IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Courchamp, F.; Langlais, M.; Sugihara, G. | |
| Cats protecting birds: modelling the mesopredator release effect | |
| 1999 Journal of Animal Ecology (68): 282-292 | |
Introduced predators account for a large part of the extinction of endemic insular species, which constitutes a major component of the loss of biodiversity among vertebrates. Eradication of alien predators from these ecosystems is often considered the best solution. In some ecosystems, however, it can generate a greater threat for endemic prey through what is called the 'mesopredator release'. This process predicts that, once superpredators are suppressed, a burst of mesopredators may follow which leads their shared prey to extinction. This process is studied through a mathematical model describing three species system (prey - mesopredator - superpredator). Analysts of the model, with and without control of meso- and superpredators, shows that this process does indeed exist and can drive shared prey to rapid extinction. This work emphasizes that, although counter-intuitive, eradication of introduced superpredators, such as feral domestic cats, is not always the best solution to protect endemic prey when introduced mesopredators, such as rats, are also present. |
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