Using in-situ predation to train a vulnerable prey species

Date:
2018/06/15

Time:
13:30

Room:
A3 Wolmar

Using in-situ predation to train a vulnerable prey species

(Oral and Poster)

Alexandra Ross
alexandra.ross@unsw.edu.au

University of New South Wales, Australia
,
Katherine Moseby
University of New South Wales, Australia
,
Michael Letnic
University of New South Wales, Australia
,
Daniel Blumstein
University of California, Los Angeles, Australia

DOI: 10.17011/conference/eccb2018/107277

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Fenced reserves and sanctuaries are a common strategy for protecting species from predation, but if individuals of a prey species are removed from their predators for an extended period they can lose predator avoidance strategies. In addition, species that have not evolved with predators may be unprepared to deal with them. These processes are termed 'prey naiveté,' which is implicated as one of the major factors in the decline of prey species. To address this, some studies have tried to train naïve individuals to recognise predators prior to release, using predator cues such as olfactory, auditory and visual stimuli, but these training attempts have not necesssariliy been successful in terms of post-release survival (e.g. Moseby et al. 2012). It is possible that only direct contact with a predator can reduce prey naiveté, either through natural selection or improved wary behaviours.

In the present study we exposed a fenced population of greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) to a controlled number of feral cats (Felis catus) (n=5) for two years in a large (26 km²) fenced enclosure. We then translocated n=42 bilbies (half exposed and half unexposed) to a separate enclosure with a larger population of feral cats (n=10). The cat-exposed bilbies were significantly more likely to survive 40 days, and the bilbies with no cat exposure were more likely to be preyed upon, suggesting that in-situ predator exposure may result in greater predator avoidance strategies and may be a useful long-term strategy for improving the reintroduction success of fenced populations.

Moseby, K.E., Cameron, A., Crisp, H.A., 2012. Can predator avoidance training improve reintroduction outcomes for the greater bilby in arid Australia? Animal Behaviour 83.4, 1011-1021.

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INTRO:
This is an experimental study exposing greater bilbies individuals to feral casts and comparing their survival against control individuals with no exposure to predators. The study shows a higher survival rate of exposed individuals.
MERITS:
Experimental designs are important to understand how captive-breed prey species may respond to the presence of predators after release. This understanding is needed for informing population reintroduction and reinforcement programs.
CRITIQUE:
Although the study has applications for wildlife management, the more general relevance for conservation biology is not clear, and even less the contribution of this study to the topic of the conference on "planetary wellbeing"
DISCUSSION:
The implications of this experiment for conservation management in systems different to the study one needs to be stressed.
Being mostly a wildlife management problem with unclear connection to the topic of the conference, I would strongly recommend to re-submitt it as a poster and not as an oral presentation.

- - -
INTRO:
This study presents the results of an experiment demonstrating the survival effects of exposing naive prey to predators pre-release.
MERITS:
The study presents a relatively rare opportunity to study the response of naive prey when they are exposed to predators. The authors provide a clear outline of the background and focus of this study, and succinctly present the key findings of the experiment.
CRITIQUE:
The abstract would benefit from an explanation of why the authors thought their exposure method might be successful, in light of the fact that that similar previous studies (training naive animals pre-release) have not been successful. Additionally, it would be good to include references to these previous studies they mention.

The number of bilbies included in the study is not mentioned, but would be useful to include to complement the number of feral cats, which is included.

A little more clarification of the exposure method is needed: were bilbies and cats in direct contact, or was exposure more controlled?

The authors may want to clarify whether these enclosures contained only feral cats as predators, or if other species were present which could have affected bilby survival.
DISCUSSION:
Overall, this study is valuable not only to conservation management of predator-naive species, but also more generally to understand how prey evolve (or lose) predator response behaviour. Furthermore, the duration of the experiment demonstrates how predator responses may develop slowly over a prolonged period, which may be an important consideration for both pre-release training and post-release survival monitoring.

Using in-situ predation to train a vulnerable prey species

Date:2018/06/15

Time:13:30

Room:A3 Wolmar

Using in-situ predation to train a vulnerable prey species

(Oral and Poster)

Alexandra Ross alexandra.ross@unsw.edu.au University of New South Wales, Australia, Katherine Moseby University of New South Wales, Australia, Michael Letnic University of New South Wales, Australia, Daniel Blumstein University of California, Los Angeles, Australia

SEE PEER REVIEW

SEE PEER REVIEW

Date:
2018/06/15

Time:
13:30

Room:
A3 Wolmar

Alexandra Ross
alexandra.ross@unsw.edu.au

University of New South Wales, Australia
,
Katherine Moseby
University of New South Wales, Australia
,
Michael Letnic
University of New South Wales, Australia
,
Daniel Blumstein
University of California, Los Angeles, Australia