The catastrophic decline around the world at the top of the food chain predators such as wolves, cougars, lions or sharks, has led to a huge increase in smaller "mesopredatori" that are causing serious economic and ecological disruption. The study results were published in the journal Bioscience, and observe that in all North America's largest terrestrial predators are declining over the last 200 years, and have increased by 60% mesopredatori. The problem is overall, but some solutions are in sight.
For example, in some parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, populations of lions and leopards have been decimated, allowing an increase of baboons. In some cases, indigenous peoples today are forced to remain barricaded in the house when raids are made of baboons in their plantations.
The issue is very complex, and a lot of consequences are not known, but there is no evidence that the explosion of populations mesopredatorie is very serious and has an impact both environmentally and economically
said William Ripple, a professor of forest ecosystems and society at Oregon State University. In case after case, all over the world, are the primary predators been drastically reduced if not eliminated, due to disruption of habitat, hunting or fishing. Many times this was seen positively by humans for fear of a personal attack, the loss of livestock or other concerns. But the new image that emerges is a series of problems including damage to the ecosystem, which can present the new predators more difficult to fight.
For example, the elimination of wolves is often favored by farmers who fear the attacks on their livestock. However, this has led to huge increases in the number of coyotes, a mesopredatore once kept in check by wolves. Even the Pronghorn antelope coyote attacks gli ovini domestici, ma cercare di tenerli sotto controllo è estremamente costoso, molto più che controllare i lupi.
For example, in some parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, populations of lions and leopards have been decimated, allowing an increase of baboons. In some cases, indigenous peoples today are forced to remain barricaded in the house when raids are made of baboons in their plantations.
The issue is very complex, and a lot of consequences are not known, but there is no evidence that the explosion of populations mesopredatorie is very serious and has an impact both environmentally and economically
said William Ripple, a professor of forest ecosystems and society at Oregon State University. In case after case, all over the world, are the primary predators been drastically reduced if not eliminated, due to disruption of habitat, hunting or fishing. Many times this was seen positively by humans for fear of a personal attack, the loss of livestock or other concerns. But the new image that emerges is a series of problems including damage to the ecosystem, which can present the new predators more difficult to fight.
For example, the elimination of wolves is often favored by farmers who fear the attacks on their livestock. However, this has led to huge increases in the number of coyotes, a mesopredatore once kept in check by wolves. Even the Pronghorn antelope coyote attacks gli ovini domestici, ma cercare di tenerli sotto controllo è estremamente costoso, molto più che controllare i lupi.
