Effects of Human Disturbance on Terrestrial Apex Predators

• Published in: Diversity
• Main Authors: Ordiz Fernández, Andrés Avelino, Aronsson, Malin 1983-, Persson, Jens 1968-, Støen, Ole-Gunnar 1967-, Swenson, Jon E. 1951-, Kindberg, Jonas 1969-
• Other Authors: Zoologia, Facultad de Ciencias Biologicas y Ambientales
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2021
• Subjects: Zoología; Carnivore recovery; Ecological function; Human disturbance; Human-dominated land- scapes; Large carnivores; Northern hemisphere; 2401.02 Comportamiento Animal; 2401.06 Ecología Animal; 2401.18 Mamíferos; 3105.09 Influencia del Hábitat; 3105.10 Dinámica de las Poblaciones; wolverine
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10612/23177; https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/2/68; https://doi.org/10.3390/d13020068

This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Human Disturbance on Ecological Communities [EN] The effects of human disturbance spread over virtually all ecosystems and ecological communities on Earth. In this review, we focus on the effects of human disturbance on terrestrial apex predators. We summarize their ecological role in nature and how they respond to different sources of human disturbance. Apex predators control their prey and smaller predators numerically and via behavioral changes to avoid predation risk, which in turn can affect lower trophic levels. Crucially, reducing population numbers and triggering behavioral responses are also the effects that human disturbance causes to apex predators, which may in turn influence their ecological role. Some populations continue to be at the brink of extinction, but others are partially recovering former ranges, via natural recolonization and through reintroductions. Carnivore recovery is both good news for conservation and a challenge for management, particularly when recovery occurs in human- dominated landscapes. Therefore, we conclude by discussing several management considerations that, adapted to local contexts, may favor the recovery of apex predator populations and their ecological functions in nature SI The Scandinavian bear and wolverine research projects have been funded by the Norwegian Environment Agency, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Norwegian Research Council, Austrian Science Fund, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management, Swedish Carnivore Association, WWF Sweden, Carl Tryggers Foundation, and Marie-Claire Cronstedt Foundation. The latter two also funded A.O. work on this manuscript. M.A. was funded by Formas grant 2015-826