Meta-analysis on the effect of competition between lynx and wolf on their diets

摘要: Behavioural interactions between predators, herbivores and vegetation have a major impact on ecosystem composition functioning. Changes in these may lead to changes even trigger trophic cascade as not only predation affects the ecosystem, but is also affected by foraging behaviour of based threat predation. However, many factors can influence cascades. First, through controlling mesopredator with common food source, top predators affect herbivore species. Second, different preying same prey species exerts demographic Third, complexity web bioclimatic effects productivity anthropogenic habitat change explain sudden densities ecosystem. Up now, it unknown how re-establishments lynx wolf will differences Europe. Studies prey-predator relations ungulates large predator such were carried out mostly single-prey systems North America Scandinavia. ungulate community European mainland different. Therefore, research question this study was ‘What competition their diets temperate continental regions Europe?’. Based biology both species, being stalking specialist coursing generalist, expected that outcompetes roe deer. Consequently, wolves broaden niche breadth. Only studies executed Europe last 30 years contained data total diet either or used. For each site breadth calculated then analysed using permutational multivariate analysis variance (perMANOVA) Wald’s chi square test. Here, presence other used independent dependants mean proportions Results show significantly changed for deer, wild boar, Leporidae bird While proportion deer highest areas without wolves, shows contrasting effect. The lynx. red lynx, effect significant. showed no overall significant wolf. Because limited availability selection criteria, number sites has serious implications statistical power research. Also, actual could be taken into account investigated most studies. Still, seems because whereas do change. As are chain there form interaction, one argue relation therefore more complex than merely two community. I expect conditions determine strength cascade, type case an apical predator, predators.