Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion
Abstract
Abstract The selection or avoidance of certain carrion resources by vertebrate scavengers can alter the flow of nutrients in ecosystems. Evidence suggests higher trophic level carrion is scavenged by fewer vertebrate species and persists longer when compared to lower trophic level carrion, although it is unclear how scavengers distinguish between carcasses of varying species. To investigate carnivore carrion avoidance and explore sensory recognition mechanisms in scavenging species, we investigated scavenger use of intact and altered (i.e., skin, head, and feet removed) coyote— Canis latrans (carnivore) and wild pig— Sus scrofa (omnivore) carcasses experimentally placed at the Savannah River Site, SC, USA. We predicted carnivore carcasses would persist longer due to conspecific and intraguild scavenger avoidance. Further, we hypothesized visually modifying carcasses would not reduce avoidance of carnivore carrion, given scavengers likely depend largely on chemical cues when assessing carrion resources. As expected, mammalian carnivores largely avoided scavenging on coyote carcasses, resulting in carnivore carcasses having longer depletion times than wild pig carcasses at intact and altered trials. Therefore, nutrients derived from carnivore carcasses are not as readily incorporated into higher trophic levels and scavengers largely depend on olfactory cues when assessing benefits and risks associated with varying carrion resources.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1897321
- Grant/Contract Number:
- EM0005228
- Resource Type:
- Published Article
- Journal Name:
- Scientific Reports
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Volume: 12 Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2045-2322
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Butler-Valverde, Miranda J., DeVault, Travis L., Rhodes, Jr., Olin E., and Beasley, James C. Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion. United Kingdom: N. p., 2022.
Web. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22297-8.
Butler-Valverde, Miranda J., DeVault, Travis L., Rhodes, Jr., Olin E., & Beasley, James C. Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22297-8
Butler-Valverde, Miranda J., DeVault, Travis L., Rhodes, Jr., Olin E., and Beasley, James C. Mon .
"Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion". United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-22297-8.
@article{osti_1897321,
title = {Carcass appearance does not influence scavenger avoidance of carnivore carrion},
author = {Butler-Valverde, Miranda J. and DeVault, Travis L. and Rhodes, Jr., Olin E. and Beasley, James C.},
abstractNote = {Abstract The selection or avoidance of certain carrion resources by vertebrate scavengers can alter the flow of nutrients in ecosystems. Evidence suggests higher trophic level carrion is scavenged by fewer vertebrate species and persists longer when compared to lower trophic level carrion, although it is unclear how scavengers distinguish between carcasses of varying species. To investigate carnivore carrion avoidance and explore sensory recognition mechanisms in scavenging species, we investigated scavenger use of intact and altered (i.e., skin, head, and feet removed) coyote— Canis latrans (carnivore) and wild pig— Sus scrofa (omnivore) carcasses experimentally placed at the Savannah River Site, SC, USA. We predicted carnivore carcasses would persist longer due to conspecific and intraguild scavenger avoidance. Further, we hypothesized visually modifying carcasses would not reduce avoidance of carnivore carrion, given scavengers likely depend largely on chemical cues when assessing carrion resources. As expected, mammalian carnivores largely avoided scavenging on coyote carcasses, resulting in carnivore carcasses having longer depletion times than wild pig carcasses at intact and altered trials. Therefore, nutrients derived from carnivore carcasses are not as readily incorporated into higher trophic levels and scavengers largely depend on olfactory cues when assessing benefits and risks associated with varying carrion resources.},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-022-22297-8},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
number = 1,
volume = 12,
place = {United Kingdom},
year = {Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 EST 2022},
month = {Mon Nov 07 00:00:00 EST 2022}
}
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