Urbanization and Predators: A Systematic Review of the Multifaceted Impacts on Predation Dynamics

Ruixuan Zhu

doi:10.54097/9f9twp95

Authors

Ruixuan Zhu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/9f9twp95

Keywords:

Urbanization, Predator-Prey Dynamics, Urban Ecosystems, Trophic Interactions, Anthropogenic Impacts

Abstract

Urbanization dramatically alters ecosystems, particularly predator-prey dynamics, through human activities, habitat modification and changes to food webs. This systematic review synthesizes current research on how urbanization influences predation success across taxa and ecological contexts. Studies are categorized into three groups: negative, positive, and context-dependent effects. The research studies identified several critical research gaps, including inconsistent methodologies (lack of standardized sampling protocols and variable monitoring duration) and limited long-term data. Standardized research methods and ecologically informed urban planning are essential to understanding how urbanization shapes predator behavior—an understanding critical for maintaining biodiversity, restoring food webs, and fostering sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Bateman PW, Fleming PA. 2012. Big City life: Carnivores in Urban Environments. Le Comber S, editor. Journal of Zoology. 287(1):1–23. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011. 00887. x. https:// zslpublications. onlinelibrary. wiley. com/ doi /full /10.1111/j.1469-7998.2011.00887.x.

[2] Borgmann KL, Rodewald AD. 2004. NEST PREDATION IN AN URBANIZING LANDSCAPE: THE ROLE OF EXOTIC SHRUBS. Ecological Applications. 14(6):1757–1765. doi: https: // doi.org/10.1890/03-5129.

[3] Barber-Meyer, S.M., Mech, L.D., White, P.J., 2008. Elk calf survival and mortality following wolf restoration to Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife Monogr. 169:1-30. https: // doi.org/10.2193/2008-004.

[4] Contesse P, Hegglin D, Gloor S, Bontadina F, Deplazes P. 2004. The Diet of Urban Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and the Availability of Anthropogenic Food in the City of Zurich, Switzerland. Mammalian Biology. 69(2):81–95. doi:https:// doi. org/ 10. 1078/ 1616-5047-00123. https:// www. sciencedirect. com/ science/article/abs/pii/S161650470470107X.

[5] Crooks KR, Soulé ME. 1999. Mesopredator Release and Avifaunal Extinctions in a Fragmented System. Nature. 400 (6744): 563–566. doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/23028.

[6] Donázar JA, Cortés-Avizanda A, Fargallo JA, Margalida A, Moleón M, Morales-Reyes Z, Moreno-Opo R, Pérez-García JM, Sánchez-Zapata JA, Zuberogoitia I, et al. 2016. Roles of Raptors in a Changing World: from Flagships to Providers of Key Ecosystem Services. Ardeola. 63(1):181–234. doi: https:// doi.org/10.13157/arla.63.1.2016.rp8.

[7] Eiserer LA. 2024. Effects of Grass Length and Mowing on Foraging Behavior of the American Robin (turdus Migratorius). Digital Commons @ University of South Florida. [accessed 2025 Apr 23]. https://digitalcommons. usf.edu/ auk/ vol97/ iss3/ 13/.

[8] Ellis KS, Larsen RT, Koons DN. 2020. Dependence of Spatial Scale in Landscape Associations with Cause‐specific Predation of Snowy Plover Nests. Ecosphere. 11(9). doi:https:// doi.org/ 10. 1002/ecs2.3257.

[9] Fischer JD, Cleeton SH, Lyons TP, Miller JR. 2012. Urbanization and the Predation Paradox: the Role of Trophic Dynamics in Structuring Vertebrate Communities. BioScience. 62(9):809–818. doi:https://doi.org/10.1525/bio.2012.62.9.6. https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/article/62/9/809/231335?login=true.

[10] Frey D, Vega K, Zellweger F, Ghazoul J, Hansen D, Moretti M. 2018. Predation Risk Shaped by Habitat and Landscape Complexity in Urban Environments. Stanley M, editor. Journal of Applied Ecology. 55(5):2343–2353. doi:https:// doi.org/ 10. 1111/1365-2664.13189.

[11] Gallo T, Fidino M, Lehrer EW, Magle S. 2019. Urbanization Alters predator-avoidance Behaviours. The Journal of Animal Ecology. 88(5):793–803. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656. 12967. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30822366/.

[12] Gehrt SD, Prange S. 2006. Interference Competition between Coyotes and raccoons: a Test of the Mesopredator Release Hypothesis. Behavioral Ecology. 18(1):204–214. doi: https: //doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arl075.

