiments that should improve our understanding of the role of food supply in a range of ecological and evolutionary processes at the ecosystem level. Comparison of subsidised and non-subsidised ecosystems can help predict changes in diversity and the related ecosystem services that have suffered the impact of other global change agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Oro
- Population Ecology Group, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), Esporles, 07190, Spain
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Bisi F, Newey S, Nodari M, Wauters LA, Harrison A, Thirgood S, Martinoli A. The strong and the hungry: bias in capture methods for mountain hares Lepus timidus. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.2981/10-133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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