Tigers and polar bears are very vulnerable to environmental changes (science daily)

PharmaLive.com (12 December 2010) – great predators are much more vulnerable than the smaller species to environmental changes, such as excessive hunting and habitat change because they have to work very hard to find their next meal, according to a new study.

Scientists matched to surveys of predator abundance of prey populations and found that the largest species, such as lions, Tigers and polar bears, was much greater decline in the population due to the decreasing food than the smaller species, such as weasels or badgers.

Review of eleven species of carnivores by researchers at the University of Durham and the Zoological Society of London studies published in the journal of the Royal Society biology letters. He suggests the vulnerability of the larger species can be tied to energy costs to be "great".

Robustness and the large size of these species, which are well adapted for hunting large prey can become an obstacle when times are difficult, prey are rare and individuals must work harder to find their next meal.

Dr. Philip Stephens, School of Biological Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham, and said: "we found the largest species showed a decrease over five or six fold relative abundance in response to a decrease in their prey".

"It's hard being a large predator roaming and hunting in the large extended to find food." The apparent vulnerability of tigers and polar bears to reductions in the availability of prey may be linked to the cost of energy to be a large carnivore. »

Research has important implications for the conservation of our largest species of carnivores, that appear particularly vulnerable to environmental threats and changes in the abundance of prey.

Mr. Chris Carbone, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, said: "this study helps us understand why large carnivores are particularly sensitive to environmental disturbances and why the protection and conservation of their habitat and, in particular, their prey are so important for global initiatives to save large carnivores in the wild."

Dr. Phil Stephens said: "the study highlights the need for further study to promote conservation of carnivores and shows how much more remains to be heard on the relationship between predator and prey."

Notes: Animals included in the study:

Wearing the least weaselArctic foxCanadian lynxEuropean badgerCoyoteWolfLeopardSpotted hyenaLionTigerPolar

Warning: the views expressed in this paper do not necessarily reflect those PharmaLive.com or its staff.

Source of the story:

The story above is reproduced (with drafting adaptations by PharmaLive.com staff) equipment provided by The University of Durham.

Reference of the review:

Chris Carbone, Nathalie Pettorelli and Philip a. Stephens. More they come, difficult, they fall: body size and ratios of predator - prey influence the abundance of prey. Biol Lett., 24 November 2010 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2010.0996

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited for this.