Inter‐specific interactions linking predation and scavenging in terrestrial vertebrate assemblages

Abstract

Predation and scavenging have been classically understood as independent processes, with predator-prey interactions and scavenger-carrion relationships occurring separately. However, the mere recognition that most predators also scavenge at variable rates, which has been traditionally ignored in food-web and community ecology, leads to a number of emergent interaction routes linking predation and scavenging. The general goal of this review is to draw attention to the main inter-specific interactions connecting predators (particularly, large mammalian carnivores), their live prey (mainly ungulates), vultures and carrion production in terrestrial assemblages of vertebrates. Overall, we report an intricate network of both direct (competition, facilitation) and indirect (hyperpredation, hypopredation) processes, and provide a conceptual framework for the future development of this promising topic in ecological, evolutionary and biodiversity conservation research. The classic view that scavenging does not affect the population dynamics of consumed organisms is questioned, as multiple indirect top-down effects emerge when considering carrion and its facultative consumption by predators as fundamental and dynamic components of food webs. Stimulating although challenging research opportunities arise from the study of the interactions among living and detrital or non-living resource pools in food webs.

Puma predation subsidizes an obligate scavenger in the high Andes

“…While focus has primarily been on their top‐down effects, predators can also have upwelling effects on upper trophic levels (Moleón et al . ). By hunting frequently and over a broad range, apex predators provide access to essential food resources for many species of scavengers (Wilmers & Getz ) and generate crucial, multitrophic links in food webs that intersect at the production and consumption of carrion (Moleón et al .…”

“…By hunting frequently and over a broad range, apex predators provide access to essential food resources for many species of scavengers (Wilmers & Getz ) and generate crucial, multitrophic links in food webs that intersect at the production and consumption of carrion (Moleón et al . ). Although intuitive and highly relevant, these linkages have barely been explored (Pereira, Owen‐Smith & Moleón ).…”

Increasing land-use intensity reverses the relative occupancy of two quadrupedal scavengers

“…Scavengers play vital roles in nutrient cycling and redistribution[1] as well as disease dynamics via the removal of carrion from the environment, providing a crucial ecosystem service[2]. The disruption of intact scavenger communities has possible far reaching implications and understanding how scavenging communities function and respond to environmental changes has become a subject of increased importance [3].…”

“…A high percentage– 60 to 100%–of naturally occurring carrion is utilised and removed by vertebrate scavengers rather than microbes and arthropods[7]-[8]-[9]-[10],. Recent studies targeting vertebrate scavengers have been predominantly conducted in relatively pristine environments in temperate or savanna regions [1]-[2]-[4]-[6]-[11]-[12], with few examples from tropical forests [6]. Consequently, we have little information about how habitat and human disturbance influence scavenger communities [13], and that knowledge gap is most pronounced for tropical ecosystems that are undergoing dramatic levels of anthropogenic land use change.…”

First evidence for carrion–feeding of Eurasian Eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) in Bulgaria

“…Carrion use is widespread among many omnivorous and animal eating birds and is a key factor in evolution of some groups as diurnal birds of prey (del Hoyo et al 1994, DeVault et al 2003, Selva et al 2005, Selva & Fortuna 2007, Moleón et al 2014, Nagy & Tökölyi 2014, Nagy et al 2017. Owls are predatory birds that have adapted for hunting in the limited light at night.…”