Both more » species are obligate scavengers that co-occur across much of the New World. Our goal was to assess how differences in physiological, morphological, and social characteristics between sympatric black vultures ( Coragyps atratus) and turkey vultures ( Cathartes aura) manifest interspecific variation in movement patterns, foraging habitats, and carcass use to reduce direct competition. Previous work has focused on observations of species’ interactions at carcasses, and although fruitful, the inclusion of behavior beyond that at carcasses, such as movement patterns, could yield a more comprehensive understanding of mechanisms of foraging niche partitioning. « lessĪs carrion feeders competing for a limited and ephemeral resource, avian scavengers are ideal model organisms to study mechanisms of niche partitioning. Because some scavengers readily consumed carrion on roads, this resource has the potential to influence the ecology of these species. We suggest that scavenger use of carrion near roads at this location during winter relates to factors other than carrion availability. Turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) and coyotes (Canis latrans) scavenged equally across treatments, whereas gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) scavenged along roads and power lines, but not in forests. No species arrived at roads quicker than other treatments. There was no difference in proportion of carcasses scavenged or scavenger arrival time across treatments. We used motion-activated cameras to compare arrival times more » and presence of vertebrate scavengers among treatments. We examined scavenging of carrion along linear features by placing 52 rabbit carcasses in each of three treatments in forested habitat during winter (Dec 2016-Mar 2017) in South Carolina, USA: roads, power line clearings (linear feature with fewer carcasses than roads due to lack of road kill), and forest interior. Scavengers may use roads for reliable foraging opportunities, but might also use roads for other purposes and encounter carrion opportunistically. Wildlife-vehicle collisions introduce a considerable amount of carrion into the environment, but scavenger use of this resource has not been extensively investigated. Our results highlight the intricacy of carrion-derived food web linkages, and how consideration of spatial complexity in carcass distribution (i.e., arboreal) may reveal important pathways of nutrient acquisition by invertebrate and vertebrate scavenging = , Rat snakes (Elaphe obsolete), which exclusively scavenged from trees, and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) were the primary scavengers of arboreal carrion, suggesting such resources are potentially an important pathway of nutrient acquisition for some volant and scansorial vertebrates. Nonetheless, six vertebrate species scavenged arboreal carcasses. Carrion placed on the ground was scavenged by a greater diversity of vertebrates and at > 2 times the rate of arboreal carcasses, suggesting arboreal carrion may represent an important resource to invertebrate scavengers, particularly in landscapes with efficient vertebrate scavenging communities. We used cameras to record scavengers removing carcasses and elapsed time to removal. We tested this hypothesis by experimentally placing juvenile bird carcasses on the ground and in nests in trees to simulate scenarios of nestling bird carrion availability. Although vertebrate scavenger efficiency and species composition is likely influenced by the spatial complexity of environments, heterogeneity in carrion distribution has largely been disregarded in scavenging studies. By eating dead organisms, they help to recycle the minerals in their bodies back into the ecosystem.Scavenging plays an important role in shaping communities through inter- and intra-specific interactions. Scavengers play an important role in desert ecosystems. Even sedentary animals are capable of traveling efficiently over long distances to increase their chances of detecting food. Vultures have also evolved into bald creatures, which helps them to stay clean while inserting their heads into dead animals. Vultures have a strong sense of smell, which is a rare trait among other bird species. For example, coyotes and foxes have a strong sense of smell, which helps them to locate carcasses. Scavengers often have adaptations that aid their scavenging habits. However, some scavengers, such as some insects, consume dead plants instead. Sometimes, scavengers subsist on food that carnivores killed. The primary difference between the two groups is that carnivores typically hunt and kill their prey, while scavengers eat dead or nearly dead prey. Scavengers are a type of consumer, just as carnivores are.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |