Pacarina Asadobay

1 INTRODUCTION Top predators are a crucial component of any ecosystem since their ecological conditions make them structuring species (Riofrío-Lazo et al., 2021; Sergio et al., 2008). Moreover, they function as sentinel species given that their population conditions reflect the functioning of ecosystem at all trophic levels (Drago et al., 2016; Verity et al., 2002).

Pacarina Asadobay performed the experiments, analyzed the data, prepared figures and/or tables, authored or reviewed drafts of the article, and approved the final draft. Diego O. Urquía conceived and designed the experiments, performed the experiments, analyzed the data, prepared figures and/or tables, authored or reviewed drafts of the article, and approved the final draft. Sven Künzel performed the experiments, authored or reviewed drafts of the article, and approved the final draft. Sebastian A.