Abstract
In recent years, large predators have made a comeback across large parts of Europe. However, little is known about the impact that recolonizing predators may have on ecosystems with high degrees of anthropogenic influence. In Scandinavia, wolves (Canis lupus) now inhabit areas affected by intense forestry practices and their main prey, moose (Alces alces), are exposed to significant human hunting pressure. We used long-term datasets to investigate whether the return of wolves has affected moose distribution (i.e., presence and abundance) as well as browsing damage (i.e., presence and intensity) by moose on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). We found that the probability of moose presence and abundance increased with time since wolf territory establishment and was higher inside wolf territories than outside. Additionally, the probability of browsing damage was also higher inside wolf territories compared to outside, but wolf occurrence had no effect on browsing damage intensity. We suggest two possible underlying mechanisms behind these results: (1) wolves might select to establish territories in areas with higher moose abundance, increasing their probability of encounters, and/or (2) hunters within wolf territories reduce the number of harvested moose to compensate for wolf predation. This study highlights that the return of large predators to landscapes with strong anthropogenic influence may result in alternative effects than those described in studies on trophic cascades located in protected areas.
Highlights
Predators often play a large role in shaping the ecological communities they inhabit (Estes et al, 2011; Ripple et al, 2014)
The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park is believed to have reduced both the density of elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) as well as the browsing intensity on riparian plant communities, which resulted in the recovery of plant species such as quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) (Beschta et al, 2018) and willow (Salix geyeriana) (Beschta and Ripple, 2018)
Human harvest may outweigh the impact of large predators on prey demography, which could reduce or hinder the potential for large predators to affect prey abundance as they would in the absence of human hunting
Summary
Predators often play a large role in shaping the ecological communities they inhabit (Estes et al, 2011; Ripple et al, 2014). Human harvest may outweigh the impact of large predators on prey demography (see Gervasi et al, 2012), which could reduce or hinder the potential for large predators to affect prey abundance as they would in the absence of human hunting (e.g., in national parks) It is likely that returning large predators will have a less pronounced role in anthropogenic ecosystems compared to protected ones (Sergio et al, 2008; Kuijper et al, 2016)
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