The role of variability and risk on the persistence of shared-enemy, predator-prey assemblages (Q2177106)

Little is known today about the extent to which spatial heterogeneity of predators may contribute to resilience in predator-prey interactions such as multi-prey and single-prey communities. The article investigates the influence of heterogeneous environments on the influence of one predator on the stability of prey accumulations. After the introduction of a specific form of the considered predator-prey interaction, a model of predation in heterogeneous environments is presented. It is shown that the coexistence of three types of interaction is impossible in a homogeneous environment. Considering that prey and predators are often not uniformly distributed in nature, the role of spatial heterogeneity is studied as a mechanism that contributes to the preservation of trophic interactions between species. The results are discussed in relation to prey distribution, habitat physical structure, and simpler predator-prey interactions. At the general level, the factors of influence in competitive interactions (whether through a resource or through a natural enemy) are similar. However, the mechanisms operating with the introduction of an additional trophic level become much more complex than the mechanisms operating between competitors for resources. Site definition, boundaries, and perception are becoming critical to understanding the resilience of clear competitors in heterogeneous environments.