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Sandoval‐Serés E, Mbizah M, Phiri S, Chatikobo SP, Valeix M, van der Meer E, Dröge E, Madhlamoto D, Madzikanda H, Blinston P, Loveridge AJ. Food resource competition between African wild dogs and larger carnivores in an ecosystem with artificial water provision. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11141. [PMID: 38500850 PMCID: PMC10944706 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Predators of similar size often compete over prey. In semi-arid ecosystems where water is a limiting resource, prey availability can be affected by water distribution, which further increases resource competition and exacerbate conflict among predators. This can have implications for carnivore dietary competition. Hence, we evaluated the dynamics of food resource competition between African wild dogs and four competing predators (cheetahs, leopards, lions and spotted hyaenas) in different seasons and across areas with different waterhole densities in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. We used the frequency of occurrence of prey items found in predators' scats to analyse diet composition, overlap and prey preference. For most predators, kudu was most frequently consumed and preferred. Low and medium water-dependent prey (medium and small-sized) were mostly consumed by wild dogs, leopards and cheetahs. Wild dog diet overlap was high with all predators, particularly with hyaenas and lions. There were no seasonal differences in the predators diet. The diet overlap of wild dogs with lions was highest in the low waterhole density area, and wild dog diet composition did not differ significantly from the diet of lions and hyaenas. In the low waterhole density area, wild dogs and hyaenas broadened their niche breadth, and predators diet had a higher proportion of low water-dependent prey. A low density of waterholes increased food resource competition. However, high density of waterholes, where there is more prey availability, can increase the aggregation and density of predators, and hence, increase the risks involved in interspecific competition on wild dogs. To reduce food resource competition on wild dogs, we propose to conserve larger-bodied prey that are less dependent on water (e.g. kudu, reedbuck, eland and gemsbok). As the use of water pumping is common practice, we propose maintaining water management heterogeneity where prey which is less dependent on water can also thrive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Sandoval‐Serés
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubneyUK
- Painted Dog Conservation (PDC)DeteZimbabwe
| | - Moreangels Mbizah
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubneyUK
- Wildlife Conservation ActionBelgravia, HarareZimbabwe
| | | | | | - Marion Valeix
- CNRS, Université de Lyon, Université de Lyon 1, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, CNRS UMRVilleurbanneFrance
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Univ Paul Valéry Montpellier 3MontpellierFrance
- Long‐Term Socio‐Ecological Research Site (LTSER) France, Zone Atelier ‘Hwange’Hwange National ParkZimbabwe
| | | | - Egil Dröge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubneyUK
- Zambian Carnivore ProgramMfuweZambia
| | - Daphine Madhlamoto
- Scientific Services Main Camp, Hwange National ParkZimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZPWMA)DeteZimbabwe
| | | | | | - Andrew J. Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Biology, Recanati‐Kaplan CentreUniversity of OxfordTubneyUK
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2
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Singh SA, Elsler A, Stubbs TL, Rayfield EJ, Benton MJ. Predatory synapsid ecomorphology signals growing dynamism of late Palaeozoic terrestrial ecosystems. Commun Biol 2024; 7:201. [PMID: 38368492 PMCID: PMC10874460 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05879-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Terrestrial ecosystems evolved substantially through the Palaeozoic, especially the Permian, gaining much new complexity, especially among predators. Key among these predators were non-mammalian synapsids. Predator ecomorphology reflect interactions with prey and competitors, which are key controls on carnivore diversity and ecology. Therefore, carnivorous synapsids may offer insight on wider ecological evolution as the first complex, tetrapod-dominated, terrestrial ecosystems formed through the late Palaeozoic. Using morphometric and phylogenetic comparative methods, we chart carnivorous synapsid trophic morphology from the latest Carboniferous to the earliest Triassic (307-251.2 Ma). We find a major morphofunctional shift in synapsid carnivory between the early and middle Permian, via the addition of new feeding modes increasingly specialised for greater biting power or speed that captures the growing antagonism and dynamism of terrestrial tetrapod predator-prey interactions. The further evolution of new hypo- and hypercarnivorous synapsids highlight the nascent intrinsic pressures and complexification of terrestrial ecosystems across the mid-late Permian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh A Singh
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK.
| | - Armin Elsler
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Thomas L Stubbs
- School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AE, UK
| | - Emily J Rayfield
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Michael J Benton
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TQ, UK
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3
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Meißner R, Mokgokong P, Pretorius C, Winter S, Labuschagne K, Kotze A, Prost S, Horin P, Dalton D, Burger PA. Diversity of selected toll-like receptor genes in cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and African leopards (Panthera pardus pardus). Sci Rep 2024; 14:3756. [PMID: 38355905 PMCID: PMC10866938 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54076-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The anthropogenic impact on wildlife is ever increasing. With shrinking habitats, wild populations are being pushed to co-exist in proximity to humans leading to an increased threat of infectious diseases. Therefore, understanding the immune system of a species is key to assess its resilience in a changing environment. The innate immune system (IIS) is the body's first line of defense against pathogens. High variability in IIS genes, like toll-like receptor (TLR) genes, appears to be associated with resistance to infectious diseases. However, few studies have investigated diversity in TLR genes in vulnerable species for conservation. Large predators are threatened globally including leopards and cheetahs, both listed as 'vulnerable' by IUCN. To examine IIS diversity in these sympatric species, we used next-generation-sequencing to compare selected TLR genes in African leopards and cheetahs. Despite differences, both species show some TLR haplotype similarity. Historic cheetahs from all subspecies exhibit greater genetic diversity than modern Southern African cheetahs. The diversity in investigated TLR genes is lower in modern Southern African cheetahs than in African leopards. Compared to historic cheetah data and other subspecies, a more recent population decline might explain the observed genetic impoverishment of TLR genes in modern Southern African cheetahs. However, this may not yet impact the health of this cheetah subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- René Meißner
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Prudent Mokgokong
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Chantelle Pretorius
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- WWF South African, Bridge House, Boundary Terraces, Mariendahl Ave, Newlands, 7725, Capetown, South Africa
| | - Sven Winter
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kim Labuschagne
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Antoinette Kotze
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- University of the Free State, Bloemfontein Campus, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - Stefan Prost
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- University of Oulu, Pentti Kaiteran Katu 1, 90570, Oulu, Finland
| | - Petr Horin
- Department of Animal Genetics, University of Veterinary Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno (CEITEC Vetuni), Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Desire Dalton
- South African National Biodiversity Institute, National Zoological Garden, 232 Boom Street, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
- School of Health and Life Science, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley, TS1 3BX, UK.
| | - Pamela A Burger
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
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Jackson CR, Rød‐Eriksen L, Mattisson J, Flagstad Ø, Landa A, Miller AL, Eide NE, Ulvund KR. Predation of endangered Arctic foxes by Golden eagles: What do we know? Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9864. [PMID: 36937073 PMCID: PMC10015364 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Dedicated conservation efforts spanning the past two decades have saved the Fennoscandian Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) population from local extinction, and extensive resources continue to be invested in the species' conservation and management. Although increasing, populations remain isolated, small and are not yet viable in the longer term. An understanding of causes of mortality are consequently important to optimize ongoing conservation actions. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are a predator of Arctic foxes, yet little information on this interaction is available in the literature. We document and detail six confirmed cases of Golden eagle depredation of Arctic foxes at the Norwegian captive breeding facility (2019-2022), where foxes are housed in large open-air enclosures in the species' natural habitat. Here, timely detection of missing/dead foxes was challenging, and new insights have been gained following recently improved enclosure monitoring. Golden eagle predation peaked during the winter months, with no cases reported from June to November. This finding contrasts with that which is reported from the field, both for Arctic and other fox species, where eagle depredation peaked at dens with young (summer). While the seasonality of depredation may be ecosystem specific, documented cases from the field may be biased by higher survey efforts associated with the monitoring of reproductive success during the summer. Both white and blue color morphs were housed at the breeding station, yet only white foxes were preyed upon, and mortality was male biased. Mitigation measures and their effectiveness implemented at the facility are presented. Findings are discussed in the broader Arctic fox population ecology and conservation context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R. Jackson
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Lars Rød‐Eriksen
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Jenny Mattisson
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Øystein Flagstad
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Arild Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)BergenNorway
| | - Andrea L. Miller
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied EcologyAgricultural Sciences and BiotechnologyInland Norway University of Applied SciencesKoppangNorway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
