Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe

In extensive livestock production, high densities may inhibit regulation processes, maintaining high levels of intraspecific competition over time. During competition, individuals typically modify their behaviours, particularly feeding and bite rates, which can therefore be used as indicators of com...

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Autores principales:	Tomás Fernández, Alex Lancaster, Claudio A. Moraga, Sergio Radic-Schilling, Achaz von Hardenberg, Paulo Corti
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	density feeding behaviour bite rate intraspecific competition interspecific competition guanaco Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/f40aaead09a84b1a899ef35f38df9a5e
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:f40aaead09a84b1a899ef35f38df9a5e2021-11-25T16:21:43ZBehavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe10.3390/ani111133332076-2615https://doaj.org/article/f40aaead09a84b1a899ef35f38df9a5e2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/11/3333https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2615In extensive livestock production, high densities may inhibit regulation processes, maintaining high levels of intraspecific competition over time. During competition, individuals typically modify their behaviours, particularly feeding and bite rates, which can therefore be used as indicators of competition. Over eight consecutive seasons, we investigated if variation in herd density, food availability, and the presence of a potential competitor, the guanaco (<i>Lama guanicoe</i>), was related with behavioural changes in domestic sheep in Chilean Patagonia. Focal sampling, instantaneous scan sampling, measures of bite and movement rates were used to quantify behavioural changes in domestic sheep. We found that food availability increased time spent feeding, while herd density was associated with an increase in vigilant behaviour and a decrease in bite rate, but only when food availability was low. Guanaco presence appeared to have no impact on sheep behaviour. Our results suggest that the observed behavioural changes in domestic sheep are more likely due to intraspecific competition rather than interspecific competition. Consideration of intraspecific competition where guanaco and sheep co-graze on pastures could allow management strategies to focus on herd density, according to rangeland carrying capacity.Tomás FernándezAlex LancasterClaudio A. MoragaSergio Radic-SchillingAchaz von HardenbergPaulo CortiMDPI AGarticledensityfeeding behaviourbite rateintraspecific competitioninterspecific competitionguanacoVeterinary medicineSF600-1100ZoologyQL1-991ENAnimals, Vol 11, Iss 3333, p 3333 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	density feeding behaviour bite rate intraspecific competition interspecific competition guanaco Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991
spellingShingle	density feeding behaviour bite rate intraspecific competition interspecific competition guanaco Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 Tomás Fernández Alex Lancaster Claudio A. Moraga Sergio Radic-Schilling Achaz von Hardenberg Paulo Corti Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe
description	In extensive livestock production, high densities may inhibit regulation processes, maintaining high levels of intraspecific competition over time. During competition, individuals typically modify their behaviours, particularly feeding and bite rates, which can therefore be used as indicators of competition. Over eight consecutive seasons, we investigated if variation in herd density, food availability, and the presence of a potential competitor, the guanaco (<i>Lama guanicoe</i>), was related with behavioural changes in domestic sheep in Chilean Patagonia. Focal sampling, instantaneous scan sampling, measures of bite and movement rates were used to quantify behavioural changes in domestic sheep. We found that food availability increased time spent feeding, while herd density was associated with an increase in vigilant behaviour and a decrease in bite rate, but only when food availability was low. Guanaco presence appeared to have no impact on sheep behaviour. Our results suggest that the observed behavioural changes in domestic sheep are more likely due to intraspecific competition rather than interspecific competition. Consideration of intraspecific competition where guanaco and sheep co-graze on pastures could allow management strategies to focus on herd density, according to rangeland carrying capacity.
format	article
author	Tomás Fernández Alex Lancaster Claudio A. Moraga Sergio Radic-Schilling Achaz von Hardenberg Paulo Corti
author_facet	Tomás Fernández Alex Lancaster Claudio A. Moraga Sergio Radic-Schilling Achaz von Hardenberg Paulo Corti
author_sort	Tomás Fernández
title	Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe
title_short	Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe
title_full	Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe
title_fullStr	Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe
title_full_unstemmed	Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe
title_sort	behavioural indicators of intra- and inter-specific competition: sheep co-grazing with guanaco in the patagonian steppe
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/f40aaead09a84b1a899ef35f38df9a5e
work_keys_str_mv	AT tomasfernandez behaviouralindicatorsofintraandinterspecificcompetitionsheepcograzingwithguanacointhepatagoniansteppe AT alexlancaster behaviouralindicatorsofintraandinterspecificcompetitionsheepcograzingwithguanacointhepatagoniansteppe AT claudioamoraga behaviouralindicatorsofintraandinterspecificcompetitionsheepcograzingwithguanacointhepatagoniansteppe AT sergioradicschilling behaviouralindicatorsofintraandinterspecificcompetitionsheepcograzingwithguanacointhepatagoniansteppe AT achazvonhardenberg behaviouralindicatorsofintraandinterspecificcompetitionsheepcograzingwithguanacointhepatagoniansteppe AT paulocorti behaviouralindicatorsofintraandinterspecificcompetitionsheepcograzingwithguanacointhepatagoniansteppe
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Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe

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