Moving to stay in place: behavioral mechanisms for coexistence of African large carnivores

Ecology, Journal Year: 2013, Volume and Issue: 94(11), P. 2619 - 2631

Published: May 30, 2013

Most ecosystems have multiple predator species that not only compete for shared prey, but also pose direct threats to each other. These intraguild interactions are key drivers of carnivore community structure, with ecosystem‐wide cascading effects. Yet, behavioral mechanisms coexistence remain poorly understood. The challenges studying large, free‐ranging carnivores resulted in mainly coarse‐scale examination strategies without information about all interacting competitors. We overcame some these by examining the concurrent fine‐scale movement decisions almost individuals four large mammalian a closed terrestrial system. found intensity did follow simple hierarchical allometric pattern, because spatial and tactics subordinate changed threat resource levels across seasons. Lions ( Panthera leo ) were generally unrestricted anchored themselves areas rich their principal also, during periods limitation (dry season), main prey other carnivores. Because this, greatest cost (potential predation) was spatially coupled highest potential benefit acquisition (prey‐rich areas), especially dry season. Leopard P. pardus cheetah Acinonyx jubatus overlapped home range lions minimized risk using fine‐scaled avoidance behaviors restricted tactics. competition most apparent cheetahs, wet season, as energetically rewarding (wildebeest) avoided when they highly activity lions. Contrary expectation, smallest (African wild dog, Lycaon pictus avoid lions, used minimize encountering Intraguild thus forced dogs into lowest availability year round. Coexistence has typically been explained dietary niche separation, our multi‐scaled results suggest differences may instead be consequence avoiding competition. generate more realistic representation ultimately drive explicit trophic structures multi‐predator communities.

Language: Английский

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Mesopredator spatial and temporal responses to large predators and human development in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 190, P. 23 - 33

Published: June 3, 2015

Human-driven declines of apex predators can trigger widespread impacts throughout ecological communities. Reduced predator occupancy or activity release mesopredators from intraguild competition, with unknown repercussions on the community. As exurban development continues to expand worldwide, it is important document how are impacted by combined influences and humans. We used motion-detecting camera traps examine spatial temporal patterns meso- in a fragmented landscape California. hypothesized that both partitioning among carnivore guild would be affected varied levels human influence. found higher residential reduced puma but was not related mesopredators. Bobcats, grey foxes, Virginia opossums were detected more often at sites occupied pumas, whereas coyotes raccoons less often. The detection probabilities smaller coyotes, dominant mesopredator, magnitude direction these correlations differed depending upon occupancy. also species altered their activities temporally locations use, bobcats reducing diurnal increasing nocturnal ones. These shifts reflected between competitors, effects interactions prey Our results suggest alters community structure through direct indirect pathways. Therefore effective conservation requires an understanding respond varying anthropogenic influences.

Language: Английский

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Occupancy patterns and niche partitioning within a diverse carnivore community exposed to anthropogenic pressures

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 158, P. 301 - 312

Published: Nov. 29, 2012

Language: Английский

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Fear of the dark or dinner by moonlight? Reduced temporal partitioning among Africa's large carnivores

Ecology, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 93(12), P. 2590 - 2599

Published: June 7, 2012

Africa is home to the last intact guild of large carnivores and thus provides only opportunity investigate mechanisms coexistence among predator species. Strong asymmetric dominance hierarchies typically characterize guilds carnivores; but despite this asymmetry, subdominant species may persist alongside their stronger counterparts through temporal partitioning habitat resources. In African guild, wild dogs cheetahs are routinely described as diurnal crepuscular. These activity patterns have been interpreted result from need avoid encounters with stronger, nocturnal spotted hyenas lions. However, idea that diel carnivore strongly shaped by competition predation has recently challenged new observations. a three-year study in Okavango Delta, we investigated daily for dogs, cheetahs, lions fitting radio collars continuously recorded bursts, total 25 individuals. Analysis throughout 24-h cycle revealed an unexpectedly high degree overlap four This was mainly due extensive previously undescribed cheetahs. Their fluctuated lunar cycle, represented up 40% budget primarily constrained moonlight availability. contrast, were unaffected remained constant over cycle. Our results suggest other ecological factors such optimal hunting conditions subdominant, predators. We they "starvation driven" must exploit every obtain meal. The benefits on moonlit nights therefore offset risks encountering night-active predators competitors.

Language: Английский

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Effects of predator control on behaviour of an apex predator and indirect consequences for mesopredator suppression

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 49(6), P. 1278 - 1286

Published: Oct. 4, 2012

Summary Apex predators can benefit ecosystems through top–down control of mesopredators and herbivores. However, apex are often subject to lethal aimed at minimizing attacks on livestock. Lethal affect both the abundance behaviour predators. These changes could in turn influence mesopredators. We used remote camera surveys nine pairs large Australian rangeland properties, comparing properties that controlled dingoes Canis lupus dingo with did not, test effects predator activity evaluate responses a mesopredator, feral cat Felis catus . Indices were generally reduced practiced control, comparison paired although effect size was variable. Dingoes uncontrolled populations crepuscular, similar major prey. In became less active around dusk, concentrated period shortly before dawn. Shifts indices between without inversely related corresponding shifts abundance. There also negative relationship visitation rates individual stations, suggesting cats avoided areas where locally common. Reduced by dusk associated higher dusk. Our results suggest effective not only leads cats, but allows them optimize hunting when active. This double amplify impacts prey species selected cats. managed for conservation, stable may thus contribute management objectives restricting access populations. Synthesis applications Predator reduces modify their behaviour. Hence, indicators other than abundance, such as behavioural patterns, should be considered estimating predator's capacity effectively interact lower trophic guilds. Changes relax limitations mesopredators, providing enhanced resources

