The generality of cryptic dietary niche differences in diverse large-herbivore assemblages

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 119(35)

Опубликована: Авг. 22, 2022

Ecological niche differences are necessary for stable species coexistence but often difficult to discern. Models of dietary differentiation in large mammalian herbivores invoke the quality, quantity, and spatiotemporal distribution plant tissues growth forms agnostic toward food identity. Empirical support these models is variable, suggesting that additional mechanisms resource partitioning may be important sustaining large-herbivore diversity African savannas. We used DNA metabarcoding conduct a taxonomically explicit analysis diets across southeastern Africa, analyzing ∼4,000 fecal samples 30 from 10 sites seven countries over 6 y. detected 893 taxa 124 families, just two families—grasses legumes—accounted majority herbivore diets. Nonetheless, almost invariably partitioned taxa; diet composition differed significantly 97% pairwise comparisons between sympatric species, dissimilarity was pronounced even strictest grazers (grass eaters), browsers (nongrass closest relatives at each site. Niche weakest an ecosystem recovering catastrophic defaunation, indicating driven by interactions, stronger low rainfall, as expected if interspecific competition predominant driver. Diets more than grazers, which predictably shaped community organization: Grazer-dominated trophic networks had higher nestedness lower modularity. That structured along taxonomic lines complements prior work on how partition parts patches suggests common govern assembly

Язык: Английский

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Food webs reveal coexistence mechanisms and community organization in carnivores

Current Biology, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 33(4), С. 647 - 659.e5

Опубликована: Янв. 19, 2023

Язык: Английский

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Cascading effects of top predator changes in a seagrass bed under selective fishing

Ecological Processes, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 14(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 20, 2025

Abstract Background With the widespread promotion of selective fishing which may target top predatory fishes, abundance and species composition predators could change, further impact at lower trophic levels through a chain cascading interactions. However, top-down effects changes in predator communities driven by remain poorly investigated. Methods Focusing on seagrass ecosystem, we investigated how two coexisting ( Lateolabrax japonicus Acanthogobius ommaturus ) under different scenarios would affect field manipulative experiment. Results We found that niches A. L. overlapped greatly, although not completely. If loss led to increases , abundances herbivorous benthos Barleeia bureri increased likely owing ’s suppression low-level predators, while epiphyte biomass decreased significantly disturbance seagrasses sediments. both were depleted, biomasses Cyclina sinensis B. absence predators’ sediments, did change. Conclusions Our study showed one lead rapid beds, depending in, or non-trophic (including biological disturbances) of, its competitors. Therefore, fisheries resource management, ecological impacts selectively must be managed considering competitors where present.

Язык: Английский

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A dataset on the morphological, life-history and ecological traits of the mammals in China

Biodiversity Science, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 30(2), С. 21520 - 21520

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2022

Species traits reflect the species' ecological function and fitness.The trait data play a vital role in studying biodiversity maintenance loss, species evolution adaptation, interactions processes, ecosystem functions, responses to both climate change human pressures.China is one of countries with richest mammal diversity world, so far, there no comprehensive resource morphological, life history, geographical distribution mammals China.We compiled 24 754 Chinese (including recently regional extinct those disputed taxonomy distribution) between 2008 2021 through systematic literature review dataset integration, referred mammalian monographs field guides.The main sources used completing were: history were retrieved from A Field Guide Mammals China (Pan et al, 2007), (Smith & Xie, 2009), database (COMBINE: COalesced Mammal dataBase INtrinsic Extrinsic traits, Soria 2021), zoogeographical regionalization type searched Animal Geography (Zhang, 2011), provinces threatened category cited China's Red List

Язык: Английский

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Big cats persisting in human-dominated landscape: Habitat suitability and connectivity of leopards in central North China

Landscape Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 39(5)

Опубликована: Апрель 23, 2024

Abstract Context The leopard ( Panthera pardus ), the only large carnivore species occurring in central North China, has undergone substantial range contraction and population decline due to anthropogenic pressure across region. Objectives In this study, we aimed map its current suitable habitats assess degree of connectivity between core inform future conservation planning big cat at landscape scale. Methods We conducted study China (34°11´ ~ 43°49´N, 103°11´ 123°54´E, about 936,000 km 2 ). collected occurrence locations (N = 196) leopards from 2014–2020, modeled habitat suitability using an “ensemble” distribution model by incorporating environmental variables. then identified potential dispersal corridors patches (≥ 100 ) through analysis. Results preferred humid forests higher elevations with less human disturbance. Their were highly fragmented, main located Shanxi, Shaanxi, border Gansu Ningxia provinces. Among all 8,679 habitats, 14 (139–1,084 , mean 495.21 a total area 6,933 among which 25.26% (1,751 are covered nature reserves 11 confirmed occurrence. also 8 least-cost pathways these average length 57.22 km. Conclusions Our results revealed that, persisting fragmented fragile habitats. remaining should be considered managed as regional meta-population for their long-term persistence human-dominated landscape.

Язык: Английский

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Free‐ranging livestock affected the spatiotemporal behavior of the endangered snow leopard (Panthera uncia)

Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(4)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2023

Abstract Long recognized as a threat to wildlife, particularly for large carnivores, livestock grazing in protected areas can potentially undermine conservation objectives. The interspecific interactions among livestock, snow leopards ( Panthera uncia ), and their wild prey fragile Asian highland ecosystems have been subject of debate. We strategically deployed 164 camera traps the Wolong National Nature Reserve systematically investigate activities leopards, primary ungulate species, free‐ranging livestock. found that leopard habitat use was influenced by both Blue sheep served main spatially attracted coexisted with yaks while significantly restricted temporally spatially. This study challenges conventional understanding indirectly impacts carnivores competing displacing prey. Our findings highlight within alpine canyon terrain could directly limit use, suggesting potential risk reducing apex predator distribution jeopardizing populations. Consequently, managing coexistence shared habitats requires more nuanced approach. Furthermore, our research underscores importance further efforts aimed at enhancing comprehension complex interplay animal communities ecosystems. knowledge will contribute development informed, evidence‐based strategies policies.

