About the human shield effect

• In recent decades, increasing urbanization has led to ever more non-domesticated animals living in closer proximity to humans. 
• Mesopredators, which include medium-sized carnivorous species, tend to move into human-dominated areas to avoid predation by larger carnivores. This is known as the human shield effect.
• The human shield effect has been observed in a variety of animals, including samango monkeys, zebras, and moose.
• Although this behavior of mesopredators leads to a reduction in mortality from large predators, it increases mortality from human activity.
• Humans can present many dangers, intentional and unintentional, which include poaching, trapping, and destruction of habitat.

Why in News? 

• A recent study revealed that the human-shield effect can be lethal to mesopredators because of increasing threats posed by anthropogenic activities.
• Researchers explained that mesopredator behavior is antithetical because the behavior which leads to a reduction in mortality from large predators increases mortality from human activity.

Related Information

Mesopredators

• Mesopredators are a group of animals that occupy the middle level in the food chain, between top predators and their prey. 
• They are typically medium-sized carnivores that feed on smaller animals but are themselves preyed upon by larger predators.
• They play an important role in regulating the populations of their prey species and can have cascading effects on ecosystem dynamics.
• Mesopredators include foxes, raccoons, coyotes, skunks, etc.