Vertebrate scavenging dynamics differ between carnivore and herbivore carcasses in the northern boreal forest

Peers, Michael J. L.; Konkolics, Sean M.; Majchrzak, Yasmine N.; Menzies, Allyson K.; Studd, Emily K.; Boonstra, Rudy; Boutin, Stan; Lamb, Clayton T.

doi:10.1002/ecs2.3691

Cited by 7 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…We distinctly tested assumptions regarding carrion avoidance behaviors and scavenger sensory recognition mechanisms in our study using a robust sample size of a common North American carnivore species. Our findings further support carcass types from different trophic levels are used differently by vertebrate scavengers, and that mammalian carnivore carrion is avoided broadly by other mammal carnivores 12 , 18 , 28 . The longer persistence times of carnivore carrion likely plays a role in the transfer of higher trophic level carrion nutrients into soil microbial, plant, and invertebrate communities 17 , 35 , 56 .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

“…Several scavenging studies have used carcasses that were not fully intact including partially or fully skinned, eviscerated, and/or head and feet removed 18 , 27 , 28 . Yet, few of these assessed how these alterations, and thus external characteristics and associated chemical stimuli, influence scavengers’ feeding decisions (but see Moleón et al 12 and Selva et al 29 ), and most had limited sample sizes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although some studies have investigated potential factors contributing to avoidance behaviors, such as risk of contracting a disease, these assumptions and the mechanisms through which scavengers distinguish carcass types have not been thoroughly assessed.One factor that can contribute to carrion avoidance is carcass type, as the species or taxa of a carcass has been shown to affect the rate of carrion consumption and scavenger community composition 12,[14][15][16] . Studies that have used both carnivore and herbivore carrion have found carnivore carcasses are generally scavenged less frequently and by fewer vertebrate species 12,17,18 . Reduced scavenging rates of higher trophic level carrion might reflect an effort to lessen exposure to diseases by avoiding scavenging on conspecifics or species within guilds, as the risk of pathogen transmission increases when consuming phylogenetically similar species 12,19 .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion

Butler-Valverde

DeVault

Rhodes

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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The selection or avoidance of certain carrion resources by vertebrate scavengers can alter the flow of nutrients in ecosystems. Evidence suggests higher trophic level carrion is scavenged by fewer vertebrate species and persists longer when compared to lower trophic level carrion, although it is unclear how scavengers distinguish between carcasses of varying species. To investigate carnivore carrion avoidance and explore sensory recognition mechanisms in scavenging species, we investigated scavenger use of intact and altered (i.e., skin, head, and feet removed) coyote—Canis latrans (carnivore) and wild pig—Sus scrofa (omnivore) carcasses experimentally placed at the Savannah River Site, SC, USA. We predicted carnivore carcasses would persist longer due to conspecific and intraguild scavenger avoidance. Further, we hypothesized visually modifying carcasses would not reduce avoidance of carnivore carrion, given scavengers likely depend largely on chemical cues when assessing carrion resources. As expected, mammalian carnivores largely avoided scavenging on coyote carcasses, resulting in carnivore carcasses having longer depletion times than wild pig carcasses at intact and altered trials. Therefore, nutrients derived from carnivore carcasses are not as readily incorporated into higher trophic levels and scavengers largely depend on olfactory cues when assessing benefits and risks associated with varying carrion resources.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion

Butler-Valverde

DeVault

Rhodes

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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“…We found that carnivore carcasses persisted longer and showed lower consumption rates than herbivore carcasses (Oliva‐Vidal et al 2021, Peers et al 2021). However, contrary to our predictions, we detected no differences in species richness, abundance and detection time between herbivore and carnivore carcasses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Scavenging in changing environments: woody encroachment shapes rural scavenger assemblages in Europe

