Payo-Payo, A.,
Sanz-Aguilar, A., Genovart, M., Bertolero, A., Piccardo, J., Camps, D.,
Ruiz-Olmo, J, and Oro, D. 2018 Predatorarrival elicits differential dispersal, change in age structure andreproductive performance in a prey population Sceintific Report doi:10.1038/s41598-018-20333-0
Abstract. Predators are an important ecological and
evolutionary force shaping prey population dynamics. Ecologists have
extensively assessed the lethal effects of invasive predators on prey
populations.However, the role of non-lethal effects, such as physiological
stress or behavioural responses like dispersal, has been comparatively
overlooked and their potential population effects remain obscure. Over the last
23 years, we developed a mark-recapture program for the Audouin’s gull and an
intensive carnivore monitoring program to assess how the appearance and
invasion of the study site by carnivores affects population dynamics. We
evaluate changes in turnover of discrete breeding patches within the colony,
age structure and breeding performance.
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Photo: en-wikipedia.org |
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Photo e.wikipedia.com |
Once carnivores entered the colony, the
number of occupied patches increased, indicating a higher patch turnover.
Breeders responded by moving to areas less accessible to carnivores. More
importantly, the presence of carnivores caused differential (and
density-independent) breeding dispersal: experienced, better-performing
breeders were more likely to leave the colony than younger breeders. This
differential dispersal modified the age structure and reduced the reproductive
performance of the population. Our results confirm the importance experience in
the study of populations. The role of differential dispersal for animal
population dynamics might be more important than previously thought, especially
under scenarios of global change.
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