Allen, Benjamin L. (2015) Top-predator control-induced trophic cascades: an alternative hypothesis to the conclusion of Colman et al. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282 (1799). pp. 1-3. ISSN 1471-2954
Abstract
Colman et al. (2014 Proc. R. Soc. B 281, 20133094. (doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.3094)) Recently argued that observed positive relationships between dingoes and small mammals were a result of top-down processes whereby lethal dingo control reduced dingoes and increased mesopredators and herbivores, which then suppressed small mammals. Here, I show that the prerequisite negative effects of dingo control on dingoes were not shown, and that the same positive relationships observed may simply represent well-known Bottom-up processes whereby more generalist predators are found in places with more of their preferred prey. Identification of top-predator control-induced trophic cascades first requires demonstration of some actual effect of control on predators, typically possible only through manipulative experiments with the ability to identify cause and effect.
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| Item Type: | Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
| Faculty / Department / School: | Current - Institute for Agriculture and the Environment |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Jun 2016 06:13 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Jun 2018 05:20 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Canis lupus dingo; feral cat; mesopredator release; red fox; trophic cascade |
| Fields of Research : | 05 Environmental Sciences > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050299 Environmental Science and Management not elsewhere classified |
| Identification Number or DOI: | 10.1098/rspb.2014.1251 |
| URI: | http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/29389 |
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