Arid
DOI10.1111/1365-2664.12378
Ecological and economic benefits to cattle rangelands of restoring an apex predator
Prowse, Thomas A. A.1,2; Johnson, Christopher N.3; Cassey, Phillip1,2; Bradshaw, Corey J. A.1,2; Brook, Barry W.1,2
通讯作者Prowse, Thomas A. A.
来源期刊JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
ISSN0021-8901
EISSN1365-2664
出版年2015
卷号52期号:2页码:455-466
英文摘要

1. The conservation of terrestrial carnivores is hampered by economic conflicts between predation and livestock production. The dingo Canis dingo is the top predator in Australia’s terrestrial ecosystems but its abundance is controlled because it preys on livestock. Dingo control (poisoning, shooting) is associated with increased densities of wild herbivores, which can lead to reduced cattle condition and fertility through competition for pasture. We investigated whether the restoration of dingoes might provide a net benefit for rangeland vegetation and the profit margins of cattle pastoralists.


2. We developed a dynamic, multi-species metamodel to represent the trophic linkages and economics of a rangeland cattle enterprise. To estimate the strength of dingo-mediated trophic cascades, we underpinned the metamodel with a detailed simulation of pasture growth, grazing pressure and cattle live-weight gain. An economic model that calculated the costs and revenues associated with maintaining the cattle herd was used to examine trade-offs between livestock density, kangaroo abundance, calf losses and dingo control.


3. We simulated the effects of dingo abundance on rangeland ecology (pasture biomass, kangaroo density) and enterprise performance (cattle live-weight gain, gross margin). Assuming a typical stocking density for semi-arid rangelands, we estimated that kangaroo control by an unbaited dingo population would increase pasture biomass by 53 kg ha(-1), improve gross margins by $0.83 ha(-1) and reduce inter-annual variability in profits.


4. The increase in pasture biomass due to dingoes was greatest at low stocking densities (that permitted high kangaroo abundance in the absence of predation), while improvement in profits was strongest at intermediate stocking densities (when cattle density was high enough to take advantage of the additional pasture biomass). At high stocking densities, the abundance of kangaroos was low, so if dingo abundance exceeded that required to control kangaroos, some dingo baiting could produce small economic gains.


5. Synthesis and applications. There is little incentive for pastoralists to reduce livestock densities in mixed wildlife-livestock systems unless wildlife grazing can be controlled. Our results demonstrate that top-down herbivore control by dingoes should allow cattle pastoralists to profit from conservative stocking densities while reducing the risk of pasture over-utilization.


英文关键词animal production large carnivores livestock predator-prey dynamics rangelands sustainable agriculture trophic cascade
类型Article
语种英语
国家Australia
收录类别SCI-E
WOS记录号WOS:000352138100019
WOS关键词INTRODUCED PREDATORS ; NORTHERN AUSTRALIA ; RED KANGAROOS ; GRAZING LANDS ; CALF WASTAGE ; DINGO ; SYSTEMS ; PREY ; CONSEQUENCES ; BIODIVERSITY
WOS类目Biodiversity Conservation ; Ecology
WOS研究方向Biodiversity & Conservation ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology
资源类型期刊论文
条目标识符http://119.78.100.177/qdio/handle/2XILL650/188225
作者单位1.Univ Adelaide, Inst Environm, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
2.Univ Adelaide, Sch Earth & Environm Sci, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia;
3.Univ Tasmania, Sch Zool, Hobart, Tas 7005, Australia
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GB/T 7714
Prowse, Thomas A. A.,Johnson, Christopher N.,Cassey, Phillip,et al. Ecological and economic benefits to cattle rangelands of restoring an apex predator[J],2015,52(2):455-466.
APA Prowse, Thomas A. A.,Johnson, Christopher N.,Cassey, Phillip,Bradshaw, Corey J. A.,&Brook, Barry W..(2015).Ecological and economic benefits to cattle rangelands of restoring an apex predator.JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY,52(2),455-466.
MLA Prowse, Thomas A. A.,et al."Ecological and economic benefits to cattle rangelands of restoring an apex predator".JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY 52.2(2015):455-466.
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