Hyperpredation

Hyperpredation has been recorded in an ecosystem involving a bird (native prey), a cat (alien predator), and a rabbit (alien prey)

Hyperpredation, also known as hypopredation, is when a generalist predator increases its predation pressure as a result of the introduction of a substitute prey.[1] Hyperpredation has been proven, for instance, in lab settings using two hosts and a parasitoid wasp.[2] Prey that require more handling time than they are worth in terms of nutritional value leads to hyperpredation. In severe circumstances, predators that fed on such prey went extinct.[3][4] Introduced Eastern cottontails cause an apparent competition with the European hare, as a result this along with the red fox being their main predator causes hyperpredation.[5]

  1. ^ Smith, A.P.; Quin, D.G. (1996). "Patterns and causes of extinction and decline in Australian conilurine rodents". Biological Conservation. 77 (2–3): 243–267. Bibcode:1996BCons..77..243S. doi:10.1016/0006-3207(96)00002-x. ISSN 0006-3207.
  2. ^ Bonsall, M. B.; Hassell, M. P. (July 1997). "Apparent competition structures ecological assemblages". Nature. 388 (6640): 371–373. doi:10.1038/41084. ISSN 1476-4687. S2CID 4408060.
  3. ^ SHIGEMIYA, YUSUKE (2004-02-06). "Reversible frequency-dependent predation of a puffer, Takifugu niphobles (Pisces: Tetraodontidae), related to spatial distribution of colour-polymorphic prey". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 81 (2): 197–202. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2003.00276.x. ISSN 0024-4066. S2CID 82893144.
  4. ^ Holt, Robert D. (1977-10-01). "Predation, apparent competition, and the structure of prey communities" (PDF). Theoretical Population Biology. 12 (2): 197–229. doi:10.1016/0040-5809(77)90042-9. ISSN 0040-5809. PMID 929457.
  5. ^ Balestrieri, Alessandro; Remonti, Luigi; Prigioni, Claudio (2006-03-10). "Local feeding specialization of the red fox ( Vulpes vulpes ) in response to eastern cottontail ( Sylvilagus floridanus ) introduction (NW Italy)". Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy. 16 (2). doi:10.4404/hystrix-16.2-4349. ISSN 0394-1914.