Influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
Abstract In seasonal environments, the ability of mustelid species to acquire carrion—a dietary resource heavily depended upon—is driven by a collection local habitat characteristics and competition dynamics. In resource-scarce winter, sympatric mesocarnivores must balance energetic rewards of carri...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:845a8ebb39cb4e898775b85e7806f584 2023-07-30T03:55:56+02:00 Influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains Elicia Bell Jason T. Fisher Chris Darimont Henry Hart Christopher Bone 2023-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34911-4 https://doaj.org/article/845a8ebb39cb4e898775b85e7806f584 EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34911-4 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-023-34911-4 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/845a8ebb39cb4e898775b85e7806f584 Scientific Reports, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2023) Medicine R Science Q article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34911-4 2023-07-16T00:38:39Z Abstract In seasonal environments, the ability of mustelid species to acquire carrion—a dietary resource heavily depended upon—is driven by a collection local habitat characteristics and competition dynamics. In resource-scarce winter, sympatric mesocarnivores must balance energetic rewards of carrion with avoiding antagonistic interactions with conspecifics. We examined scavenging interactions among three mustelid species in the northern Canadian Rocky Mountains. Camera traps (n = 59) were baited with carrion during winter between 2006 to 2008. Spatial and temporal dimensions of scavenger behaviour (i.e., carcass use) were evaluated using a multi-model approach, which enabled us to recognize potentially adaptive behavioural mechanisms for mitigating competition at carcass sites. Best performing models indicated that carrion site use is governed by a combination of competition threats and environmental factors. A decrease in scavenging with increasing snow depth was observed across all species. Mustelids adopted a host of adaptive behavioural strategies to access shared scavenging opportunities. We found evidence that wolverine (Gulo gulo) and American marten (Martes americana) segregate in space but temporally tracked one another. Short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) scavenging decreased with greater site use by marten. Carcass availability across a spatially complex environment, as well as spatial–temporal avoidance strategies, can facilitate carrion resource partitioning. Article in Journal/Newspaper American marten Gulo gulo Martes americana Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Scientific Reports 13 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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English |
topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q Elicia Bell Jason T. Fisher Chris Darimont Henry Hart Christopher Bone Influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Abstract In seasonal environments, the ability of mustelid species to acquire carrion—a dietary resource heavily depended upon—is driven by a collection local habitat characteristics and competition dynamics. In resource-scarce winter, sympatric mesocarnivores must balance energetic rewards of carrion with avoiding antagonistic interactions with conspecifics. We examined scavenging interactions among three mustelid species in the northern Canadian Rocky Mountains. Camera traps (n = 59) were baited with carrion during winter between 2006 to 2008. Spatial and temporal dimensions of scavenger behaviour (i.e., carcass use) were evaluated using a multi-model approach, which enabled us to recognize potentially adaptive behavioural mechanisms for mitigating competition at carcass sites. Best performing models indicated that carrion site use is governed by a combination of competition threats and environmental factors. A decrease in scavenging with increasing snow depth was observed across all species. Mustelids adopted a host of adaptive behavioural strategies to access shared scavenging opportunities. We found evidence that wolverine (Gulo gulo) and American marten (Martes americana) segregate in space but temporally tracked one another. Short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) scavenging decreased with greater site use by marten. Carcass availability across a spatially complex environment, as well as spatial–temporal avoidance strategies, can facilitate carrion resource partitioning. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Elicia Bell Jason T. Fisher Chris Darimont Henry Hart Christopher Bone |
author_facet |
Elicia Bell Jason T. Fisher Chris Darimont Henry Hart Christopher Bone |
author_sort |
Elicia Bell |
title |
Influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_short |
Influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_full |
Influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_fullStr |
Influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_full_unstemmed |
Influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the Canadian Rocky Mountains |
title_sort |
influence of heterospecifics on mesocarnivore behaviour at shared scavenging opportunities in the canadian rocky mountains |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34911-4 https://doaj.org/article/845a8ebb39cb4e898775b85e7806f584 |
genre |
American marten Gulo gulo Martes americana |
genre_facet |
American marten Gulo gulo Martes americana |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp 1-14 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34911-4 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-023-34911-4 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/845a8ebb39cb4e898775b85e7806f584 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34911-4 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
13 |
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1 |
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1772810331586822144 |