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Fear of the human ‘super predator’ reduces feeding time in large carnivores

Justine A. Smith, Justin P. Suraci, Michael Clinchy, Ayana Crawford, Devin Roberts, Liana Y. Zanette, Christopher C. Wilmers
Published 21 June 2017.DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0433
Justine A. Smith
Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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  • For correspondence: jsmith5@ucsc.edu
Justin P. Suraci
Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USADepartment of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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Michael Clinchy
Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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Ayana Crawford
Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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Devin Roberts
Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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Liana Y. Zanette
Department of Biology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 5B7
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Christopher C. Wilmers
Center for Integrated Spatial Research, Environmental Studies Department, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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Abstract

Large carnivores' fear of the human ‘super predator’ has the potential to alter their feeding behaviour and result in human-induced trophic cascades. However, it has yet to be experimentally tested if large carnivores perceive humans as predators and react strongly enough to have cascading effects on their prey. We conducted a predator playback experiment exposing pumas to predator (human) and non-predator control (frog) sounds at puma feeding sites to measure immediate fear responses to humans and the subsequent impacts on feeding. We found that pumas fled more frequently, took longer to return, and reduced their overall feeding time by more than half in response to hearing the human ‘super predator’. Combined with our previous work showing higher kill rates of deer in more urbanized landscapes, this study reveals that fear is the mechanism driving an ecological cascade from humans to increased puma predation on deer. By demonstrating that the fear of humans can cause a strong reduction in feeding by pumas, our results support that non-consumptive forms of human disturbance may alter the ecological role of large carnivores.

  • Received February 28, 2017.
  • Accepted May 19, 2017.
  • © 2017 The Author(s)
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28 June 2017
Volume 284, issue 1857
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences: 284 (1857)
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Keywords

ecology of fear
indirect effects
playback experiment
Puma concolor
risk–foraging trade-off
trophic cascade
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Fear of the human ‘super predator’ reduces feeding time in large carnivores
Justine A. Smith, Justin P. Suraci, Michael Clinchy, Ayana Crawford, Devin Roberts, Liana Y. Zanette, Christopher C. Wilmers
Proc. R. Soc. B 2017 284 20170433; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0433. Published 21 June 2017
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Research article:

Fear of the human ‘super predator’ reduces feeding time in large carnivores

Justine A. Smith, Justin P. Suraci, Michael Clinchy, Ayana Crawford, Devin Roberts, Liana Y. Zanette, Christopher C. Wilmers
Proc. R. Soc. B 2017 284 20170433; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0433. Published 21 June 2017

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