Abstract: The
abandonment of traditional livestock farming systems in Mediterranean
countries is triggering a large-scale habitat transformation, which, in
general, consists of the replacement of open grazing areas by woodlands
through non-managed regeneration. As a consequence, wild ungulates are
occupying rapidly the empty niche left by domestic ungulates. Both types
of ungulates represent the main trophic resource for large vertebrate
scavengers. However, a comparison of how vertebrate scavengers consume
ungulate carcasses in different habitats with different ungulate species
composition is lacking. This knowledge is essential to forecast the
possible consequences of the current farmland abandonment on scavenger
species. Here, we compared the scavenging patterns of 24 wild and 24
domestic ungulate carcasses in a mountainous region of southern Spain
monitored through camera trapping. Our results show that carcasses of
domestic ungulates, which concentrate in large numbers in open
pasturelands, were detected and consumed earlier than those of wild
ungulate carcasses, which frequently occur in much lower densities at
more heterogenous habitats such as shrublands and forest. Richness and
abundance of scavengers were also higher at domestic ungulate carcasses
in open habitats. Vultures, mainly griffons (Gyps fulvus), consumed most of the carcasses, although mammalian facultative scavengers, mainly wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes),
also contributed importantly to the consumption of wild ungulate
carcasses in areas with higher vegetation cover. Our findings evidence
that the abandonment of traditional grazing may entail consequences for
the scavenger community, which should be considered by ecologists and
wildlife managers.
See a press note (in Spanish) here
See a press note (in Spanish) here
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