Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Predation on Animal Prey Abundance: Evidence from UK Vertebrates
Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Predation on Animal Prey Abundance: Evidence from UK Vertebrates
复制标题
捕食对动物猎物丰度影响的荟萃分析：来自英国脊椎动物的证据
作者：
Alison R. Holt;Z. Davies;C. Tyler;S. Staddon
控制脊椎动物捕食者是野生动物管理的最普遍形式之一，它继续引起全世界利益相关者之间的冲突。管理人员和决策者必须根据现有的最佳科学证据就这一问题作出决定。因此，首先重要的是要了解脊椎动物捕食者对猎物是否确实有影响，然后量化这种影响。方法/主要结果-英国作为一个案例研究，我们使用的荟萃分析方法来审查现有的证据，以评估脊椎动物捕食动物猎物丰度的影响。在我们的研究中，我们发现捕食者对猎物丰度有显著影响。平均而言，在没有捕食的情况下，猎物丰度增加了1.6倍。然而，我们表现出显着的异质性效应大小，并讨论如何捕食者控制的方法，捕食者是否是本地或非本地的，以及研究设计方面，可能是潜在的原因。结论/意义-我们的研究结果允许一些谨慎的政策建议，作出关于捕食者和猎物种群的管理。元分析是一个重要的工具，了解一般模式的捕食者对猎物丰度的影响，跨研究。如果需要在缺乏具体场地信息的情况下作出管理决定，这种办法特别有价值。
Background Controlling vertebrate predators is one of the most widespread forms of wildlife management and it continues to cause conflict between stakeholders worldwide. It is important for managers and policy-makers to make decisions on this issue that are based on the best available scientific evidence. Therefore, it is first important to understand if there is indeed an impact of vertebrate predators on prey, and then to quantify this impact. Methodology/Principal Findings Using the UK as a case study, we use a meta-analytical approach to review the available evidence to assess the effect of vertebrate predation on animal prey abundance. We find a significant effect of predators on prey abundance across our studies. On average, there is a 1.6 fold increase in prey abundance in the absence of predation. However, we show significant heterogeneity in effect sizes, and discuss how the method of predator control, whether the predator is native or non-native, and aspects of study design, may be potential causes. Conclusions/Significance Our results allow some cautious policy recommendations to be made regarding the management of predator and prey populations. Meta-analysis is an important tool for understanding general patterns in the effect of predators on prey abundance across studies. Such an approach is especially valuable where management decisions need to be made in the absence of site-specific information.