Predicting Species Interactions From Edge Responses: Mongoose Predation On Hawksbill Sea Turtle Nests In Fragmented Beach Habitat

Main Category: Veterinary
Also Included In: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 23 Jul 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Human land use can fragment landscapes, creating new habitat edges. These edges affect how animals use the landscape and how predators interact with their prey.

Edges of beach vegetation in Barbados create an ecological trap for endangered hawksbill sea turtles: while hawksbills prefer to nest near vegetation, introduced mongooses stay in vegetation and prey on nests near the edge.

Based on the interaction between hawksbills and mongooses, we developed a new general method for predicting the location and severity of predation near edges.

Our study highlights an important consequence of landscape fragmentation and provides a new tool for conservation management.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

www.publishing.royalsociety.org/proceedingsb