Dhole pack size variation: Assessing the effect of Prey availability and Apex predator

Bhandari, Aishwarya; Ghaskadbi, Pallavi; Nigam, Parag; Habib, Bilal

doi:10.1002/ece3.7380

Cited by 10 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 68 publications

(78 reference statements)

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“…Therefore, cooccurring carnivore species are expected to have evolved morphological and behavioral adaptations to reduce risks of intraguild competition (Schoener, 1982;Hunter and Caro, 2008). Competitive interactions among the carnivores can result in top carnivores limiting the populations of subordinate carnivores (Creel and Creel, 1996;Donadio and Buskirk, 2006;Bhandari et al, 2021), feeding interference (Linnell and Strand, 2000), or even intraguild predation (Creel and Creel, 1996;Holt and Polis, 1997). Specializing on different food resources is an effective strategy to reduce the predation competition in coexisting carnivores over a long evolutionary time (Connell, 1980;Jones and Barmuta, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding Patterns of Three Widespread Carnivores—The Wolf, Snow Leopard, and Red Fox—in the Trans-Himalayan Landscape of India

et al. 2022

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The Trans-Himalayan landscape is an extreme cold desert with limited diversity and a low density of wild prey. The landscape has three widespread carnivores—the wolf Canis lupus chanco, snow leopard Panthera uncia, and red fox Vulpes vulpes—competing for similar prey. We studied predation patterns, dietary competition, and niche segregation of three sympatric carnivores in the Indian Trans-Himalayas. The Himalayan or wooly wolf is one of the oldest lineages and has adapted to extreme cold. We further studied the prey selection of the wolf in the high-altitude environment. We collected 1,600 carnivore scats (wolf = 542, snow leopard = 31, and red fox = 1,027), and additional data on 573 snow leopard scats from literature was used in the analyses. We found that livestock was a major contributor to the wolf (56.46%) and snow leopard diet (30.01%). The wolf consumed blue sheep (8.26%) and ibex (3.13%), whereas the snow leopard subsisted on blue sheep (30.79%) and ibex (17.15%), relatively more frequently. The red fox preyed upon small species like pika and marmots (18.85 %); however, livestock carrions (16.49%), fruits and seeds (15.05%), and human-derived material (11.89%) were also consumed frequently. The dietary niche of three carnivore species highly overlapped (Pianka's index = 0.503, simulated mean = 0.419, p = 0.15) due to livestock. The carnivores segregated their diet in prey items originating from the wild. We tested a relationship between carnivore diet variations and prey/predator functional traits using RLQ ordination. Predator morphology traits like body size, weight, and habitat preference significantly affected the prey selection (p < 0.05). The wolf and snow leopard avoided the competition through habitat selection, while the red fox coexisted by exploiting a broader niche. The wolf showed site-specific variation in prey preferences albeit no prey selection at the landscape level (G2 = 6.79, df = 12, p = 0.87). The wolf preferred wild prey over domestic species at the wild prey rich site. The carnivores in this pastoralist landscape have adapted to exploit livestock resources despite facing persecution. Therefore, managing livestock and simultaneously restoring wild prey is crucial for the conservation of the carnivore guild in the Trans-Himalayan ecosystem.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feeding Patterns of Three Widespread Carnivores—The Wolf, Snow Leopard, and Red Fox—in the Trans-Himalayan Landscape of India

et al. 2022

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“…Both the protected areas are separated by an average distance of 200 kms and interspersed by human habitation and roads possibly acting as a barrier for gene flow. Apart from physical differences, both tiger reserves exhibit an interesting sympatric predator dynamic due to comparative differences in tiger population and pack size variation (Bhandari et al, 2021).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study done on red colobus monkeys found that female dispersal is more frequent in larger groups to avoid the increased competition for food resources within the group (Miyamoto et al, 2013). In the case of dholes, there is also a significant difference in the average pack size: a larger pack in Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) and a smaller pack size in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) within the landscape (Bhandari et al, 2021). The wide-scale assessment of local patterns of variation in pack size showed a significant inverse relationship between tiger density and pack size of dhole while accounting for the variability in resources and habitat heterogeneity (Bhandari et al, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the case of dholes, there is also a significant difference in the average pack size: a larger pack in Nawegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) and a smaller pack size in Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) within the landscape (Bhandari et al, 2021). The wide-scale assessment of local patterns of variation in pack size showed a significant inverse relationship between tiger density and pack size of dhole while accounting for the variability in resources and habitat heterogeneity (Bhandari et al, 2021). High intraguild competition from larger predators is known to result in lower group sizes and low recruitment rates in sub-ordinate social carnivores (Groom et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We tested whether there is any relationship between pack size and sex-biased dispersal pattern between two populations with varying tiger densities and habitat contiguity. To test our hypothesis, we used the microsatellite dataset of two different populations (NNTR and TATR) having different average pack sizes, which is an outcome of different top predator and prey densities between the two populations (Bhandari et al, 2021). We expected that the bias in the dispersal pattern, if there is any, would be more evident in the TATR population compared to the NNTR population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Genetic evidence of differential dispersal pattern in the Asiatic wild dog: Comparing two populations with different pack sizes

