Vertebrate and invertebrate competition for carrion in human‐impacted environments depends on abiotic factors

Sawyer, Samantha J.; Eubanks, Micky D.; Beasley, James C.; Barton, Brandon T.; Puckett, Robert T.; Tomeček, John M.; Tomberlin, Jeffery K.

doi:10.1002/ecs2.4151

Title: Vertebrate and invertebrate competition for carrion in human‐impacted environments depends on abiotic factors

Journal Article · Sat Jul 02 00:00:00 EDT 2022 · Ecosphere

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4151· OSTI ID:1874727

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Department of Entomology Texas A&,M University College Station Texas USA
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USA, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management Texas A&,M University College Station Texas USA

Abstract Human altered landscapes have caused declines in the diversity of wildlife where behaviorally plastic species (i.e., mesocarnivores and invasive species) tend to monopolize these areas and consume predictable and readily accessible food resources, such as human food waste and carrion. Increased consumption of carrion by vertebrates and invasive invertebrate species can alter population dynamics of native necrophagous insects relying on these resources. We tested the hypothesis that vertebrate scavengers and invasive species reduce blow fly (1) ability to use carrion and (2) reproduction in human‐impacted environments in central Texas, USA, with season, habitat (field and wooded landscapes), and carrion type (species of carrion and coat color) acting synergistically. Vertebrate scavengers in this habitat, of which 75% of the documented species were mesocarnivores and obligate scavengers, consumed 100% of carrion during the winter and 62% during summer despite having low species richness (2–5 species). Of the remaining carcasses available for arthropod activity during summer, the invasive red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), monopolized 34%, and blow flies (e.g., Lucilia eximia and Chrysomya rufifacies [Diptera: Calliphoridae]) were only able to colonize 25%. Approximately 90% of carrion that was utilized by blow flies was co‐colonized by fire ants, and subsequent production of adult blow flies experienced up to a ninefold reduction in production compared with carcasses that were not scavenged by vertebrates or fire ants. Our results demonstrate oviposition resources used by blow flies in environments altered by human activity are reduced significantly by vertebrate scavengers and an invasive ant species. Future research should determine whether competitive interactions between vertebrate and invasive ant competitors for access to carrion resources have population‐level impacts to blow flies in human‐mediated ecosystems, or whether blow flies are able to shift to other resources to maintain sustainable populations and continue providing ecosystem services, such as pollination.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM); National Institute of Justice

Grant/Contract Number:: DE‐EM0005228; EM0005228; 2016-R2-CX-0054

OSTI ID:: 1874727

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1874729; OSTI ID: 1976324

Journal Information:: Ecosphere, Journal Name: Ecosphere Vol. 13 Journal Issue: 7; ISSN 2150-8925

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Vertebrate and invertebrate competition for carrion in human‐impacted environments depends on abiotic factors

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