More than mere numbers: The impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator
Population control of socially complex species may have profound ecological implications that remain largely invisible if only their abundance is considered. Here we discuss the effects of control on a socially complex top-order predator, the dingo (Canis lupus dingo). Since European occupation of A...
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ftunivadelaidedl:oai:digital.library.adelaide.edu.au:2440/56051 2023-12-24T10:15:52+01:00 More than mere numbers: The impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator Wallach, A. Ritchie, E. Read, J. O'Neill, A. Thompson, R. 2009 application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/2440/56051 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006861 en eng Public Library of Science PLoS One, 2009; 4(9):1-8 1932-6203 http://hdl.handle.net/2440/56051 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006861 Read, J. [0000-0003-0605-5259] Copyright: © 2009 Wallach et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006861 Animals Wild Wolves Behavior Animal Predatory Behavior Ecology Ecosystem Biodiversity Population Density Population Dynamics Models Theoretical Australia Female Male Journal article 2009 ftunivadelaidedl https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006861 2023-11-27T23:25:21Z Population control of socially complex species may have profound ecological implications that remain largely invisible if only their abundance is considered. Here we discuss the effects of control on a socially complex top-order predator, the dingo (Canis lupus dingo). Since European occupation of Australia, dingoes have been controlled over much of the continent. Our aim was to investigate the effects of control on their abundance and social stability. We hypothesized that dingo abundance and social stability are not linearly related, and proposed a theoretical model in which dingo populations may fluctuate between three main states: (A) below carrying capacity and socially fractured, (B) above carrying capacity and socially fractured, or (C) at carrying capacity and socially stable. We predicted that lethal control would drive dingoes into the unstable states A or B, and that relaxation of control would allow recovery towards C. We tested our predictions by surveying relative abundance (track density) and indicators of social stability (scent-marking and howling) at seven sites in the arid zone subject to differing degrees of control. We also monitored changes in dingo abundance and social stability following relaxation and intensification of control. Sites where dingoes had been controlled within the previous two years were characterized by low scent-marking activity, but abundance was similar at sites with and without control. Signs of social stability steadily increased the longer an area was allowed to recover from control, but change in abundance did not follow a consistent path. Comparison of abundance and stability among all sites and years demonstrated that control severely fractures social groups, but that the effect of control on abundance was neither consistent nor predictable. Management decisions involving large social predators must therefore consider social stability to ensure their conservation and ecological functioning Arian D. Wallach, Euan G. Ritchie, John Read and Adam J. O'Neill Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus The University of Adelaide: Digital Library PLoS ONE 4 9 e6861 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
The University of Adelaide: Digital Library |
op_collection_id |
ftunivadelaidedl |
language |
English |
topic |
Animals Wild Wolves Behavior Animal Predatory Behavior Ecology Ecosystem Biodiversity Population Density Population Dynamics Models Theoretical Australia Female Male |
spellingShingle |
Animals Wild Wolves Behavior Animal Predatory Behavior Ecology Ecosystem Biodiversity Population Density Population Dynamics Models Theoretical Australia Female Male Wallach, A. Ritchie, E. Read, J. O'Neill, A. More than mere numbers: The impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator |
topic_facet |
Animals Wild Wolves Behavior Animal Predatory Behavior Ecology Ecosystem Biodiversity Population Density Population Dynamics Models Theoretical Australia Female Male |
description |
Population control of socially complex species may have profound ecological implications that remain largely invisible if only their abundance is considered. Here we discuss the effects of control on a socially complex top-order predator, the dingo (Canis lupus dingo). Since European occupation of Australia, dingoes have been controlled over much of the continent. Our aim was to investigate the effects of control on their abundance and social stability. We hypothesized that dingo abundance and social stability are not linearly related, and proposed a theoretical model in which dingo populations may fluctuate between three main states: (A) below carrying capacity and socially fractured, (B) above carrying capacity and socially fractured, or (C) at carrying capacity and socially stable. We predicted that lethal control would drive dingoes into the unstable states A or B, and that relaxation of control would allow recovery towards C. We tested our predictions by surveying relative abundance (track density) and indicators of social stability (scent-marking and howling) at seven sites in the arid zone subject to differing degrees of control. We also monitored changes in dingo abundance and social stability following relaxation and intensification of control. Sites where dingoes had been controlled within the previous two years were characterized by low scent-marking activity, but abundance was similar at sites with and without control. Signs of social stability steadily increased the longer an area was allowed to recover from control, but change in abundance did not follow a consistent path. Comparison of abundance and stability among all sites and years demonstrated that control severely fractures social groups, but that the effect of control on abundance was neither consistent nor predictable. Management decisions involving large social predators must therefore consider social stability to ensure their conservation and ecological functioning Arian D. Wallach, Euan G. Ritchie, John Read and Adam J. O'Neill |
author2 |
Thompson, R. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Wallach, A. Ritchie, E. Read, J. O'Neill, A. |
author_facet |
Wallach, A. Ritchie, E. Read, J. O'Neill, A. |
author_sort |
Wallach, A. |
title |
More than mere numbers: The impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator |
title_short |
More than mere numbers: The impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator |
title_full |
More than mere numbers: The impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator |
title_fullStr |
More than mere numbers: The impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator |
title_full_unstemmed |
More than mere numbers: The impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator |
title_sort |
more than mere numbers: the impact of lethal control on the social stability of a top-order predator |
publisher |
Public Library of Science |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/2440/56051 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006861 |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006861 |
op_relation |
PLoS One, 2009; 4(9):1-8 1932-6203 http://hdl.handle.net/2440/56051 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006861 Read, J. [0000-0003-0605-5259] |
op_rights |
Copyright: © 2009 Wallach et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0006861 |
container_title |
PLoS ONE |
container_volume |
4 |
container_issue |
9 |
container_start_page |
e6861 |
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