Are Dogs Apex Predators?
Yes, dogs are apex predators, but you may find it surprising to learn that humans are apex predators too.
There are many advantages when it comes to being an apex predator. The main one is not having to worry about becoming another animals' dinner.
Humans, at some point in history, found it advantageous to utilize the help of another fellow apex predator like the dog. Dogs found it beneficial too.
This symbiotic relationship has deepened throughout many centuries, and still as of today, dogs and humans continue to benefit from one another.
A Word About Trophic Levels
What are trophic levels? Trophic levels are comparable to steps that are part of a food chain staircase that has a bottom and a top.
Imagine for a moment living in a forest that is teeming with a vast array of plants and animals.
If these plants and animals were classified based on how they gain their energy, you would have at the bottom all the plants, while at the top you would have all the apex predators.
Plants are at the very bottom because they're at the very end of the food chain. In other words, they are considered "producers" because they create their own "food" through sunlight (photosynthesis), water and nutrients/minerals they gain from the soil (as decomposer bacteria, fungi, maggots break down organic material).
On the very next step are several plant-eating animals (herbivores) such as horses, cows, goats, rabbits and deer. Plants are their main source of food and that is how they gain energy.
Next are animals that eat other animals (carnivores) such as wolves and lions. Meat obtained from herbivores such as rabbits or deer is their main source of food and that is how they gain energy. The decomposing remains of such animals provide minerals/nutrients for plants.
Trophic levels therefore depict the various levels of classification that exist to depict how plants and animals gain their energy. In this food chain, the strongest and unrivaled animals are found at the top.
A food web model of energy and mineral nutrient transfer in an ecosystem.
What Are Apex Predators?
Also known as top predators or alpha predators, apex predators are simply animals that are at the very top of the food chain.
In other words, apex predators are not prone to being predated by other animals. They are at the top (the apex, peak) of an ecological pyramid, and therefore, they will not fall prey to other animals.
Predator animals are animals that hunt, capture and feed on other animals ( which are known as prey animals)
In contrast, prey animals are animals that are hunted, captured and eaten by other animals (which are known as predators).
What Animals Are Apex Predators?
Many animals are apex predators. Following is a list of several apex predators.
The African Lion
African lions live in the savannah and prey on large herbivores such as zebras, buffaloes and wildebeests.
The Great White Shark
Great white sharks live in the ocean and prey on many marine creatures such as fish, sea lions and seals.
Polar Bears
Polar bears live in the Arctic regions and primarily prey on seals, but may also prey on other types of marine mammals.
Tigers
As kings of the jungle, tigers are apex predators that live in Asian forests and prey on wild boar and deer.
Crocodiles
Crocodiles live in coastal regions and estuaries, and prey on birds, reptiles and several mammals.
Dinosaurs
Carnivorous dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus were categorized as apex predators considering their size and dietary needs.
Wolves
Wolves prey on several larger herbivores such as
deer, elk, moose, caribou, bison, and muskoxen, depending on the region.
Are Dogs Apex Predators?
Yes, dogs (canis lupus familiaris), as descendants of the grey wolf, are apex predators.
Did you know? Wolves as apex predators have been acting as valuable figures when it comes to the preservation of certain ecosystems such as those of Yellowstone National Park.
When they were removed from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in 2002, this left a strong negative impact on the trophic pyramid.
Basically, what happened is that herbivores increased in numbers and started grazing excessively, impacting the numbers of many plants and reducing food sources for beavers.
By reintroducing wolves in 2015, plants were protected again, as well as the beaver population which also plays a role in maintaining creeks and streams in good working order.
Wolves have also helped other species, such as bears, eagles, ravens and coyotes, which are often found scavenging on prey animal remains from wolf kills.
As such, wolves are considered "keystone predators," meaning that they play a key role in maintaining the right equilibrium among plant and animal populations in the ecosystem.
Riparian willow recovery at Blacktail Creek, Yellowstone National Park after reintroduction of wolves
Humans, Not as Good as Wolves
While humans are considered apex predators with no natural predators of their own, they are not as good as wolves in regulating the populations of other species within their ecosystems.
Actually, to the contrary, humans have been doing more damage than good.
As the dominant species on Earth, humans have overexploited resources, caused habitat destruction and hastened climate change. All of this has negatively impacted many ecosystems worldwide.