Language: Английский

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The Lion King and the Hyaena Queen: large carnivore interactions and coexistence

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 90(4), P. 1197 - 1214

Published: Dec. 20, 2014

ABSTRACT Interactions among species, which range from competition to facilitation, have profound effects on ecosystem functioning. Large carnivores are of particular importance in shaping community structure since they at the top food chain, and many efforts made conserve such keystone species. Despite this, mechanisms carnivore interactions far understood, yet key enabling or hindering their coexistence hence highly relevant for conservation. The goal this review is thus provide detailed information extents facilitation between large impact life histories. Here, we use example spotted hyaenas ( Crocuta crocuta ) lions Panthera leo a comprehensive knowledge based meta‐analyses available literature (148 publications). strong potential both exploitation interference (range diet overlap, intraguild predation kleptoparasitism), underline some facilitating (different prey‐age selection scavenging opportunities). We stress fact that prey abundance forming very groups rich ecosystems could negative lions. show complex balance availability within determines predator dominant. However, there still gaps our as spatio‐temporal dynamics interactions. As species' survival becomes increasingly dependent protected areas, where densities can be high, it critical understand inform reintroduction programs area management.

Language: Английский

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Human activity reduces niche partitioning among three widespread mesocarnivores

Oikos, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 127(6), P. 890 - 901

Published: Jan. 16, 2018

Anthropogenic disturbances can constrain the realized niche space of wildlife by inducing avoidance behaviors and altering community dynamics. Human activity might contribute to reduced partitioning carnivores that consume similar resources, both promoting tolerant species while also behavior (e.g. patterns). We investigated influence anthropogenic disturbance on habitat dietary breadth overlap among competing carnivores, explored if altered resource could be explained human‐induced shifts. To describe diets coyotes, bobcat, gray foxes, we designed a citizen science program collect carnivore scat samples in low‐ (‘wildland’) high‐ (‘interface’) human‐use open preserves, obtained diet estimates using DNA metabarcoding approach. Habitat use was determined at locations. found coyotes expanded interface whereas bobcats foxes narrowed measures. High human related increased all mesocarnivore pairs, coyote with small reduction between foxes. The strongest increase which smaller magnitude than their increase. Finally, scats were more likely contain nocturnal prey appeared reduce consumption prey. Our results suggest dominant generalist mesocarnivores may encroach subordinate areas high activity, patterns

Language: Английский

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Spatial and temporal avoidance of risk within a large carnivore guild

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 7(1), P. 189 - 199

Published: Dec. 16, 2016

Abstract Within a large carnivore guild, subordinate competitors (African wild dog, Lycaon pictus , and cheetah, Acinonyx jubatus ) might reduce the limiting effects of dominant (lion, Panthera leo spotted hyena, Crocuta crocuta by avoiding them in space, time, or through patterns prey selection. Understanding how these cope with one other can inform strategies for their conservation. We tested mechanisms niche partitioning promote coexistence quantifying selection use space time all members guild within Liuwa Plain National Park western Zambia. Lions hyenas specialized on wildebeest, whereas dogs cheetahs selected broader diets including smaller less abundant prey. Spatially, showed no detectable avoidance areas heavily used competitors, but avoided lions. Temporally, proportion kills lions did not detectably differ across four periods (day, crepuscular, early night, late night), especially concentrated windows that nighttime hunting hyenas. Our results provide new insight into conditions under which may allow species, African while it does cheetah. Because differences responses to be more prone competitive exclusion (local extirpation), particularly open, uniform ecosystems simple (often wildebeest dominated) communities, where spatial is difficult.

Language: Английский

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Fear of Darkness, the Full Moon and the Nocturnal Ecology of African Lions

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2011, Volume and Issue: 6(7), P. e22285 - e22285

Published: July 20, 2011

Nocturnal carnivores are widely believed to have played an important role in human evolution, driving the need for night-time shelter, control of fire and our innate fear darkness. However, no empirical data available on effects darkness risks predation humans. We performed extensive analysis predatory behavior across lunar cycle largest dataset lion attacks ever assembled found that African lions as sensitive moonlight when hunting humans herbivores most dangerous moon is faint or below horizon. At night, people active between dusk 10:00 pm, thus occur first weeks following full (when rises at least hour after sunset). Consequently, a reliable indicator impending danger, perhaps helping explain why has been subject so many myths misconceptions.

Language: Английский

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Activity patterns of carnivores in the rain forests of Madagascar: implications for species coexistence

Journal of Mammalogy, Journal Year: 2012, Volume and Issue: 93(3), P. 667 - 676

Published: June 28, 2012

Temporal partitioning of activity among sympatric species can be an important mechanism for coexistence. Further, if exotic and native overlap temporally, there is potential direct competition antagonism, which may lead to extirpation. We 1st assessed ecologically similar carnivores Madagascar demonstrated pattern then explored whether in might negative impacts on carnivores. used photographic sampling quantify the temporal patterns at 4 study sites. The 2 smaller-bodied species, Galidia elegans Galidictis fasciata, overlapped minimally; these share a generalist diet, drive their divergent activity. In contrast, medium-sized Fossa fossana Eupleres goudotii, were both highly nocturnal; appear segregated diets. largest carnivore, Cryptoprocta ferox, selectively crepuscular hours, but overall was cathemeral; it notably absent or basically so sites where dogs most abundant active throughout diel cycle. found G. shift from preferred periods presence Viverricula indica. Our results suggest that negatively impact fragmented rain forests.

Language: Английский

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