Biologists Bill Ripple and John Laundre get their due this week as their originally published(2010) LANDSCAPE OF FEAR paradigm is reinforced in a large way via the University of Western Ontario study that once again demonstrates that trophic carnivores like Wolves, Grizzlies, Black Bears and Pumas--Mesocarnivores like Coyotes, Lynx and Bobcats----All promote "top down" positive influence on optimum biodiversity by keeping prey animals vigilant and keeping them on the move, thus not lounging in any one locale too long overbrowsing the flora of a given region

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sciencedaily/plants_animals/ecology/~3/KTWWUL-PsS8/160223132414.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email

'Fear itself' can help restore

 ecosystems,study suggests

Date:

February 23, 2016

Source:

University of Western Ontario

 A new study led by Western 

University demonstrates that

 the fear these top predators

 inspire can have cascading 

effects down the food chain 

critical to maintaining healthy

 ecosystems, making large 

carnivore conservation all

 the more valuable given

 the significant 'ecosystem

 service' the fear of them

 provides

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiH4uHOmJLLAhUBwiYKHVumA8MQFggcMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cof.orst.edu%2Fleopold%2Fpapers%2FLaundre_etal2010.pdf&usg=AFQjCNE96KdyWw1roI-sElnk_d0myGsPjw

The Landscape of Fear: Ecological Implications of Being Afraid John W. Laundré*,1, Lucina Hernández1 and William J. Ripple2 1 Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY 13126, USA 2 Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, College of Forestry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA 

 Coyote chases and kills Deer fawn

Abstract:

“Predation risk” and “fear” are concepts well established in animal behavior literature. We expand these concepts to develop the model of the “landscape of fear”. 

The landscape of fear represents relative levels of predation risk as peaks and valleys that reflect the level of fear of predation a prey experiences in different parts of its area of use. We provide observations in support of this model regarding changes in predation risk with respect to habitat types, and terrain characteristics.

 We postulate that animals have the ability to learn and can respond to differing levels of predation risk. We propose that the landscape of fear can be quantified with the use of well documented existing methods such as giving up densities, vigilance observations, and foraging surveys of plants. 

We conclude that the landscape of fear is a useful visual model and has the potential to become a unifying ecological concept.