A review of predation as a limiting factor for bird populations in mesopredator-rich landscapes: a case study of the UK

摘要: The impact of increasing vertebrate predator numbers on bird populations is widely debated among the general public, game managers and conservationists across Europe. However, there are few systematic reviews whether predation limits population sizes European species. Views impacts particularly polarised in UK, probably because UK has a globally exceptional culture intensive, high-yield gamebird management where removal norm. In addition, most apex predators have been exterminated or much depleted numbers, contributing to held perception that high mesopredators. This resulted many high-quality studies mesopredator over several decades. Here we present results from review trends abundance, assess 90 species UK. Our confirm generalist Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) Crows (Corvus corone C. cornix) occur at densities compared with other countries. some avian mammalian increased numerically during recent Despite these predators, found little evidence pigeons, woodpeckers passerines, whereas suggests ground-nesting seabirds, waders gamebirds can be limited by predation. Using life-history characteristics prey species, mainly long-lived adult survival late onset breeding were Single-brooded also more likely than multi-brooded Predators depredate all life stages (i.e. nest stages) depredated only specific (e.g. solely phase). non-native mammals American Mink Neovison vison) frequently identified as limiting their predator-prey interactions result declines short term, traditional predator-management techniques lethal control fencing reduce small number species) could used protect vulnerable costly time-consuming, advocate future research should identify land-use practices landscape configurations would rates.