Predation and Predator Ecology

Predation and Predator Management Some suggest that decreased hunting and trapping pressure on mesomammal predators (hereafter mesopredators) has resulted in increased mesopredator populations and a decline in many prey species. That predators negatively impact many game populations is a widely held belief. However, there is little empirical data to support or refute this idea, and the few existing studies focus on the response of a single species or are of too short duration to fully understand the long-term effects predator management. Moreover, predators have a positive effect on wildlife communities and the maintenance of these positive effects while minimizing negative impacts continues to be a productive area of research.

One of the central components of wildlife research at the Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center is to investigate the role of predators in the ecosystem and to evaluate the potential of predator management practices to result in a desired outcome. To accomplish these tasks we utilize both observational and experimental approaches to gain insight into the process of predation and to identify potential predation management options.