Modi

Mondol²,

Ghaskadbi³

et al. 2022

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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IntroductionDispersal is a multi-causal, crucial life-history event in shaping the genetic and behavioral structure of mammals. We assessed the dispersal pattern of dholes aka Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus), a social monogamous mammal at two tiger reserves of Maharashtra with different degrees of pack size and competition with tigers i.e. Tadoba-Andhari (TATR, smaller pack size, higher tiger density) and Nawegaon-Nagzira (NNTR, larger pack size, lower tiger density).MethodsWe used the microsatellite data of 174 individual genotypes (98 males and 67 females) to assess the dispersal pattern of dholes from two populations with varying pack size, tiger density, and landscape connectivity using gene flow as a proxy. We compared the population structure, pairwise F statistics, assignment index, and relatedness across a spatial scale.Results and discussionOverall, the results suggested a difference in sex-bias dispersal pattern for the two sub-populations, exhibiting significant results for female-biased dispersal in the TATR population with a smaller pack size and higher tiger density. Our study highlights the variability in sex-biased dispersal patterns in two different populations which could be the consequence of different variables such as pack size, tiger density, and geographical scale. The study warrants further quantitative investigation including several factors such as individual behavior, pack composition, pack size, tiger density, etc. In the present Anthropocene era, determining the sex bias in dispersal patterns for a short-range, pack-living carnivore will help in devising an effective conservation management plan for their long-term survival.

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Native prey, not landscape change or novel prey, drive cougar (Puma concolor) distribution at a boreal forest range edge

Gaston,

Barnas,

Smith

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Many large carnivores, despite widespread habitat alteration, are rebounding in parts of their former ranges after decades of persecution and exploitation. Cougars (Puma concolor) are apex predator with their remaining northern core range constricted to mountain landscapes and areas of western North America; however, cougar populations have recently started rebounding in several locations across North America, including northward in boreal forest landscapes. A camera‐trap survey of multiple landscapes across Alberta, Canada, delineated a range edge; within this region, we deployed an array of 47 camera traps in a random stratified design across a landscape spanning a gradient of anthropogenic development relative to the predicted expansion front. We completed multiple hypotheses in an information‐theoretic framework to determine if cougar occurrence is best explained by natural land cover features, anthropogenic development features, or competitor and prey activity. We predicted that anthropogenic development features from resource extraction and invading white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virgianius) explain cougar distribution at this boreal range edge. Counter to our predictions, the relative activity of native prey, predominantly snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), was the best predictor of cougar occurrence at this range edge. Small‐bodied prey items are particularly important for female and sub‐adult cougars and may support breeding individuals in the northeast boreal forest. Also, counter to our predictions, there was not a strong relationship detected between cougar occurrence and gray wolf (Canis lupus) activity at this range edge. However, further investigation is recommended as the possibility of cougar expansion into areas of the multi‐prey boreal system, where wolves have recently been controlled, could have negative consequences for conservation goals in this region (e.g. the recovery of woodland caribou [Rangifer tarandus caribou]). Our study highlights the need to monitor contemporary distributions to inform conservation management objectives as large carnivores recover across North America.

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Dhole pack size variation: Assessing the effect of Prey availability and Apex predator

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 10 publications

References 68 publications

Feeding Patterns of Three Widespread Carnivores—The Wolf, Snow Leopard, and Red Fox—in the Trans-Himalayan Landscape of India

Feeding Patterns of Three Widespread Carnivores—The Wolf, Snow Leopard, and Red Fox—in the Trans-Himalayan Landscape of India

Genetic evidence of differential dispersal pattern in the Asiatic wild dog: Comparing two populations with different pack sizes

Native prey, not landscape change or novel prey, drive cougar (Puma concolor) distribution at a boreal forest range edge

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