Golden eagles, feral pigs, and insular carnivores: How exotic species turn native predators into prey

摘要: Island ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to exotic species. Here we show how an introduced prey has led the wholesale restructuring of island food web, including near extinction endemic carnivore. Introduced pigs, by providing abundant food, enabled golden eagles colonize California Channel Islands. Eagles preyed heavily on fox, whose resulting decline toward released populations competitively inferior skunk. The presence pigs major ecosystem shifts indirectly causing predation replace competition as dominant force shaping these communities.