Язык: Английский

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Dietary diversity and niche partitioning of carnivores across the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau of China using DNA metabarcoding

Journal of Mammalogy, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 103(5), С. 1005 - 1018

Опубликована: Апрель 28, 2022

Abstract Understanding predator guild resource use is vital for carnivore species preservation and ecosystem function in high-altitude landscapes. We describe the dietary composition, similarity, niche overlap seven across three regions of Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (Qilian Shan, East Burhanbuda Mountain, Yushu) using DNA metabarcoding 760 scat samples. Analyses found 33 unique prey items representative classes Mammalia, Aves, Actinopterygii. Blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) pika (Ochotona sp.) were most frequently detected. Livestock diets ranged from 4% to 7% depending on site, but accounted 21.7% Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus) diet. Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), fox (Vulpes ferrilata), Pallas’s cat (Otocolobus manul), snow leopard (Panthera uncia) had highly uneven diets. Intraguild predation mesocarnivores by apex carnivores was found. Analysis Pianka’s index showed that significantly greater than expected among all examined between mesocarnivores, though significant correlations body mass suggested broad separation consumed prey. Snow consistently similar any two given pairs. This study provides evidence high overlap. Protection a wide variety will benefit guilds area assist maintaining relatively low frequency livestock predation. work insight into dynamics living an has worldwide impacts, methods herein could be applied global scales conservation efforts.

Язык: Английский

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Can the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) be used as an effective sampler of fish diversity? Using molecular assessment of otter diet to survey fish communities

Metabarcoding and Metagenomics, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 7

Опубликована: Фев. 21, 2023

The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra is a generalist carnivore that widely distributed in many aquatic ecosystems. Based on its inherent attributes of opportunistic foraging behaviour and broad dietary range, it naturally considered potential sampler the diversity vertebrates. To test ability efficiency otters as sampler, we used DNA metabarcoding to investigate composition vertebrates diet inhabit forest stream area northeast China. Twenty vertebrate prey taxa were detected 98 spraints. Otter mainly comprised fishes (59.4%) amphibians (39.0%). We also traditional approaches fish communities at 60 sampling sites same determine relationship between population environment diet. comparison revealed 28 species this area, which five are simultaneously This indicates molecular analysis not an ideal approach for investigating diversity, least when using 12SV5 primer pair. review available research diet, conclude low resolution may be due presence closely-related native habitats lack suitable barcodes. Considering remarkable power capturing elusive rare species, represents can compensate defects associated with fishing methods suggest auxiliary means measuring diversity.

Язык: Английский

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Patterns of predation by the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx throughout its range: ecological and conservation implications

Mammal Review, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 53(3), С. 177 - 188

Опубликована: Май 15, 2023

ABSTRACT Predation on ungulates exposes large predators to conflicts with farmers and hunters if they kill livestock shared game species. Therefore, it is crucial know the drivers of predation prey, understand how differ from smaller prey reveal general large‐scale patterns. We tested three hypotheses in global Eurasian lynx Lynx population: 1) consumption hares increases their densities, 2) effects predictors ungulate hare between continents, latitudes, longitudes landscapes, 3) are generally applicable regardless study materials (scats, carcasses intestinal tracts). collected information 70 publications, including data 174 cases (107 Europe 67 Asia) 114 sites 30 countries, mainly Russia (73 46 sites). Linear regression logit‐transformed logistic were used test hypotheses. found that made up more than half diet areas containing at least 570 individual ungulates/100 km 2 and/or located south 56°N. Predominance could be related higher availability main medium‐sized species, presence (mixed) broadleaf deciduous forests open spaces providing optimal hunting conditions. No significant by revealed, possibly because a small sample size density habitats, fluctuations instability as food resource, declines some populations separation habitat use hares. conclude an adaptable predator, not lagomorph specialist; throughout its range, takes according availability. The practical nonlethal interventions important limit domestic (livestock game) for lynx, promote human‐lynx coexistence.

Язык: Английский

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Different coexistence patterns between apex carnivores and mesocarnivores based on temporal, spatial, and dietary niche partitioning analysis in Qilian Mountain National Park, China

eLife, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 13

Опубликована: Янв. 24, 2024

Carnivores play key roles in maintaining ecosystem structure and function as well ecological processes. Understanding how sympatric species coexist natural ecosystems is a central research topic community ecology biodiversity conservation. In this study, we explored intra- interspecific niche partitioning along spatial, temporal, dietary between apex carnivores (wolf Canis lupus , snow leopard Panthera uncia Eurasian lynx Lynx ) mesocarnivores (Pallas’s cat Otocolobus manul red fox Vulpes vulpes Tibetan ferrilata Qilian Mountain National Park, China, using camera trapping data DNA metabarcoding sequencing data. Our study showed that carnivore had more overlap temporally (coefficients of ranging from 0.661 to 0.900) or trophically (Pianka’s index 0.458 0.892), mesocarnivore high with each other 0.945 0.997), temporal 0.497 0.855). Large was observed wolf = 0.892) Pallas’s suggesting the potential for increased resource competition these pairs. We concluded spatial likely driver facilitating coexistence species, while facilitate species. findings consider across dimensions examining diverse patterns China. These will contribute substantially current understanding guilds effective conservation management fragile alpine ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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