The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses

Autores
Bostal, Franco; Scorolli, Alberto Luis; Zalba, Sergio Martín
Año de publicación
2025
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
The absence of top predators can lead to significant ecological consequences, especially in association with changes in bottom-up ecosystem regulation. In the context of biological invasions, the enemy release hypothesis explains how invasive alien species can reach high densities in the absence of natural antagonists, often leading to negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Feral equids frequently reach problematic densities in natural environments, where their management faces operational and communication challenges. In this study, we evaluated the impact of puma (Puma concolor) presence on the demography of a feral horse (Equus caballus) population in an Argentinian grassland nature reserve. We compared periods with (2023–2024) and without predation (1995–2002). Foal survival was significantly lower in 2023–2024, while adult survival increased compared to 1995–2002. These changes, coupled with direct evidence of puma predation on young horse carcasses, suggest that pumas are affecting population growth rates by reducing recruitment, and may limit population size. Concomitantly, mean female body condition improved in 2023–2024, suggesting that the loss of foals to predation may reduce lactation-related energy costs. These findings suggest that pumas could play an important role in the dynamics of feral horse populations, marking the first documented case of such a regulation in South America. Incorporating predator activity into management strategies could reduce the need for direct interventions, offering a more sustainable approach to controlling the ecological impacts of feral horse populations.
Fil: Bostal, Franco. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentina
Fil: Scorolli, Alberto Luis. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina
Fil: Zalba, Sergio Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina
Materia
Invasiones biológicas
Pastizales naturales
Caballos cimarrones
Predación
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/273676
Acceder
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oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/273676
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horsesBostal, FrancoScorolli, Alberto LuisZalba, Sergio MartínInvasiones biológicasPastizales naturalesCaballos cimarronesPredaciónhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1The absence of top predators can lead to significant ecological consequences, especially in association with changes in bottom-up ecosystem regulation. In the context of biological invasions, the enemy release hypothesis explains how invasive alien species can reach high densities in the absence of natural antagonists, often leading to negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Feral equids frequently reach problematic densities in natural environments, where their management faces operational and communication challenges. In this study, we evaluated the impact of puma (Puma concolor) presence on the demography of a feral horse (Equus caballus) population in an Argentinian grassland nature reserve. We compared periods with (2023–2024) and without predation (1995–2002). Foal survival was significantly lower in 2023–2024, while adult survival increased compared to 1995–2002. These changes, coupled with direct evidence of puma predation on young horse carcasses, suggest that pumas are affecting population growth rates by reducing recruitment, and may limit population size. Concomitantly, mean female body condition improved in 2023–2024, suggesting that the loss of foals to predation may reduce lactation-related energy costs. These findings suggest that pumas could play an important role in the dynamics of feral horse populations, marking the first documented case of such a regulation in South America. Incorporating predator activity into management strategies could reduce the need for direct interventions, offering a more sustainable approach to controlling the ecological impacts of feral horse populations.Fil: Bostal, Franco. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Scorolli, Alberto Luis. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; ArgentinaFil: Zalba, Sergio Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; ArgentinaElsevier2025-04info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/273676Bostal, Franco; Scorolli, Alberto Luis; Zalba, Sergio Martín; The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses; Elsevier; Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation; 23; 2; 4-2025; 121-1292530-0644CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2530064425000203info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.pecon.2025.05.001info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-10-22T11:56:11Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/273676instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-10-22 11:56:12.275CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses
title The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses
spellingShingle The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses
Bostal, Franco
Invasiones biológicas
Pastizales naturales
Caballos cimarrones
Predación
title_short The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses
title_full The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses
title_fullStr The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses
title_full_unstemmed The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses
title_sort The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Bostal, Franco
Scorolli, Alberto Luis
Zalba, Sergio Martín
author Bostal, Franco
author_facet Bostal, Franco
Scorolli, Alberto Luis
Zalba, Sergio Martín
author_role author
author2 Scorolli, Alberto Luis
Zalba, Sergio Martín
author2_role author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Invasiones biológicas
Pastizales naturales
Caballos cimarrones
Predación
topic Invasiones biológicas
Pastizales naturales
Caballos cimarrones
Predación
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv The absence of top predators can lead to significant ecological consequences, especially in association with changes in bottom-up ecosystem regulation. In the context of biological invasions, the enemy release hypothesis explains how invasive alien species can reach high densities in the absence of natural antagonists, often leading to negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Feral equids frequently reach problematic densities in natural environments, where their management faces operational and communication challenges. In this study, we evaluated the impact of puma (Puma concolor) presence on the demography of a feral horse (Equus caballus) population in an Argentinian grassland nature reserve. We compared periods with (2023–2024) and without predation (1995–2002). Foal survival was significantly lower in 2023–2024, while adult survival increased compared to 1995–2002. These changes, coupled with direct evidence of puma predation on young horse carcasses, suggest that pumas are affecting population growth rates by reducing recruitment, and may limit population size. Concomitantly, mean female body condition improved in 2023–2024, suggesting that the loss of foals to predation may reduce lactation-related energy costs. These findings suggest that pumas could play an important role in the dynamics of feral horse populations, marking the first documented case of such a regulation in South America. Incorporating predator activity into management strategies could reduce the need for direct interventions, offering a more sustainable approach to controlling the ecological impacts of feral horse populations.
Fil: Bostal, Franco. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentina
Fil: Scorolli, Alberto Luis. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina
Fil: Zalba, Sergio Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo; Argentina
description The absence of top predators can lead to significant ecological consequences, especially in association with changes in bottom-up ecosystem regulation. In the context of biological invasions, the enemy release hypothesis explains how invasive alien species can reach high densities in the absence of natural antagonists, often leading to negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Feral equids frequently reach problematic densities in natural environments, where their management faces operational and communication challenges. In this study, we evaluated the impact of puma (Puma concolor) presence on the demography of a feral horse (Equus caballus) population in an Argentinian grassland nature reserve. We compared periods with (2023–2024) and without predation (1995–2002). Foal survival was significantly lower in 2023–2024, while adult survival increased compared to 1995–2002. These changes, coupled with direct evidence of puma predation on young horse carcasses, suggest that pumas are affecting population growth rates by reducing recruitment, and may limit population size. Concomitantly, mean female body condition improved in 2023–2024, suggesting that the loss of foals to predation may reduce lactation-related energy costs. These findings suggest that pumas could play an important role in the dynamics of feral horse populations, marking the first documented case of such a regulation in South America. Incorporating predator activity into management strategies could reduce the need for direct interventions, offering a more sustainable approach to controlling the ecological impacts of feral horse populations.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-04
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/273676
Bostal, Franco; Scorolli, Alberto Luis; Zalba, Sergio Martín; The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses; Elsevier; Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation; 23; 2; 4-2025; 121-129
2530-0644
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/273676
identifier_str_mv Bostal, Franco; Scorolli, Alberto Luis; Zalba, Sergio Martín; The comeback of a top predator and its effects on a population of feral horses; Elsevier; Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation; 23; 2; 4-2025; 121-129
2530-0644
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/url/https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2530064425000203
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.pecon.2025.05.001
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
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score 12.982451

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