Urbanisation alters processing of marine carrion on sandy beaches

Chantal M Huijbers; Thomas Schlacher; David S Schoeman; M A Weston; R M Connolly

doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.06.004

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Urbanisation alters processing of marine carrion on sandy beaches

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Urbanisation alters processing of marine carrion on sandy beaches

Chantal M Huijbers, Thomas Schlacher, David S Schoeman, M A Weston and R M Connolly

Landscape and Urban Planning, Vol.119, pp.1-8

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.06.004

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Abstract

scavenging

shoreline management

human impacts

food web subsidies

raptors

Sandy shores are highly attractive for urban development. Urbanisation of beaches is, however, not without environmental consequences, but metrics of ecological change along metropolitan coasts are poorly developed. This lack of metrics impedes environmentally effective coastal zone management. Here we test the effects of urbanisation on a pivotal ecological process on sandy shorelines: carrion removal by vertebrate scavengers. Scavenging is a key process linking ocean and land ecosystems via animal carcasses deposited on beaches and subsequently consumed by mostly terrestrial animals. In this study, experimentally placed fish carcasses were monitored with motion-triggered cameras on urban and rural beaches on the east coast of Australia. Urbanisation substantially influenced the structure of the scavenger guild and the frequency of carrion removal within 24 h. Large raptors were abundant on rural beaches where they rapidly detected and consumed carrion (98% of carcasses removed within 24 h). We detected no scavenging activity of raptors on urban beaches, where scavenging birds of prey were functionally replaced by nocturnally foraging, non-native mammals (red fox, Vulpes vulpes) or feral species (cats, dogs) known to threaten beach-dwelling wildlife. Our findings emphasise the value of non-urbanised coastal dunes and sandy beaches as important feeding sites and habitats for iconic and threatened raptors. We also show that human changes in coastal land-use profoundly alter ecological structures and processes on sandy shorelines, aspects that warrant explicit inclusion in landscape management and planning of the coastal strip.

Details

Title: Urbanisation alters processing of marine carrion on sandy beaches
Authors: Chantal M Huijbers (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Thomas Schlacher (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
David S Schoeman (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
M A Weston (Author) - Deakin University
R M Connolly (Author) - Griffith University
Publication details: Landscape and Urban Planning, Vol.119, pp.1-8
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2013
DOI: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.06.004
ISSN: 0169-2046
Copyright note: Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448949102621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Ecology; Environmental Studies; Geography; Geography, Physical; Regional & Urban Planning; Urban Studies

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