Predators, fire or resources: What drives the distribution of herbivores in fragmented mesic forests?

• DOI: 10.1111/aec.12861
• Publication Date: 2020-03-04T04:19:47Z
• Authors: William L. Geary; Bronwyn A. Hradsky; Alan Robley; Brendan A. Wintle
• Keywords: Brushtail possum; Macropus; Exclosure

Abstract Trophic interactions and disturbance events can shape the structure function of ecosystems. However, effects drivers such as predation, fire climatic variables on species distributions are rarely considered concurrently. We used a replicated landscape‐scale predator management experiment to compare red fox Vulpes vulpes control, time‐since‐fire, vegetation type other environmental native herbivore distributions. Occurrence data for four herbivores an invasive – were collected from 240 sites across three baited (for lethal control) unbaited forest blocks (4659–9750 ha) in south‐western Victoria, Australia, build distribution models. The taxa follows: red‐necked wallaby Macropus rufogriseus , black Wallabia bicolour grey kangaroo fuligenosus giganteus common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula . Fox control had little effect occurrence, despite literature suggesting it influence abundance, while climate, proximity farmland topography more influential. This may be because region’s high productivity agricultural pastures subsidise food resources both predators prey within so dampen trophic interactions. Alternatively, these affect but not occurrence. Understanding is important step predicting herbivory species, particularly after interventions prescribed burns.