Missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: A reply to Ripple et al.
Abstract Ripple et al. ( 2011 ) proposed a hypothesis that the recovery of gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) may positively affect the viability of threatened Canada lynx ( Lynx canadensis ) populations in the contiguous United States through indirect species interactions. Ripple et al. ( 2011 ) proposed...
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crwiley:10.1002/wsb.186 2024-06-02T08:05:02+00:00 Missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: A reply to Ripple et al. Squires, John R. DeCesare, Nicholas J. Hebblewhite, Mark Berger, Joel 2012 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wsb.186 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fwsb.186 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wsb.186 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Wildlife Society Bulletin volume 36, issue 3, page 567-571 ISSN 1938-5463 journal-article 2012 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.186 2024-05-03T12:03:50Z Abstract Ripple et al. ( 2011 ) proposed a hypothesis that the recovery of gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) may positively affect the viability of threatened Canada lynx ( Lynx canadensis ) populations in the contiguous United States through indirect species interactions. Ripple et al. ( 2011 ) proposed 2 key trophic linkages connecting wolf restoration with lynx recovery. First, recovering wolf populations may benefit lynx through reduced interference and exploitative competition with coyotes ( C. latrans ). Second, recovering wolf populations may benefit lynx through reduced exploitative competition among ungulates and snowshoe hares ( Lepus americanus ), the primary prey of lynx. Both proposed linkages have weak or contradictory empirical support in the available literature on lynx–hare ecology, casting doubt on the utility of Ripple et al.'s ( 2011 ) hypothesis. Debate over Ripple et al.'s ( 2011 ) hypothesis demonstrates the importance of experimental or comparative documentation when proposing trophic cascades in complex food webs. In this case, publishing unsupported opinions as hypotheses that concern complex trophic interactions is a potential disservice to lynx conservation through misallocated research, conservation funding, and misplaced public perception. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Lynx Wiley Online Library Canada Wildlife Society Bulletin 36 3 567 571 |
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English |
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Abstract Ripple et al. ( 2011 ) proposed a hypothesis that the recovery of gray wolves ( Canis lupus ) may positively affect the viability of threatened Canada lynx ( Lynx canadensis ) populations in the contiguous United States through indirect species interactions. Ripple et al. ( 2011 ) proposed 2 key trophic linkages connecting wolf restoration with lynx recovery. First, recovering wolf populations may benefit lynx through reduced interference and exploitative competition with coyotes ( C. latrans ). Second, recovering wolf populations may benefit lynx through reduced exploitative competition among ungulates and snowshoe hares ( Lepus americanus ), the primary prey of lynx. Both proposed linkages have weak or contradictory empirical support in the available literature on lynx–hare ecology, casting doubt on the utility of Ripple et al.'s ( 2011 ) hypothesis. Debate over Ripple et al.'s ( 2011 ) hypothesis demonstrates the importance of experimental or comparative documentation when proposing trophic cascades in complex food webs. In this case, publishing unsupported opinions as hypotheses that concern complex trophic interactions is a potential disservice to lynx conservation through misallocated research, conservation funding, and misplaced public perception. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Squires, John R. DeCesare, Nicholas J. Hebblewhite, Mark Berger, Joel |
spellingShingle |
Squires, John R. DeCesare, Nicholas J. Hebblewhite, Mark Berger, Joel Missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: A reply to Ripple et al. |
author_facet |
Squires, John R. DeCesare, Nicholas J. Hebblewhite, Mark Berger, Joel |
author_sort |
Squires, John R. |
title |
Missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: A reply to Ripple et al. |
title_short |
Missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: A reply to Ripple et al. |
title_full |
Missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: A reply to Ripple et al. |
title_fullStr |
Missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: A reply to Ripple et al. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: A reply to Ripple et al. |
title_sort |
missing lynx and trophic cascades in food webs: a reply to ripple et al. |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/wsb.186 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fwsb.186 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wsb.186 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Canis lupus Lynx |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus Lynx |
op_source |
Wildlife Society Bulletin volume 36, issue 3, page 567-571 ISSN 1938-5463 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.186 |
container_title |
Wildlife Society Bulletin |
container_volume |
36 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
567 |
op_container_end_page |
571 |
_version_ |
1800749768032387072 |