Examining the sarcosaprophagous fauna in a natural mountain environment (Sierra Espuña, Murcia, Spain)

Avoidance of carnivore carcasses by vertebrate scavengers enables colonization by a diverse community of carrion insects

“…The red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758), is the main facultative scavenger in the region [32], but other frequent mammalian and avian scavengers include stone martens, Martes foina (Erxleben, 1777), wild boars, Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758, golden eagles, Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus, 1758), common ravens, Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758, and magpies, Pica pica (Linnaeus, 1758) [9, 32]. Among the insect scavenger fauna, blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are the main group colonising carrion in Espuña [22]. Several Coleoptera species of the families Dermestidae, Histeridae and Silphidae frequently associated with carrion in Mediterranean forests [14, 43] can also be found in Espuña [22].…”

“…Among the insect scavenger fauna, blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are the main group colonising carrion in Espuña [22]. Several Coleoptera species of the families Dermestidae, Histeridae and Silphidae frequently associated with carrion in Mediterranean forests [14, 43] can also be found in Espuña [22].…”

“…In the case of invertebrate scavenging, the study of insects associated with carrion is also important from a medicolegal and veterinary perspective [19]. Many insect species are specifically attracted to carrion during different stages of decomposition occurring in a more or less predictable chronological sequence or succession [20–22]. Therefore, if site-specific succession patterns are known, a minimum post-mortem interval may be estimated in a forensic case on the basis of the entomofauna present on the cadaver [21].…”

“…First, studies simultaneously considering scavenging by both invertebrates and vertebrates are largely non-existent, with few exceptions [6, 24–26]. In addition, insect succession studies are typically carried out while protecting the experimental carcasses with wire mesh cages or other mechanisms allowing the access of insects but preventing interference by vertebrate scavengers [20, 22, 27–30]. Vertebrate scavengers can consume medium- and large-sized carcasses completely within a few hours or days [31–32] unless carcasses are covered by snow [2] or concealed.…”

“…For instance, carnivore carcasses are almost fully available to vertebrate scavengers that are phylogenetically distant from the species to which the carcass belongs, as well as to a well-structured successional community of necrophagous and necrophilous invertebrates that are not able to colonise or complete their life cycle in more ephemeral carcasses [41]. Moreover, the insect scavenging fauna associated with wildlife vertebrate carrion, and more specifically with carnivore carcasses, remains largely unstudied, with the exception of a few studies using generally very few (one or two) carcasses [27, 28]–a typical sample size in many forensic studies [22, 30]. Thus, recognising carcass species identity in general [27, 28], and studying wild carnivore carcasses in particular [2, 39, 41], is expected to reveal a novel perspective on scavenging behaviour.…”