Potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansion
ABSTRACT Recently, the barred owl (Strix varia) has expanded its range into the Pacific Northwest of the United States resulting in pronounced effects on the demography and behavior of the northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina). The range expansion has brought together historically allopatri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2016-12-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.714 |
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| author | Samantha R. Holm Barry R. Noon J. David Wiens William J. Ripple |
| author_facet | Samantha R. Holm Barry R. Noon J. David Wiens William J. Ripple |
| author_sort | Samantha R. Holm |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Recently, the barred owl (Strix varia) has expanded its range into the Pacific Northwest of the United States resulting in pronounced effects on the demography and behavior of the northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina). The range expansion has brought together historically allopatric species, creating the potential for significant changes in the avian predator community with possible cascading effects on food‐web dynamics. The adverse effects of the barred owl on the behavior and demography of the northern spotted owl are well‐documented, but little is known about the immediate and long‐term effects changes in the predator community may have on native species composition and ecosystem processes. Based on northern spotted owl and barred owl selection for diet and habitat resources, there is a potential for trophic cascades within the region's predator and prey communities, differing responses by their shared and unique prey species, and possible direct and indirect effects on ecosystem processes. We explored the possible ecological consequences of the barred owl range expansion to wildlife communities of the Pacific Northwest based on the theoretical underpinnings of predator–prey relationships, interspecific competition, intraguild predation, and potential cascading trophic interactions. Negative effects on fitness of northern spotted owls because of interspecific competition with barred owls are strong selection forces that may contribute to the regional extinction of the northern spotted owl. In addition, we posit that shared prey species and those uniquely consumed by barred owls, along with other competing native predators, may experience changes in behavior, abundance, and distribution as a result of increased rates of predation by rapidly expanding populations of barred owls. © 2016 The Wildlife Society. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8a219f6d5443479cbbc0dc22c60efcd3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-8a219f6d5443479cbbc0dc22c60efcd32024-12-16T13:16:30ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402016-12-0140461562410.1002/wsb.714Potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansionSamantha R. Holm0Barry R. Noon1J. David Wiens2William J. Ripple3Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523USADepartment of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology and Graduate Degree Program in EcologyColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523USAU.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Range Ecosystem Science Center3200 SW Jefferson WayCorvallisOR9733USATrophic Cascades ProgramDepartment of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyOregon State UniversityCorvallisOR97331USAABSTRACT Recently, the barred owl (Strix varia) has expanded its range into the Pacific Northwest of the United States resulting in pronounced effects on the demography and behavior of the northern spotted owl (S. occidentalis caurina). The range expansion has brought together historically allopatric species, creating the potential for significant changes in the avian predator community with possible cascading effects on food‐web dynamics. The adverse effects of the barred owl on the behavior and demography of the northern spotted owl are well‐documented, but little is known about the immediate and long‐term effects changes in the predator community may have on native species composition and ecosystem processes. Based on northern spotted owl and barred owl selection for diet and habitat resources, there is a potential for trophic cascades within the region's predator and prey communities, differing responses by their shared and unique prey species, and possible direct and indirect effects on ecosystem processes. We explored the possible ecological consequences of the barred owl range expansion to wildlife communities of the Pacific Northwest based on the theoretical underpinnings of predator–prey relationships, interspecific competition, intraguild predation, and potential cascading trophic interactions. Negative effects on fitness of northern spotted owls because of interspecific competition with barred owls are strong selection forces that may contribute to the regional extinction of the northern spotted owl. In addition, we posit that shared prey species and those uniquely consumed by barred owls, along with other competing native predators, may experience changes in behavior, abundance, and distribution as a result of increased rates of predation by rapidly expanding populations of barred owls. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.714barred owlcompetitionintraguild predationinvasive speciesnorthern spotted owlPacific Northwest |
| spellingShingle | Samantha R. Holm Barry R. Noon J. David Wiens William J. Ripple Potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansion Wildlife Society Bulletin barred owl competition intraguild predation invasive species northern spotted owl Pacific Northwest |
| title | Potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansion |
| title_full | Potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansion |
| title_fullStr | Potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansion |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansion |
| title_short | Potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansion |
| title_sort | potential trophic cascades triggered by the barred owl range expansion |
| topic | barred owl competition intraguild predation invasive species northern spotted owl Pacific Northwest |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.714 |
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