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Do recolonising wolves trigger non-consumptive effects in European ecosystems? A review of evidence
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  • Nina Gerber,
  • Friederike Riesch,
  • Katarzyna Bojarska,
  • Maria Zetsche,
  • Nina Rohwer,
  • Johannes Signer,
  • Johannes Isselstein,
  • Sven Herzog,
  • Henryk Okarma,
  • Dries Kuijper,
  • Niko Balkenhol
Nina Gerber
Foundation KORA

Corresponding Author:n.gerber@kora.ch

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Friederike Riesch
University of Göttingen
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Katarzyna Bojarska
Polish Academy of Sciences
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Maria Zetsche
Technische Universität Dresden
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Nina Rohwer
Institute for Wildlife Biology Göttingen & Dresden e.V, Göttingen, Germany
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Johannes Signer
University of Göttingen
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Johannes Isselstein
University of Göttingen
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Sven Herzog
Technische Universität Dresden
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Henryk Okarma
Polish Academy of Sciences
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Dries Kuijper
Mammal Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences
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Niko Balkenhol
University of Gottingen
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Abstract

Predators can affect ecosystems through non-consumptive effects on their prey, which can lead to cascading effects on the vegetation. In mammalian communities, such cascading effects on whole ecosystems have mainly been demonstrated in protected areas, but the extent to which such effects may occur in more human-dominated landscapes remains disputable. With the recolonisation of wolves (Canis lupus) in Europe, understanding the potential for such cascading processes becomes crucial for understanding the ecological consequences of wolf recovery and making appropriate management recommendations. Here, we investigate the evidence for non-consumptive effects of wolves on their wild ungulate prey and cascading effects on the vegetation in European landscapes. We reviewed empirical studies reporting wild ungulate responses to wolves involving spatio-temporal behaviour at large and fine spatial scales, activity patterns, vigilance, grouping, physiological effects, and effects on the vegetation. We reveal that non-consumptive effects of wolves in Europe have been studied in few regions and with focus on regions with low human impact and are highly context-dependent and might often be overruled by human-related factors. Further, we highlight the need for a description of human influence in NCE studies. We discuss challenges in NCE research and the potential for advances in future research on NCE of wolves in a human dominated landscape. Further, we emphasise the need for wildlife management to restore ecosystem complexity and processes, to allow non-consumptive predator effects to occur.
29 Sep 2023Submitted to Wildlife Biology
02 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
02 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
02 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned