Where and when to hunt? Decomposing predation success of an ambush carnivore

Abstract

Predator-prey games emerge when predators and prey dynamically respond to the behavior of one another, driving the outcomes of predator-prey interactions. Predation success is a function of the combined probabilities of encountering and capturing prey, which are influenced by both prey behavior and environmental features. While the relative importance of encounter and capture probabilities have been evaluated in a spatial framework, temporal variation in prey behavior and intrinsic catchability are likely to also affect the distribution of predation events. Using a single-predator-single-prey (puma-vicuña) system, we evaluated which factors predict predation events across both temporal and spatial dimensions of the components of predation by testing the prey-abundance hypothesis (predators select for high encounter probability) and the prey-catchability hypothesis (predators select for high relative capture probability) in time and space. We found that for both temporal and spatial analyses, neither the prey-abundance hypothesis nor the prey-catchability hypothesis alone predicted kill frequency or distribution; puma kill frequency was static throughout the diel cycle and pumas consistently selected a single habitat type when hunting, despite temporal and spatial variation in encounter rates and intrinsic catchability. Our integrated spatiotemporal analysis revealed that an interaction between time of day and habitat influences kill probability, suggesting that trade-offs in the temporal and spatial components of predation drive the probability of predation events. These findings reinforce the importance of examining both the temporal and spatial patterns of the components of predation, rather than unidimensional measures of predator or prey behavior, to comprehensively describe the feedbacks between predator and prey in the predator-prey game.

Sarcoptic mange outbreak decimates South American camelid populations in San Guillermo National Park, Argentina

“…It is possible that mange influenced the distribution pattern of sick animals which congregated in a few flooded meadows, where food and water were easily accessible. These sites are also the preferred hunting sites for puma [51,52], which may explain the steady numerical declines and the removal of animals before they reached severe stages of disease. Preliminary data show that the percentage of puma-killed camelids (n = 392) with mange lesions increased from 5 to 90% in 24 months at the outbreak onset (E. Donadio, unpublished data).…”

Sarcoptic mange outbreak decimates South American wild camelid populations in San Guillermo National Park, Argentina

“…A higher proportion of vicuñas in advanced stage of the disease, at which there is visible difficulty in their movements, was seen in the meadow of Llano de los Leones. Meadows are also the preferred hunting sites for puma [77,78], which may explain the steady numerical declines and the removal of animals before they reached severe stages of disease. Preliminary data show that the percentage of puma-killed mangy camelids (n = 392) increased from 5 to 90% in 24 months at the outbreak onset [33].…”

Landscapes shaped from the top down: predicting cascading predator effects on spatial biogeochemistry

“…These nutrient hotspots may increase both the abundance and quality of plants in risky areas (Danell et al 2002, Moore et al 2004, Carter et al 2007, Bump et al 2009b, Barton et al 2016). As a result, prey in great need of nutritious, abundant forage may be further drawn to these habitats despite high predation risk (Abrams 1992, Sih 2005, Gharajehdaghipour and Roth 2018, Smith et al 2019a, Smith et al 2021.…”