Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics
Assessing the effectiveness of conservation actions to halt population declines is challenging when confounded by other factors. We assessed whether culling of red fox, a predator currently increasing in number in the sub‐Arctic, contributed to recent recovery of the critically endangered Fennoscand...
Published in: | Journal of Applied Ecology |
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Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10037/17028 https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13346 |
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ftunivtroemsoe:oai:munin.uit.no:10037/17028 2023-05-15T13:30:05+02:00 Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics Marolla, Filippo Aarvak, Tomas Øien, Ingar Jostein Mellard, Jarad Pope Henden, John-André Hamel, Sandra Stien, Audun Tveraa, Torkild Yoccoz, Nigel Gilles Ims, Rolf Anker 2019-01-29 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/17028 https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13346 eng eng Wiley Marolla, F. (2020). Understanding and forecasting population dynamics in changing arctic ecosystems. (Doctoral thesis). https://hdl.handle.net/10037/19474 Journal of Applied Ecology info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/KLIMAFORSK/244647/Norway/Sustainable management of renewable resources in a changing environment: an integrated approach across ecosystems/SUSTAIN/ Marolla F, Aarvak T, Øien IJ, Mellard JP, Henden JAH, Hamel S, Stien A, Tveraa T, Yoccoz NG, Ims RA. Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2019;56(5):1245-1255 FRIDAID 1653979 doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13346 0021-8901 1365-2664 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/17028 openAccess © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Ecology © 2019 British Ecological Society VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Ecology: 488 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480::Økologi: 488 Journal article Tidsskriftartikkel Peer reviewed acceptedVersion 2019 ftunivtroemsoe https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13346 2021-06-25T17:57:01Z Assessing the effectiveness of conservation actions to halt population declines is challenging when confounded by other factors. We assessed whether culling of red fox, a predator currently increasing in number in the sub‐Arctic, contributed to recent recovery of the critically endangered Fennoscandian population of Lesser White‐fronted Goose Anser erythropus , while controlling for potentially confounding food web dynamics. Using 19 years of data, 10 before and 9 after the implementation of annual red fox culling, we estimated the effect of this action on annual performance of the goose population. We corrected for the potentially confounding effects of cyclic rodent dynamics and semi‐domestic reindeer carrion abundance, both of which are expected to trigger predator functional and numerical responses, as well as for annual variation in spring phenology. Goose reproductive success fluctuated in synchrony with the rodent cycle and was negatively related to abundant carrion. When accounting for these aspects of food web dynamics, there was no evidence for an effect of red fox culling on reproductive success. There was, however, a tendency for fox culling to increase adult survival. Our analysis suggests that goose performance in their breeding area is influenced by fluctuating offspring predation, mediated by mainly natural (rodents) and partly anthropogenic (semi‐domestic reindeer) dynamic components of the food web. Synthesis and applications . The effect of a decade‐long red fox culling on goose reproductive success and survival is currently uncertain, despite predation driving reproductive success through changes in rodent and reindeer carrion abundance. New management actions may consist of regulation of reindeer herd sizes and/or removal of carcasses to reduce the subsidizing effect of reindeer carrion on mesopredators. Getting robust evidence regarding the impact of red fox culling on population recovery depends on continuing research to disentangle food web dynamics and efficiency of management actions. Article in Journal/Newspaper Anser erythropus Arctic Arctic Fennoscandian lesser white-fronted goose University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive Arctic Journal of Applied Ecology 56 5 1245 1255 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtroemsoe |
language |
English |
topic |
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Ecology: 488 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480::Økologi: 488 |
spellingShingle |
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Ecology: 488 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480::Økologi: 488 Marolla, Filippo Aarvak, Tomas Øien, Ingar Jostein Mellard, Jarad Pope Henden, John-André Hamel, Sandra Stien, Audun Tveraa, Torkild Yoccoz, Nigel Gilles Ims, Rolf Anker Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics |
topic_facet |
VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Ecology: 488 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Zoologiske og botaniske fag: 480::Økologi: 488 |
description |
Assessing the effectiveness of conservation actions to halt population declines is challenging when confounded by other factors. We assessed whether culling of red fox, a predator currently increasing in number in the sub‐Arctic, contributed to recent recovery of the critically endangered Fennoscandian population of Lesser White‐fronted Goose Anser erythropus , while controlling for potentially confounding food web dynamics. Using 19 years of data, 10 before and 9 after the implementation of annual red fox culling, we estimated the effect of this action on annual performance of the goose population. We corrected for the potentially confounding effects of cyclic rodent dynamics and semi‐domestic reindeer carrion abundance, both of which are expected to trigger predator functional and numerical responses, as well as for annual variation in spring phenology. Goose reproductive success fluctuated in synchrony with the rodent cycle and was negatively related to abundant carrion. When accounting for these aspects of food web dynamics, there was no evidence for an effect of red fox culling on reproductive success. There was, however, a tendency for fox culling to increase adult survival. Our analysis suggests that goose performance in their breeding area is influenced by fluctuating offspring predation, mediated by mainly natural (rodents) and partly anthropogenic (semi‐domestic reindeer) dynamic components of the food web. Synthesis and applications . The effect of a decade‐long red fox culling on goose reproductive success and survival is currently uncertain, despite predation driving reproductive success through changes in rodent and reindeer carrion abundance. New management actions may consist of regulation of reindeer herd sizes and/or removal of carcasses to reduce the subsidizing effect of reindeer carrion on mesopredators. Getting robust evidence regarding the impact of red fox culling on population recovery depends on continuing research to disentangle food web dynamics and efficiency of management actions. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Marolla, Filippo Aarvak, Tomas Øien, Ingar Jostein Mellard, Jarad Pope Henden, John-André Hamel, Sandra Stien, Audun Tveraa, Torkild Yoccoz, Nigel Gilles Ims, Rolf Anker |
author_facet |
Marolla, Filippo Aarvak, Tomas Øien, Ingar Jostein Mellard, Jarad Pope Henden, John-André Hamel, Sandra Stien, Audun Tveraa, Torkild Yoccoz, Nigel Gilles Ims, Rolf Anker |
author_sort |
Marolla, Filippo |
title |
Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics |
title_short |
Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics |
title_full |
Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics |
title_fullStr |
Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics |
title_full_unstemmed |
Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics |
title_sort |
assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/17028 https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13346 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Anser erythropus Arctic Arctic Fennoscandian lesser white-fronted goose |
genre_facet |
Anser erythropus Arctic Arctic Fennoscandian lesser white-fronted goose |
op_relation |
Marolla, F. (2020). Understanding and forecasting population dynamics in changing arctic ecosystems. (Doctoral thesis). https://hdl.handle.net/10037/19474 Journal of Applied Ecology info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/KLIMAFORSK/244647/Norway/Sustainable management of renewable resources in a changing environment: an integrated approach across ecosystems/SUSTAIN/ Marolla F, Aarvak T, Øien IJ, Mellard JP, Henden JAH, Hamel S, Stien A, Tveraa T, Yoccoz NG, Ims RA. Assessing the effect of predator control on an endangered goose population subjected to predator-mediated food web dynamics. Journal of Applied Ecology. 2019;56(5):1245-1255 FRIDAID 1653979 doi:10.1111/1365-2664.13346 0021-8901 1365-2664 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/17028 |
op_rights |
openAccess © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Applied Ecology © 2019 British Ecological Society |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.13346 |
container_title |
Journal of Applied Ecology |
container_volume |
56 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1245 |
op_container_end_page |
1255 |
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1766005235581452288 |