Predator and prey interactions and responses to urbanization

Zuidema, C.D. (2017) Predator and prey interactions and responses to urbanization. Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

Urbanization has been proven to change many organisms through landscape changes and increased human interaction. Predation is a shaping force in interaction with prey. The continuous increase in urbanization has raised the question of what the effects on animals are. Significant changes in predator abundance and composition due to urbanization have been found, and these predatory changes can affect animals in lower trophic levels. This thesis explores the effects of urbanization on predators and its prey. It reports the general loss of apex predators, and changes in species composition in mesopredators. It shows that loss of apex predators can cause mesopredator release. It also shows that mesopredator outbreak often does not occur in urban environments. Predation pressure seems to be lower in urban environments, even though predator abundance does not necessarily decrease. This can be caused by many factors, the most important one being anthropogenic resource subsidies. Through this relieve from predation pressure, most urban prey species show adapted predator responses.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 08:32
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 08:32
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/15891

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