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Seasonal resource partitioning between neighboring cougars in a multiprey system
Siobhan Darlington1,2, Karen E Hodges1,3, T J Gooliaff2
1Department of Biology, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, British Columbia V1V 1V7, Canada.
Summary
Cougar diet similarity varies by sex and season, influenced by prey availability and home range overlap. Resource partitioning occurred between females, while competition occurred between males and females.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Zoology
- Wildlife Biology
Background:
- Predator diet variation is driven by traits, prey, and competition.
- Understanding cougar (Puma concolor) diet dynamics is crucial for conservation in multi-prey systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how sex, prey availability, and home range overlap influence diet similarity in cougars.
- To test hypotheses of prey availability, resource competition, and resource partitioning on cougar diets.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed diet data from 27 female and 11 male cougars (875 kill sites).
- Extrapolated prey availability using 146 remote cameras across seasons.
- Modeled diet similarity using a pairwise approach to assess influences of sex, season, and overlap.
Main Results:
- Males consumed larger prey (moose, elk) more often than females; females preyed more on deer.
- Resource partitioning was observed between female cougars, while resource competition occurred between males and females.
- Diet similarity was lowest in summer and highest in winter, correlating with home range size.
Conclusions:
- Cougar diet patterns are complex, shaped by sexual dimorphism, seasonal prey shifts, and spatial interactions.
- Resource partitioning and competition play significant roles in prey selection among overlapping cougar populations.
- Home range overlap and seasonal dynamics are key factors influencing predator-prey interactions in this ecosystem.
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