Oliva‐Vidal

Sebastián‐González

Margalida

2022

Oikos

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Rural abandonment and subsequent vegetation regeneration ('passive rewilding') are expected to increase worldwide, producing cascades of dynamic socioeconomic, landscape and biological changes. Although landscape characteristics strongly influence the structure and functioning of scavengers, little is known about the ecological consequences of passive rewilding due to woody encroachment (i.e.'landscape closure') on scavenging assemblages. We investigated differences in 'scavenger assemblage composition' (species richness and abundances) and 'scavenging efficiency' (scavenging frequency, detection and consumption times and consumption rates) in a mountain agroecosystem (Pyrenees) undergoing passive rewilding. We monitored 178 carcasses in three landscapes: 'open', 'shrubland' and 'forest', and evaluated the effects of landscape type on 'scavenger assemblage composition' and 'scavenging efficiency' at the community and species levels, while accounting for the influences of carcass size, type and placement time. We also examined whether the locally most abundant and efficient scavenger (i.e. the griffon vulture Gyps fulvus) affects scavenging patterns. We found that landscape type was the main factor governing scavenging dynamics. Overall and average scavenger richness were similar in open and shrubland landscapes, while forests contained the lowest number of scavengers, mainly comprising mammals. Unlike mammals, avian scavenging frequency decreased as vegetation cover increased, especially for obligate scavengers (i.e. vultures). Scavenger abundances were highest in open landscapes, and carcasses were detected and consumed more rapidly in these landscapes. Carcass size did not influence detection and consumption times, although it did affect average scavenger richness, abundances and consumption rates. Consumption rates were higher in open landscapes and were strongly associated with the presence of griffon vultures. Interestingly, we found that griffon vultures influenced scavenging dynamics via facilitation processes. However, woody encroachment could reduce the scavenging role of this species, while favoring mammalian facultative scavengers. Finally, our findings highlight the pivotal role of griffon vultures, mediated by landscape characteristics, in reducing carcass persistence.

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“…Studies have shown that mammalian carnivores tend to avoid scavenging fresh carcasses from conspecifics or closely related species, which is likely to reduce the risk of parasitic infection (Gonzálvez et al., 2021). In the boreal forests of Canada, even in winter when prey is scarce, it took longer for vertebrate scavengers to initiate scavenging of carnivore carcasses than herbivore carcasses and carnivore carcasses persisted in the landscape for longer periods than herbivore carcasses (Peers et al., 2021). At our study site, brown bears and Japanese martens visited raccoon carcasses but never scavenged them in the summer (Table S2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intraguild scavenging on carnivore carcasses is delayed enough to allow successful dispersal of maggots for pupation

2023

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Vertebrate carcasses are a valuable resource for a wide range of organisms, although their consumption rates can vary greatly by the type of carcasses. Studies have indicated that mammalian carnivores rarely consume carnivore carcasses, particularly in the early stages of decay, and thus these carcasses may potentially serve as a reproductive resource for necrophagous arthropods such as blowflies. However, it is unknown whether delays in consumption by carnivores are sufficient for necrophagous arthropods to complete their life cycle in the carcasses. This study addressed this question by monitoring 69 raccoon carcasses using camera traps in Yakumo, southern Hokkaido, Japan, during the summer seasons of 2016–2019. The decay stages of the carcasses were categorized by carefully observing the videos captured by the camera traps, and the timing of maggot dispersion was estimated. The first visitation and first consumption of vertebrate scavengers were also modelled, and the proportion of carcasses visited or consumed by vertebrate scavengers prior to maggot dispersion was determined each year. The proportion of carcasses visited by vertebrate scavengers before maggot dispersal ranged between c. 50% in 2017 and c. 30% in other years. However, only c. 20% of carcasses in each year were consumed before maggot dispersal, and consumption was only partial. The first species to scavenge at carcasses were red foxes and raccoon dogs, with the exception of two carcasses that were first scavenged by large‐billed crows. These results suggest that while delayed visitation of carcasses may partly explain delayed consumption, active avoidance of phylogenetically related species may increase the chances of successful maggot dispersal. Our approach of using careful video observations and statistical modelling may apply to a wide range of habitats and could improve our understanding of the ecological consequences of the taboo against cannibalism.

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Vertebrate scavenging dynamics differ between carnivore and herbivore carcasses in the northern boreal forest

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion

Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion

Scavenging in changing environments: woody encroachment shapes rural scavenger assemblages in Europe

Intraguild scavenging on carnivore carcasses is delayed enough to allow successful dispersal of maggots for pupation

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