Anthropogenic food subsidies hinder the ecological role of wolves: Insights for conservation of apex predators in human-modified landscapes

摘要: Abstract In ecologically pristine ecosystems, top-down effects of apex predators play a fundamental role in shaping trophic cascades and structuring but human-modified landscapes anthropogenic may markedly alter the ecological predators. particular, human-provisioned food subsidies represent serious concern for conservation predators, even though little empirical attention has been given to this aspect assessing outcomes. To assess extent which affected feeding ecology protected wolf (Canis lupus) population landscape, we integrated scat-analysis (n = 1141 from 4 packs; Jan 2005–Mar 2009) winter field inspections Global Positioning System telemetry re-locations (n = 595 clusters 96 single locations 5 wolves packs 3 floaters; 2008–2011) living historical national park central Italy hosting both wild prey livestock at high densities. We revealed that dominated diet (mean biomass = 63.3 ± 14.2% SD), secondarily supplemented by (36.7 ± 5.3%, mostly boar [Sus scrofa], roe deer [Capreolus capreolus], red [Cervus elaphus]). During winter, higher propensity scavenge (72.5%; n = 91 events) rather than killing prey, behavior was type (i.e., domestic vs ungulates) as large majority scavenged carrions (75.8%) were carcasses abandoned on ground died causes different predation. Feeding not social affiliation pack members solitary wolves), indicating members, if aided cooperative hunting, equally likely prey; yet, 27.5% events involved predation, exclusively targeted prey. Our findings indicate carrion strongly depress predatory wolves, despite occurrence an abundant community, have relevant ecological, evolutionary management implications. Reliance human-provided alters reducing their cascading ecosystem, implications other parks. Accordingly, call more strict regulations govern practices argue that, least parks, goals need explicitly consider role.