Synopsis: This study examines the influence of landscape fragmentation on trophic cascades in southern California. Results indicate that, as habitat fragmentation negatively affects the persistence of coyote populations, the abundance of smaller meso-predators increase, resulting in higher mortality rates in scrub-breeding birds. Fragment size was a strong indicator of coyote abundance, and coyote abundance was a strong indicator of bird diversity, as coyotes kept down the number of meso-predators that prey on birds. The positive effect of fragment area and the negative effect of fragment age were the strongest determinants of bird diversity in this system. Conclusions: Fragment size correlates with coyote abundance,...
Categories: Publication;
Types: Citation,
Map Service,
OGC WFS Layer,
OGC WMS Layer,
OGC WMS Service;
Tags: California,
California coastal sage,
Chaparral,
Landscape fragmentation,
Mojave, All tags...
Natural cover amount,
Natural cover heterogeneity,
biodiversity,
birds,
fragmentation,
fragmentation,
meso-predator,
oak woodlands,
predation,
predator/prey relations,
regional,
scrub-breeding bird diversity,
scrub-breeding birds,
trophic cascades,
trophic cascades,
urban,
urban settlement, Fewer tags
|
