Causes and consequences of niche variation in humans and other predators: ecological and evolutionary insight into foraging, fishing and hunting

人类和其他捕食者生态位变异的原因和后果：对觅食、捕鱼和狩猎的生态和进化洞察

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04171
• 负责人: Darimont, Christopher
• 金额: $ 3.42万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=754778
• 关键词: Causes; consequences; niche; variation; humans

The use of resources unites all living organisms, including humans. As a result of competition, however, organisms tend to occupy their own niche comprised of a subset of all available resources. Different species, populations, and even individuals can use distinct resources. We know that such variation has enormous implications to the ecological and evolutionary environments organisms face, and consequently how they look, behave and interact with others. Less well known is what processes can shape, re-shape and maintain this variation in niche. My research group examines this central question by asking how large and naturally fragmented landscapes can influence variation in food niches from the species to individual levels in large mammalian predators. We also study the niche of the most influential mammalian predator of all - human beings - and the effects hunters and fishers have on their competitors and prey. It is important to understand the behaviour of a predator that consumes the largest variety of prey of any predator, kills at extraordinarily high rates, and targets large reproductive adults within populations. My research program has developed a long-term field system and several literature- and database-focused projects. In the field we study how wolves, black bears, and grizzly bears compete with one another - and fisheries - for salmon, which comprises a critical central resource. Our database projects examine the global influence of fisheries, subsistence harvesters, and recreational hunters on the ecology and evolution of shared prey. The intended outcomes include providing a rich and productive learning environment for trainees, from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels. Our team will emerge with a better understanding of the causes and consequences of niche variation - an under-examined component of biodiversity. In doing so, we aim to provide new insight to ecological and evolutionary theory related to predators and prey. We also seek new information about hunters and fishers to identify management strategies that might reduce harvest-related impacts. Collectively, via engagement with wildlife and fisheries managers, this new knowledge can benefit wildlife, fishes and people of Canada and beyond.

对资源的利用使包括人类在内的所有生物体团结在一起。然而，作为竞争的结果，生物体往往占据自己的生态位，包括所有可用资源的子集。不同的物种、种群甚至个体都可以使用不同的资源。我们知道，这种变异对生物体所面临的生态和进化环境，以及它们的外观、行为和与其他生物的相互作用有着巨大的影响。不太为人所知的是什么过程可以塑造，重新塑造和保持这种变化的利基。我的研究小组通过询问大型和自然破碎的景观如何影响大型哺乳动物捕食者从物种到个体水平的食物生态位变化来研究这个中心问题。 我们还研究了最有影响力的哺乳动物捕食者-人类-的生态位，以及猎人和渔民对他们的竞争对手和猎物的影响。重要的是要了解捕食者的行为，捕食者消耗的猎物种类最多，以非常高的速度杀死，并以种群中的大型繁殖成虫为目标。 我的研究计划已经开发了一个长期的领域系统和几个文献和数据库为重点的项目。在野外，我们研究狼，黑熊和灰熊如何相互竞争-以及渔业-鲑鱼，这是一种重要的中央资源。我们的数据库项目研究渔业，自给收割机和休闲猎人对生态和共享猎物的进化的全球影响。 预期成果包括为从本科到博士后的受训人员提供丰富和富有成效的学习环境。我们的团队将更好地理解生态位变化的原因和后果-生物多样性的一个未被充分研究的组成部分。在这样做的过程中，我们的目标是提供新的见解，生态和进化理论有关的捕食者和猎物。我们还寻求有关猎人和渔民的新信息，以确定可能减少与收获有关的影响的管理策略。通过与野生动物和渔业管理人员的合作，这些新知识可以使加拿大及其他地区的野生动物、鱼类和人民受益。