Carrion Increases Landscape-Scale Scavenger Activity and Interactions

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife biology
• Conservation science

Background:

• Carrion is a vital but unpredictable food source influencing ecosystem energy flow.
• Scavenger activity is typically studied at carcasses, with limited understanding of landscape-scale impacts.
• The influence of carrion on competing scavenger species' broader activity patterns is under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how experimental carrion provisioning affects the road use of dingoes (Canis dingo) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes).
• To explore seasonal variations in scavenger responses to carrion availability.
• To assess temporal overlap and potential competition between dingoes and red foxes on roads and at carcasses.

Main Methods:

• Deployment of 20 kangaroo carcasses across diverse habitats in southeast Australia.
• Monitoring of dingo and red fox activity on roads using camera traps before and after carcass deployment.
• Simultaneous camera trap monitoring of scavenger activity at the deployed carcasses.

Main Results:

• Both dingoes and red foxes showed increased road use after carcass deployment.
• Red foxes exhibited a stronger increase in road use during winter months.
• Temporal overlap in activity between dingoes and red foxes increased on roads and at carcasses, particularly in winter.

Conclusions:

• Carrion availability influences scavenger activity beyond immediate carcass sites, impacting landscape-scale patterns.
• Road use can serve as a proxy for scavenging activity, especially when carcasses are near roads.
• Understanding carrion's role is crucial for managing scavenger dynamics and interspecific competition at landscape scales.