As humans, it is crucial to recognize our great responsibility in maintaining the health and balance of our ecosystems through sustainable practices that ensure the long-term coexistence of all living species on Earth.
Dog and human partnership
An Amazing Partnership
Interestingly, humans have relied on other apex predators such as wolves (and in turn domestic dogs), cormorants and several birds of prey in order to successfully hunt down herbivores, birds and fish.
This partnership has provided mutual benefits to both parties. Following are benefits that have been reported in both species (dogs and humans).
Benefits of Dogs to Humans
Below are listed several benefits that have occurred as a result of humans forming a partnership with dogs.
Hunting
The fact that dogs are blessed with superior senses such as sensitive hearing, the uncanny ability to detect movements and a superior sense of smell, have made them valuable hunting companions.
Not only were dogs capable of smelling and tracking down prey, they could also be trained to carry out specific tasks.
For instance, they could alert to the presence of prey by barking (treeing), crouching (setting), or silently pointing, and they could even flush birds out of a bush or capture and retrieve downed birds and then even deliver them with a soft mouth.
Protection
A dog's superior senses along with the dog's natural instincts to alert and protect territory, made them valuable assets for warning humans of any approaching strangers or other dangers.
Their ability to deter intruders or wild animals helped provide humans with a strong sense of security.
Companionship
Although dogs were mostly used for their hunting and guarding abilities, it can't be denied that they also were a wonderful source of companionship.
We have ample proof that, back in the days, dogs were cherished for their sociability, loyalty and emotional intelligence.
The Ability to Outperform Neanderthals
Dogs are also credited for playing a primary role in helping modern humans outcompete Neanderthals.
As they were thriving in Europe, Neanderthals (the closest relatives to humans) were challenged by the arrival of the first modern humans who started to travel away from their evolutionary birthplace in Africa.
Despite their large brains, sturdy bodies and sophisticated tools, with the arrival of modern humans, the number of Neanderthals mysteriously vanished and soon became extinct. This has led to many scientists wondering what happened to them.
One compelling theory is that the Neanderthals’ demise was due to direct competition with the newly arriving modern humans. Yet, these modern humans weren't alone. Their alliance with the first domesticated "wolf-dogs" must have granted an unprecedented degree of success in hunting large Ice Age mammals, providing an ultimately decisive advantage over the Neanderthals.
All of this amazing history is reported in the wonderful book: "The Invaders, How Humans and Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction" by Pat Shipman.
A 14th century French drawing with dogs being used to hunt boar
Human Benefits to Dogs
The partnership between dogs and humans is something amazing, short of one of the most wonderful fables, yet it is all real. We only don't know how it all happened, but there are many theories.
One of them is that, wolves, attracted to human settlements, must have been drawn to more decisive exploration as a result of several potential benefits occurring as a result of lingering around these human-occupied areas.
As they became less and less aggressive or fearful, the process of domestication must have occurred due to the several benefits as follows.
The Presence of Food
By sticking to nearby human settlements, wolves must have realized that humans were capable of providing them with a stable supply of food. Scavenging for food in human settlements required less effort and less risk compared to hunting.
Presence of Shelter
On top of being attracted by the availability of food, wolves were likely also attracted by the physical structures of human settlements which could have offered some shelter or protection.
These structures could have turned handy as den sites that provided shelter and repair from harsh weather conditions.
Reproductive Success
As wolves got more and more acquainted with humans, their ability to thrive and survive increased. Young wolf pups were likely cared for and injured wolves may have been medically treated. This led to significant reproductive success.
What is more, the tamer specimens were the ones to benefit the most, allowing a natural selection of the wolves with the best temperaments, further paving the path towards domestication.
Not an Overnight Process
It's important to realize that as apex predators, wolves didn't turn into mans' best friend overnight.
The process of domestication occurred very gradually, over many generations. The wolves who were the least aggressive and tolerant towards humans were the ones that were more likely to reproduce.
An insight of how the domestication process may have happened is possible by looking at the Farm Fox Experiment.
References:
McKie, Robin (1 March 2015). "How hunting with wolves helped humans outsmart the Neanderthals". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
Shipman, Pat (2015). The invaders : how humans and their dogs drove Neanderthals to extinction. Harvard University Press.
Disclaimer: this article is not meant to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice or behavioral advice. If your dog is acting sick or aggressive please consult with a qualified professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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