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Lu Q, Cheng C, Xiao L, Li J, Li X, Zhao X, Lu Z, Zhao J, Yao M. Food webs reveal coexistence mechanisms and community organization in carnivores. Curr Biol 2023; 33:647-659.e5. [PMID: 36669497 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.12.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Globally, massive carnivore guild extirpations have led to trophic downgrading and compromised ecosystem services. However, the complexity of multi-carnivore food webs complicates accurate identification of species interactions and community organization. Here, we used fecal DNA metabarcoding to investigate three communities that together encompass eight large- and meso-carnivore species and their 44 prey taxa of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), one of the last places on Earth that still harbors intact carnivore assemblages. Quantitative food-web analyses revealed pronounced interspecific variations in the carnivores' prey compositions and dietary partitioning both between and within guilds. Additionally, body masses of the carnivores and their prey exhibited consistent hump-shaped correlations across communities. Overall, differences in prey diversity, size category, and proportional utilization among the carnivore species result in trophic niche segregation that likely promotes carnivore coexistence in the harsh QTP environment. Network structure analyses detected significant modularity in all food webs but nestedness in only one. Furthermore, network characterization identified pikas (Ochotona spp.), bharal (Pseudois nayaur), and domestic yak (Bos grunniens) as potential keystone prey across the areas. Our results paint a holistic and detailed picture of the QTP carnivore assemblages' trophic networks and demonstrate that the combined use of the molecular dietary approach and network analysis can generate structural insights into carnivore coexistence and can identify functionally important species in complex communities. Such knowledge can help safeguard carnivore guild integrity and enhance community resilience to environmental perturbations in the sensitive QTP ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Chen Cheng
- Center for Nature and Society, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Shan Shui Conservation Center, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lingyun Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Juan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Xueyang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xiang Zhao
- Shan Shui Conservation Center, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Zhi Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Center for Nature and Society, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Shan Shui Conservation Center, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jindong Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Meng Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
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6
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Strampelli P, Henschel P, Searle CE, Macdonald DW, Dickman AJ. Spatial co-occurrence patterns of sympatric large carnivores in a multi-use African system. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280420. [PMID: 36662874 PMCID: PMC9858824 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Interspecific interactions can be a key driver of habitat use, and must be accounted for in conservation planning. However, spatial partitioning between African carnivores, and how this varies with scale, remains poorly understood. Furthermore, most studies have taken place within small or highly protected areas, rather than in the heterogeneous, mixed-use landscapes characteristic of much of modern Africa. Here, we provide one of the first empirical investigations into population-level competitive interactions among an African large carnivore guild. We collected detection/non-detection data for an eastern African large carnivore guild in Tanzania's Ruaha-Rungwa conservation landscape, over an area of ~45,000 km2. We then applied conditional co-occupancy models to investigate co-occurrence between lion, leopard, and African wild dog, at two biologically meaningful scales. Co-occurrence patterns of cheetah and spotted hyaena could not be modelled. After accounting for habitat and detection effects, we found some evidence of wild dog avoidance of lion at the home range scale, and strong evidence of fine-scale avoidance. We found no evidence of interspecific exclusion of leopard by lion; rather, positive associations were observed at both scales, suggesting shared habitat preferences. We found little evidence of leopard habitat use being affected by wild dog. Our findings also reveal some interspecific effects on species detection, at both scales. In most cases, habitat use was driven more strongly by other habitat effects, such as biotic resources or anthropogenic pressures, than by interspecific pressures, even where evidence of the latter was present. Overall, our results help shed light on interspecific effects within an assemblage that has rarely been examined at this scale. We also demonstrate the effectiveness of sign-based co-occurrence modelling to describe interspecific spatial patterns of sympatric large carnivores across large scales. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings for large carnivore conservation in modern African systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Strampelli
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Lion Landscapes, Iringa, Tanzania
- Panthera, New York, NY, United States of America
| | | | - Charlotte E. Searle
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Lion Landscapes, Iringa, Tanzania
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Amy J. Dickman
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Recanati Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Lion Landscapes, Iringa, Tanzania
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7
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Vissia S, Bouman A, Virtuoso FAS, van Langevelde F. Seasonal variation in prey preference, diet partitioning and niche breadth in a rich large carnivore guild. Afr J Ecol 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sander Vissia
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group Wageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Ariet Bouman
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group Wageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Frank van Langevelde
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group Wageningen University Wageningen The Netherlands
- School of Life Sciences, Westville Campus University of KwaZulu‐Natal Durban South Africa
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8
