Causes and consequences of niche variation in humans and other predators: ecological and evolutionary insight into foraging, fishing and hunting

人类和其他捕食者生态位变异的原因和后果：对觅食、捕鱼和狩猎的生态和进化洞察

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04171
• 负责人: Darimont, Christopher
• 金额: $ 3.42万
• 依托单位: University of Victoria
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=714675
• 关键词: Causes; consequences; niche; variation; humans

The use of resources unites all living organisms, including humans. As a result of competition, however, organisms tend to occupy their own niche comprised of a subset of all available resources. Different species, populations, and even individuals can use distinct resources. We know that such variation has enormous implications to the ecological and evolutionary environments organisms face, and consequently how they look, behave and interact with others. Less well known is what processes can shape, re-shape and maintain this variation in niche. My research group examines this central question by asking how large and naturally fragmented landscapes can influence variation in food niches from the species to individual levels in large mammalian predators. We also study the niche of the most influential mammalian predator of all human beings and the effects hunters and fishers have on their competitors and prey. It is important to understand the behaviour of a predator that consumes the largest variety of prey of any predator, kills at extraordinarily high rates, and targets large reproductive adults within populations. My research program has developed a long-term field system and several literature- and database-focused projects. In the field we study how wolves, black bears, and grizzly bears compete with one another and fisheries for salmon, which comprises a critical central resource. Our database projects examine the global influence of fisheries, subsistence harvesters, and recreational hunters on the ecology and evolution of shared prey. The intended outcomes include providing a rich and productive learning environment for trainees, from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels. Our team will emerge with a better understanding of the causes and consequences of niche variation an under-examined component of biodiversity. In doing so, we aim to provide new insight to ecological and evolutionary theory related to predators and prey. We also seek new information about hunters and fishers to identify management strategies that might reduce harvest-related impacts. Collectively, via engagement with wildlife and fisheries managers, this new knowledge can benefit wildlife, fishes and people of Canada and beyond.

资源的使用将包括人类在内的所有生物体团结在一起。然而，由于竞争的结果，生物体倾向于占据自己的生态位，该生态位由所有可用资源的子集组成。 不同的物种、种群甚至个体可以使用不同的资源。我们知道，这种变异对生物体所面临的生态和进化环境，以及它们的外观、行为和与其他生物的相互作用产生巨大影响。鲜为人知的是，哪些流程可以塑造、重塑和维持这种利基市场的变化。 我的研究小组通过询问大型哺乳动物捕食者的大型和自然破碎的景观对从物种到个体水平的食物生态位的变化有多大影响来研究这个核心问题。 我们还研究全人类最有影响力的哺乳动物捕食者的生态位，以及猎人和渔民对其竞争对手和猎物的影响。了解捕食者的行为非常重要，因为这种捕食者捕食的猎物种类是所有捕食者中种类最多的，捕杀率极高，并且以种群中的大型繁殖成年体为目标。 我的研究项目开发了一个长期的现场系统和几个以文献和数据库为重点的项目。在实地，我们研究狼、黑熊和灰熊如何相互竞争，以及鲑鱼的渔业，鲑鱼是一种重要的核心资源。 我们的数据库项目研究了渔业、自给收割者和休闲狩猎者对共享猎物的生态和进化的全球影响。 预期成果包括为从本科生到博士后的学员提供丰富且富有成效的学习环境。 我们的团队将更好地理解生态位变异的原因和后果，而生态位变异是生物多样性中尚未得到充分研究的组成部分。 在此过程中，我们的目标是为与捕食者和猎物相关的生态和进化理论提供新的见解。我们还寻求有关猎人和渔民的新信息，以确定可能减少与收获相关的影响的管理策略。总的来说，通过与野生动物和渔业管理者的接触，这些新知识可以使加拿大及其他地区的野生动物、鱼类和人民受益。