A review of current and prospective findings concerned with the
‘Landscape of Fear’ concept and its implications
Abstract
The capacity and extent to which prey species forage is often dependent
on the temporal and/or spatial distribution of predators. Predation risk
within a given habitat may differ according to the structure of the
landscape and ecological community. Predators may frequent selected
habitat patches and it is these areas prey are expected to avoid. Aside
from the direct removal of prey individuals through predation, the
density of prey populations may be altered as a result of a perceived
predator presence and the energetically expensive responses initiated. A
predator presence may be perceived upon the detection of sensory
environmental cues, including a predator’s pheromones. The Landscape of
Fear (LOF) concept proposes the exposure to a real or perceived
predation threat may disrupt prey distribution and activity. Such an
environment may be referred to as a ‘landscape of fear’, though the
interspecies complexes and abiotic factors affecting a predator-prey
relationship should not be omitted when quantifying the effects of
predation. Here, we summarise the initial and more recent publications
addressing the LOF theory, identifying known aspects and potential for
future research.