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Stone DW, Kelly C, Marneweck DG, Druce DJ, Hopcraft JGC, Marneweck CJ. Fence management and time since pack formation influence African wild dog escapes from protected areas in South Africa. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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9
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Jamison-Todd S, Moon BC, Rowe AJ, Williams M, Benton MJ. Dietary niche partitioning in Early Jurassic ichthyosaurs from Strawberry Bank. J Anat 2022; 241:1409-1423. [PMID: 36175086 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Jurassic ichthyosaurs dominated upper trophic levels of marine ecosystems. Many species coexisted alongside each another, and it is uncertain whether they competed for the same array of food or divided dietary resources, each specializing in different kinds of prey. Here, we test whether feeding differences existed between species, applying finite element analysis to ichthyosaurs for the first time. We examine two juvenile ichthyosaur specimens, referred to Hauffiopteryx typicus and Stenopterygius triscissus, from the Strawberry Bank Lagerstätte, a shallow marine environment from the Early Jurassic of southern England (Toarcian, ~183 Ma). Snout and cranial robusticity differ between the species, with S. triscissus having a more robust snout and cranium and specializing in slow biting of hard prey, and H. typicus with its slender snout specializing in fast, but weaker bites on fast-moving, but soft prey. The two species did not differ in muscle forces, but stress distributions varied in the nasal area, reflecting differences when biting at different points along the tooth row: the more robustly snouted Stenopterygius resisted increases or shifts in stress distribution when the bite point was shifted from the posterior to the mid-point of the tooth row, but the slender-snouted Hauffiopteryx showed shifts and increases in stress distributions between these two bite points. The differences in cranial morphology, dentition and inferred stresses between the two species suggest adaptations for dietary niche partitioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin C Moon
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Andre J Rowe
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Matt Williams
- Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, Bath, UK
| | - Michael J Benton
- Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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10
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Müller L, Briers‐Louw WD, Amin R, Lochner CS, Leslie AJ. Carnivore coexistence facilitated by spatial and dietary partitioning and fine‐scale behavioural avoidance in a semi‐arid ecosystem. J Zool (1987) 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lana Müller
- The Cape Leopard Trust Cape Town South Africa
| | | | - Rajan Amin
- Conservation Programmes Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park London UK
| | | | - Alison Jane Leslie
- Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch Western Cape South Africa
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11
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Honiball TL, Somers MJ, Fritz H, Venter JA. Feeding Ecology of the Large Carnivore Guild in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.3957/056.051.0153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Terry-Lee Honiball
- Department of Nature Conservation Management, George Campus, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Michael J. Somers
- Eugène Marais Chair of Wildlife Management, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Hervé Fritz
- REHABS, International Research Laboratory, CNRS-NMU-UCBL, George Campus, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Jan A. Venter
- Department of Nature Conservation Management, George Campus, Faculty of Science, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
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12
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Gigliotti LC, Curveira‐Santos G, Slotow R, Sholto‐Douglas C, Swanepoel LH, Jachowski DS. Community‐level responses of African carnivores to prescribed burning. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura C. Gigliotti
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation Clemson University Clemson South Carolina USA
| | - Gonçalo Curveira‐Santos
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (cE3c) Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Rob Slotow
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa
| | | | - Lourens H. Swanepoel
- Department of Biological Sciences Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Agriculture University of Venda Thohoyandou South Africa
- African Institute for Conservation Ecology Levubu South Africa
| | - David S. Jachowski
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation Clemson University Clemson South Carolina USA
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity School of Life Sciences University of KwaZulu‐Natal Pietermaritzburg South Africa
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13
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Microhabitat partitioning is driven by preferences, not competition, in two Costa Rican millipede species. JOURNAL OF TROPICAL ECOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1017/s0266467421000365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe co-occurrence of similar species in a particular environment may be facilitated if they specialise on different microhabitats, reducing competition between them. In some cases, two species prefer the same microhabitat, but one is competitively excluded to its harsh margins. In this study, we assessed microhabitat preferences and competition between two species of millipedes in Costa Rica. (1) We observed them in the wild and found Nyssodesmus python most often on wood, less often on leaves, and rarely on rocks. Spirobolida was found most often on leaves, less often on wood, and never on rocks. (2) We tested their preferences in the lab and found that N. python preferred wood to rocks, wood to leaves, and rocks to leaves. Spirobolida preferred leaves to rocks, leaves to wood, and wood to rocks. (3) We tested interference competition by placing both species together in an arena in which they both had the same preference (wood vs. rocks). Both species chose to cohabitate in the same wood, indicating that one species did not directly exclude the other. In N. python and Spirobolida, co-occurrence is facilitated by differences in microhabitat preferences and not because competition forces one species out of its preferred microhabitat.