[13] Hill J, DeVault T, Belant J. 2021. Comparative Influence of Anthropogenic Landscape Pressures on cause-specific Mortality of Mammals. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation. 20(1). doi:https://doi. org/10. 1016/j. pecon. 2021. 10.004. [accessed 2022 Jan 7]. https:// www. sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064421000912#bibl0005.

[14] Leighton, G. R. M., Froneman, W., Serieys, L. E. K. & Bishop, J. M. (2023). Trophic downgrading of an adaptable carnivore in an urbanising landscape. Scientific Reports, 13, Artikel-Nr. 21582. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48711-1

[15] Marzluff JM, Neatherlin E. 2006. Corvid Response to Human Settlements and campgrounds: Causes, consequences, and Challenges for Conservation. Biological Conservation. 130 (2): 301–314. doi:https://doi. org/10.1016/j. biocon. 2005. 12. 026.

[16] Morozov NS. 2022. The Role of Predators in Shaping Urban Bird Populations. 3. Are Predators a Barrier to the Synurbization of Prey Species in Russia's Cities? Biology Bulletin. 49(9):1292–1319. doi:https:// doi.org/ 10.1134/ s10 62359022090230.

[17] Pena JC, Aoki-Gonçalves F, Dáttilo W, Ribeiro MC, MacGregor-Fors I. 2021. Caterpillars' Natural Enemies and Attack Probability in an Urbanization Intensity Gradient across a Neotropical Streetscape. Ecological Indicators. 128:107851. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107851. https:// www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X21005161#:~:text=We%20observed%20that%20in%20streets.

[18] Peng M-H, Hung Y-C, Liu K-L, Neoh K-B. 2020. Landscape Configuration and Habitat Complexity Shape Arthropod Assemblage in Urban Parks. Scientific Reports. 10(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73121-0. https:// www. nature. com/articles/s41598-020-73121-0.pdf.

[19] Philpott SM, Bichier P. 2017. Local and Landscape Drivers of Predation Services in Urban Gardens. Ecological Applications. 27(3):966–976. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1500.

[20] Rodewald AD, Kearns LJ. 2011. Shifts in Dominant Nest Predators along a Rural-to-Urban Landscape Gradient. The Condor. 113(4):899–906. doi:https://doi. org/10. 1525/ cond. 2011. 100132.

[21] Rodewald AD, Kearns LJ, Shustack DP. 2011. Anthropogenic Resource Subsidies Decouple Predator–prey Relationships. Ecological Applications. 21(3):936–943. doi:https://doi. org/ 10. 1890/10-0863.1.

[22] Schmidt SM, Fournier V, Osborn JM, Benson TJ. 2023. Water Depth Influences Survival and Predator‐specific Patterns of Nest Loss in Three Secretive Marsh Bird Species. Ecology and evolution. 13(12). doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10823. [accessed 2024 Apr 17]. https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pmc/ articles/PMC10714062/.

[23] Shochat E. 2004. Credit or debit? Resource Input Changes Population Dynamics of city-slicker Birds. Oikos. 106(3):622–626. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.13159.x.

[24] SHOCHAT E, WARREN P, FAETH S, MCINTYRE N, HOPE D. 2006. From Patterns to Emerging Processes in Mechanistic Urban Ecology. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 21(4):186–191. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2005.11.019. [accessed 2019 Sep 26]. https://www. sciencedirect. com/ science/ article/pii/S0169534705003848.

[25] Stallings CD. 2009. Fishery-Independent Data Reveal Negative Effect of Human Population Density on Caribbean Predatory Fish Communities. Bruno JF, editor. PLoS ONE. 4(5): e5333. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005333.

[26] Thompson CA, Malcolm JR, Patterson BR. 2021. Individual and Temporal Variation in Use of Residential Areas by Urban Coyotes. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9. doi:https:// doi. org/ 10.3389/fevo.2021.687504.

[27] Van Scoyoc A, Smith JA, Gaynor KM, Barker K, Brashares JS. 2023 Feb 7. The Influence of Human Activity on Predator–prey Spatiotemporal Overlap. Journal of Animal Ecology. doi: https:// doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13892.

[28] Vincze E, Seress G, Lagisz M, Nakagawa S, Dingemanse NJ, Sprau P. 2017. Does Urbanization Affect Predation of Bird Nests? A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 5. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2017.00029.

[29] Wolff PJ, Taylor CA, Heske EJ, Schooley RL. 2016. Predation Risk for Crayfish Differs between Drought and Nondrought Conditions. Freshwater Science. 35(1):91–102. doi:https:// doi. org/ 10.1086/683333.