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Gibson, L.
The role of lethal control in managing the effects of apparent competition on endangered prey species
2006 Wildlife Society Bulletin (34): 1220-1224
Apparent competition is the process by which one prey species may indirectly cause the decline in another species by sustaining a common predator. I argue apparent competition caused Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (_Ovis canadensis californiana_) and Channel Island fox (_Urocyon littoralis_) population declines in the mid-1990s. In the Sierra Nevada, mountain lions (_Puma concolor_) are believed to have caused bighorns to abandon their winter ranges, thus indirectly contributing to population declines. In the Channel Islands, golden eagle (_Aquila chrysaetos_) predation is thought to have reduced 3 resident fox populations by over 95%. I argue, in both cases, native predators are the primary cause of the declines. Additionally, I argue these predators are primarily sustained by hyperabundant alternative prey species. In such cases direct management, to include lethal control of predators and hyperabundant alternative prey, may be necessary to restore these endangered bighorn and fox populations.
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