The DOI matches its Crossref record; 6 of the 6 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions
Open accessAbstract
Top predators can suppress mesopredators by killing them, competing for resources and instilling fear, but it is unclear how suppression of mesopredators varies with the distribution and abundance of top predators at large spatial scales and among different ecological contexts. We suggest that suppression of mesopredators will be strongest where top predators occur at high densities over large areas. These conditions are more likely to occur in the core than on the margins of top predator ranges. We propose the Enemy Constraint Hypothesis, which predicts weakened top-down effects on mesopredators towards the edge of top predators’ ranges. Using bounty data from North America, Europe and Australia we show that the effects of top predators on mesopredators increase from the margin towards the core of their ranges, as predicted. Continuing global contraction of top predator ranges could promote further release of mesopredator populations, altering ecosystem structure and contributing to biodiversity loss.
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Cites
Trophic Downgrading of Planet Earth
Estes, J. A., Terborgh, J., Brashares, J. S., Power, M. E., Berger, J., Bond, W. J., Carpenter, S. R., Essington, T. E., Holt, R. D., Jackson, J. B. C., et al. (2011) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1205106 · Cited by 4,087
Self-citationStatus and Ecological Effects of the World’s Largest Carnivores
Ripple, W. J., Estes, J. A., Beschta, R. L., Wilmers, C. C., Ritchie, E. G., Hebblewhite, M., Berger, J., Elmhagen, B., Letnic, M., Nelson, M. P., et al. (2014) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1241484 · Cited by 3,667
Self-citationMesopredator release and avifaunal extinctions in a fragmented system
Crooks, K. R., & Soulé, M. E. (1999) · Nature · doi:10.1038/23028 · Cited by 1,721
Trophic control of mesopredators in terrestrial ecosystems: top‐down or bottom‐up?
Elmhagen, B., & Rushton, S. P. (2007) · Ecology Letters · doi:10.1111/j.1461-0248.2006.01010.x · Cited by 304
Wolves–coyotes–foxes: a cascade among carnivores
Levi, T., & Wilmers, C. C. (2012) · Ecology · doi:10.1890/11-0165.1 · Cited by 293
A continental scale trophic cascade from wolves through coyotes to foxes
Newsome, T. M., & Ripple, W. J. (2015) · Journal of Animal Ecology · doi:10.1111/1365-2656.12258 · Cited by 184
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Metadata
- Authors
- Newsome, T. M., Greenville, A. C., Ćirović, D., Dickman, C. R., Johnson, C. N., Krofel, M., Letnic, M., Ripple, W. J., Ritchie, E. G., Stoyanov, S., & Wirsing, A. J.
- Venue
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2017-05-23
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 15469-15469
- ISSN
- 2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2618659372
- Cited by
- 172
- References
- 6
- FWCI
- 11.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
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- Newsome, T. M., Greenville, A. C., Ćirović, D., Dickman, C. R., Johnson, C. N., Krofel, M., Letnic, M., Ripple, W. J., Ritchie, E. G., Stoyanov, S., & Wirsing, A. J. (2017). Top predators constrain mesopredator distributions. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15469
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