Abstrakt
The aim of this chapter is to review empirical studies testing the hypothesis that habitat fragmentation alters the pattern of predator-prey interactions. First, we will briefly discuss methodological approaches associated with field studies concerning distribution of predators and of predation risk.
Next, we will discuss potential mechanisms that contribute to altering predation patterns in fragmented landscapes. In particular, we will discuss mechanisms underlining the widely supported facts that abundances of various predator species increase with landscape fragmentation and that fragmentation affects prey populations via increased predation pressure along habitat edges.
We will also consider whether the pattern of predation induced by habitat fragmentation is consistent across large geographic scales. Finally, we will point out the main aspects of this topic that are not sufficiently supported by empirical data and highlight possible directions for further research in this field.