Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana

Abstract Scavenging of carrion shapes ecological landscapes by influencing scavenger population demography, increasing inter- and intra-specific interactions, and generating ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and disease moderation. Previous research found the cues promoting, or the constra...

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Autores principales:	Morgan A. Walker, Maria Uribasterra, Valpa Asher, Wayne M. Getz, Sadie J. Ryan, José Miguel Ponciano, Jason K. Blackburn
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Nature Portfolio 2021
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/72b174608e1f4b9bae5ddcb7f38c35bc
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:72b174608e1f4b9bae5ddcb7f38c35bc2021-12-02T14:21:58ZFactors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana10.1038/s41598-021-83426-32045-2322https://doaj.org/article/72b174608e1f4b9bae5ddcb7f38c35bc2021-02-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-83426-3https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322Abstract Scavenging of carrion shapes ecological landscapes by influencing scavenger population demography, increasing inter- and intra-specific interactions, and generating ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and disease moderation. Previous research found the cues promoting, or the constraints limiting, an individual’s propensity or ability to scavenge vary widely, depending on anthropogenic and environmental factors. Here we investigated differences in scavenging patterns in a complex scavenger guild in Southwestern Montana. We used camera traps established at 13 carcass sites to monitor carcass detection, visitation, and consumption times, during 2016–2018 and generalized linear models to explore the influence of carcass characteristics, habitat features, and seasonality, on carcass selection and scavenging efficiency. We found that scavenger species diversity was higher at higher elevations and in grassland habitats. Scavenging efficiency was influenced inter alia by seasonality, distance to water, and elevation. We found that most carcass consumption was via facultative scavengers (bears, wolves, magpies, Corvus spp.) rather than turkey vultures, the only obligate scavengers in the study area. However, growing populations of turkey vultures may lead to increased competition with facultative scavengers over carrion, and could have cascading effects on food webs in this ecosystem.Morgan A. WalkerMaria UribasterraValpa AsherWayne M. GetzSadie J. RyanJosé Miguel PoncianoJason K. BlackburnNature PortfolioarticleMedicineRScienceQENScientific Reports, Vol 11, Iss 1, Pp 1-10 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Morgan A. Walker Maria Uribasterra Valpa Asher Wayne M. Getz Sadie J. Ryan José Miguel Ponciano Jason K. Blackburn Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana
description	Abstract Scavenging of carrion shapes ecological landscapes by influencing scavenger population demography, increasing inter- and intra-specific interactions, and generating ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and disease moderation. Previous research found the cues promoting, or the constraints limiting, an individual’s propensity or ability to scavenge vary widely, depending on anthropogenic and environmental factors. Here we investigated differences in scavenging patterns in a complex scavenger guild in Southwestern Montana. We used camera traps established at 13 carcass sites to monitor carcass detection, visitation, and consumption times, during 2016–2018 and generalized linear models to explore the influence of carcass characteristics, habitat features, and seasonality, on carcass selection and scavenging efficiency. We found that scavenger species diversity was higher at higher elevations and in grassland habitats. Scavenging efficiency was influenced inter alia by seasonality, distance to water, and elevation. We found that most carcass consumption was via facultative scavengers (bears, wolves, magpies, Corvus spp.) rather than turkey vultures, the only obligate scavengers in the study area. However, growing populations of turkey vultures may lead to increased competition with facultative scavengers over carrion, and could have cascading effects on food webs in this ecosystem.
format	article
author	Morgan A. Walker Maria Uribasterra Valpa Asher Wayne M. Getz Sadie J. Ryan José Miguel Ponciano Jason K. Blackburn
author_facet	Morgan A. Walker Maria Uribasterra Valpa Asher Wayne M. Getz Sadie J. Ryan José Miguel Ponciano Jason K. Blackburn
author_sort	Morgan A. Walker
title	Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana
title_short	Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana
title_full	Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana
title_fullStr	Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana
title_full_unstemmed	Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana
title_sort	factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in southwestern montana
publisher	Nature Portfolio
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/72b174608e1f4b9bae5ddcb7f38c35bc
work_keys_str_mv	AT morganawalker factorsinfluencingscavengerguildsandscavengingefficiencyinsouthwesternmontana AT mariauribasterra factorsinfluencingscavengerguildsandscavengingefficiencyinsouthwesternmontana AT valpaasher factorsinfluencingscavengerguildsandscavengingefficiencyinsouthwesternmontana AT waynemgetz factorsinfluencingscavengerguildsandscavengingefficiencyinsouthwesternmontana AT sadiejryan factorsinfluencingscavengerguildsandscavengingefficiencyinsouthwesternmontana AT josemiguelponciano factorsinfluencingscavengerguildsandscavengingefficiencyinsouthwesternmontana AT jasonkblackburn factorsinfluencingscavengerguildsandscavengingefficiencyinsouthwesternmontana
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Factors influencing scavenger guilds and scavenging efficiency in Southwestern Montana

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