Predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the Arctic
Abstract Predators can affect prey through mechanisms other than predation; for example, redistributing resources could modify habitats favorably for other organisms. We examined Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) den use by lemmings, their primary prey, in winter during a year of low lemming densities. We...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:0e95af754fbd446697d38dcf1a8844fd 2023-05-15T14:31:12+02:00 Predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the Arctic Tazarve Gharajehdaghipour James D. Roth 2018-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2077 https://doaj.org/article/0e95af754fbd446697d38dcf1a8844fd EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2077 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.2077 https://doaj.org/article/0e95af754fbd446697d38dcf1a8844fd Ecosphere, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp n/a-n/a (2018) Dicrostonyx richardsoni food web indirect interactions nitrogen concentration non‐consumptive effects snow depth Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2077 2022-12-31T10:31:02Z Abstract Predators can affect prey through mechanisms other than predation; for example, redistributing resources could modify habitats favorably for other organisms. We examined Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) den use by lemmings, their primary prey, in winter during a year of low lemming densities. We found winter nests, which are built by lemmings under snow, on 69% of fox dens, whereas no control sites had nests. In August, dens had twice the vegetation cover and 50% greater nitrogen content in grass than controls, suggesting soil enrichment by foxes increased food quantity and quality for herbivores. Snow was ~4 times thicker in April on dens than controls, and 1.4 times thicker on dens with lemming nests than dens without, suggesting lemmings choose thicker snow for thermal insulation. Snow cover thickness was positively related to vegetation cover on dens, but not on control sites. Thus, Arctic foxes not only prey on lemmings but also engineer productive habitat that attracts lemmings. During winters with low lemming densities, when foxes often leave the denning area and predation risk is lower, fox dens may provide a refuge that could buffer the effects of deteriorating snow conditions with Arctic warming. This additional mechanism of predators interacting with their prey illustrates how ecosystem engineers potentially alter food web interactions and highlights the importance of integrating these bodies of theory in attempts to understand community dynamics. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Fox Arctic Dicrostonyx richardsoni Vulpes lagopus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Ecosphere 9 1 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Dicrostonyx richardsoni food web indirect interactions nitrogen concentration non‐consumptive effects snow depth Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Dicrostonyx richardsoni food web indirect interactions nitrogen concentration non‐consumptive effects snow depth Ecology QH540-549.5 Tazarve Gharajehdaghipour James D. Roth Predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the Arctic |
topic_facet |
Dicrostonyx richardsoni food web indirect interactions nitrogen concentration non‐consumptive effects snow depth Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract Predators can affect prey through mechanisms other than predation; for example, redistributing resources could modify habitats favorably for other organisms. We examined Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) den use by lemmings, their primary prey, in winter during a year of low lemming densities. We found winter nests, which are built by lemmings under snow, on 69% of fox dens, whereas no control sites had nests. In August, dens had twice the vegetation cover and 50% greater nitrogen content in grass than controls, suggesting soil enrichment by foxes increased food quantity and quality for herbivores. Snow was ~4 times thicker in April on dens than controls, and 1.4 times thicker on dens with lemming nests than dens without, suggesting lemmings choose thicker snow for thermal insulation. Snow cover thickness was positively related to vegetation cover on dens, but not on control sites. Thus, Arctic foxes not only prey on lemmings but also engineer productive habitat that attracts lemmings. During winters with low lemming densities, when foxes often leave the denning area and predation risk is lower, fox dens may provide a refuge that could buffer the effects of deteriorating snow conditions with Arctic warming. This additional mechanism of predators interacting with their prey illustrates how ecosystem engineers potentially alter food web interactions and highlights the importance of integrating these bodies of theory in attempts to understand community dynamics. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Tazarve Gharajehdaghipour James D. Roth |
author_facet |
Tazarve Gharajehdaghipour James D. Roth |
author_sort |
Tazarve Gharajehdaghipour |
title |
Predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the Arctic |
title_short |
Predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the Arctic |
title_full |
Predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the Arctic |
title_fullStr |
Predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the Arctic |
title_full_unstemmed |
Predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the Arctic |
title_sort |
predators attract prey through ecosystem engineering in the arctic |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2077 https://doaj.org/article/0e95af754fbd446697d38dcf1a8844fd |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Fox Arctic Dicrostonyx richardsoni Vulpes lagopus |
genre_facet |
Arctic Fox Arctic Dicrostonyx richardsoni Vulpes lagopus |
op_source |
Ecosphere, Vol 9, Iss 1, Pp n/a-n/a (2018) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2077 https://doaj.org/toc/2150-8925 2150-8925 doi:10.1002/ecs2.2077 https://doaj.org/article/0e95af754fbd446697d38dcf1a8844fd |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.2077 |
container_title |
Ecosphere |
container_volume |
9 |
container_issue |
1 |
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1766304885456764928 |