Apex Predator Recovery Is Constrained by Ecology and Governance

The research examines why many efforts to restore apex predator populations fail or stall, identifying three key challenges beyond the well-known problems of slow life histories and continued hunting: the difficulty of predicting ecosystem interactions, the important importance of timing in recovery efforts, and the need for adaptive management strategies. The researchers present a theoretical framework examining apex predator recovery, drawing on existing research and case studies to identify patterns and develop insights for understanding recovery challenges. Many apex predator recovery efforts have not yet met their potential or have encountered unanticipated problems, with success being the exception rather than the rule. Three underappreciated factors complicate predator recoveries: difficulty identifying relevant trophic interactions, the important timing of recovery efforts in dynamic ecosystems, and the need for adaptive management sequences. A review of 198 reintroduction studies by other researchers found that herbivore reintroductions exhibited 29% higher success compared to carnivore reintroductions. Recovery pathways are not necessarily identical to decline pathways due to hysteresis effects, requiring different strategies for restoration than those used for initial conservation. The research challenges the assumption that simply removing threats will lead to apex predator recovery, showing that ecosystem context and timing are important factors. Understanding these complexities is essential for designing more effective conservation strategies and avoiding unintended consequences in predator restoration efforts.

Citation

Stier, Adrian C.; Samhouri, Jameal F.; Novak, Mark; Marshall, Kristin N.; Ward, Eric J.; Holt, Robert D.; Levin, Phillip S. (2016). Ecosystem context and historical contingency in apex predator recoveries. Science Advances.

"The research challenges the assumption that simply removing threats will lead to apex predator recovery, showing that ecosystem context and timing are important factors."

Read the full paper

This paper is Open Access.