Trophic cascades: the role of apex predators in Europe’s modern human-dominated landscapes

Competitive interactions among mammalian carnivores strongly influence the structure and dynamics of ecological communities, thus a thorough understanding of those interactions is important for practical management and conservation purposes. For example, the removal of apex predators can have negative effects at lower trophic levels by allowing populations of mesopredators to increase. Consequently, this can intensify predation pressure on prey species and diminish ecosystem function.

The reintroduction of apex predators (i.e. wolves and lynx) to areas where they have become extinct is a current topic of debate globally. For example, the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone (USA) has helped to recover ecosystems previously impacted upon negatively by high levels of grazing and browsing that affected not only plants but also animal communities. Apex predators such as wolves, lynx and bears are recolonising areas of Europe resulting in human conflict due to new coexistence, sometimes exacerbated by misleading reports of economic impacts of their predation. Further understanding of the role of apex predators on the functioning of ecosystems, their capability to sustain equilibrium between animal groups at lower trophic levels and their potential for an effective approach to passive restoration is required to better inform future management and policy development.

This study will establish a multi-national experiment across European landscapes differing in the densities of apex predators and small scale manipulative experiments (removal or exclusion of meso-carnivores) with the aim of modelling: 1) the interactions between apex predators (i.e. wolves and lynx), meso-predators (e.g. fox) and small mammals (prey) in a range of study areas across Europe; 2) the ecological and anthropogenic determinants of carnivore density in Europe’s modern human-dominated landscapes and; 3) the ecological consequences of the density of apex predators on the functioning of trophic systems.

Entry Criteria
UK 1st Class/2:1 Bachelor’s degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) in Ecology/Zoology or related subject; UK Masters degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) with a minimum of commendation/distinction in Ecology/Zoology or related subject.

In addition, the following skills would be desirable:
1. Previous experience of peer reviewed publication
2. GIS
3. Statistical modelling using R
4. Extensive field experience
5. A driving licence