Seven considerations about dingoes as biodiversity engineers: the socioecological niches of dogs in Australia

摘要: Australian dingoes have recently been suggested as a tool to aid biodiversity conservation through the reversal or prevention of trophic cascades and mesopredator release. However, at least seven ecological sociological considerations must be addressed before dog populations are positively managed. Domestication feralisation resulted in behavioural changes that continue expose broad range native introduced fauna predation. Dingoes other dogs classic mesopredators, while humans apex predator primary ecosystem engineers Australia. Anthropogenic landscape could prevent modern from fulfilling their pre-European roles. known exploit many same species they often presumed ‘protect’, predisposing them present direct risks threatened species. The assertion contemporary control facilitates release mesopredators disregards realities effective control, which simultaneously reduces fox abundance is unlikely enable increases abundance. processes affecting likely combination both top-down bottom-up effects, will not solved reversed by concentrating efforts on managing only effects. Most importantly, human social economic niches highly variable across ecosystems where proposed. Human perceptions ultimately determine acceptance positive dingo management. Outside an adaptive management framework, ignoring these succeed conserving faunal but negative effects ecological, values.