Fear in Ecosystems
What effect does the fear of large carnivores have on ecosystems, even without direct predation?
What is causing changes in food webs by altering the behavior of smaller animals?
What is the term for predators indirectly affecting plant or animal populations through fear rather than direct killing?
What is a trophic cascade?
In the study, which mesocarnivore's behavior was altered using predator vocalizations?
What is a raccoon?
In the experiment, the absence of what type of predator led raccoons to forage more aggressively, harming prey populations?
What are domestic dogs (large carnivores)?
What technique did researchers use to reintroduce the fear of predators to raccoon populations?
What are month-long playbacks of domestic dog sounds?
Name one species that benefited when raccoons reduced their foraging due to fear.
What is a crab, fish, or small invertebrate?
What domestic animal still creates fear in raccoons on British Columbia’s Gulf Islands?
What is the domestic dog?
What psychological response in prey animals helps regulate the balance of ecosystems even when predators aren’t visible?
What is fear-induced behavioral change?
What broader ecosystem effect occurred when raccoons reduced their foraging due to predator fear?
What is an increase in prey species populations like crabs and fish?
How can the mere presence of large predators, without hunting, help maintain healthy and diverse ecosystems?
What is controlling prey behavior through fear?