Invasive trees, roaming dogs, and the fragile balance of Thar’s desert predators
A study finds that invasive mesquite trees and free-ranging dogs are reshaping the Thar’s native carnivore community. Species adapted to thrive only in grasslands, such as the desert fox, avoid habitats dominated by mesquite and adjust their activity to reduce encounters with free-ranging dogs. Managing mesquite spread and controlling free-ranging dogs in sensitive grasslands…