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Davies AB, Tambling CJ, Marneweck DG, Ranc N, Druce DJ, Cromsigt JPGM, le Roux E, Asner GP. Spatial heterogeneity facilitates carnivore coexistence. Ecology 2021; 102:e03319. [PMID: 33636010 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Competitively dominant carnivore species can limit the population sizes and alter the behavior of inferior competitors. Established mechanisms that enable carnivore coexistence include spatial and temporal avoidance of dominant predator species by subordinates, and dietary niche separation. However, spatial heterogeneity across landscapes could provide inferior competitors with refuges in the form of areas with lower competitor density and/or locations that provide concealment from competitors. Here, we combine temporally overlapping telemetry data from dominant lions (Panthera leo) and subordinate African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) with high-resolution remote sensing in an integrated step selection analysis to investigate how fine-scaled landscape heterogeneity might facilitate carnivore coexistence in South Africa's Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, where both predators occur at exceptionally high densities. We ask whether the primary lion-avoidance strategy of wild dogs is spatial avoidance of lions or areas frequented by lions, or if wild dogs selectively use landscape features to avoid detection by lions. Within this framework, we also test whether wild dogs rely on proactive or reactive responses to lion risk. In contrast to previous studies finding strong spatial avoidance of lions by wild dogs, we found that the primary wild dog lion-avoidance strategy was to select landscape features that aid in avoidance of lion detection. This habitat selection was routinely used by wild dogs, and especially when in areas and during times of high lion-encounter risk, suggesting a proactive response to lion risk. Our findings suggest that spatial landscape heterogeneity could represent an alternative mechanism for carnivore coexistence, especially as ever-shrinking carnivore ranges force inferior competitors into increased contact with dominant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B Davies
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Craig J Tambling
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
| | - David G Marneweck
- Eugène Marais Chair of Wildlife Management, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Endangered Wildlife Trust, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Wildlife Ecology Lab, School of Natural Resource Management, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
| | - Nathan Ranc
- Environmental Studies Department, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Dave J Druce
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa.,School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Joris P G M Cromsigt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.,Faculty of Geosciences, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth le Roux
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gregory P Asner
- Center for Global Discovery and Conservation Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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15
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Cornhill KL, Kerley GI. Does Competition Shape Cheetah Prey Use Following African Wild Dog Reintroductions? AFRICAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.3957/056.050.0075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kristina L. Cornhill
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
| | - Graham I.H. Kerley
- Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
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16
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Kamler JF, Nicholson S, Stenkewitz U, Gharajehdaghipour T, Davies‐Mostert H. Do black‐backed jackals exhibit spatial partitioning with African wild dogs and lions? Afr J Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan F. Kamler
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Department of Zoology University of Oxford The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre Abingdon UK
| | | | - Ute Stenkewitz
- University of Iceland's Research Centre at Snæfellsnes Stykkishólmur Iceland
| | | | - Harriet Davies‐Mostert
- Endangered Wildlife Trust Modderfontein South Africa
- Department of Zoology and Entomology Eugène Marais Chair of Wildlife Management Mammal Research Institute University of Pretoria Pretoria South Africa
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