10.5061/DRYAD.GHX3FFBRF
Fielding, Matthew
0000-0003-4536-0192
University of Tasmania
Cunningham, Calum
University of Tasmania
Buettel, Jessie
University of Tasmania
Stojanovic, Dejan
Australian National University
Yates, Luke
University of Tasmania
Jones, Menna
University of Tasmania
Brook, Barry
University of Tasmania
Data from: Dominant carnivore loss benefits native avian and invasive
mammalian scavengers
Dryad
dataset
2022
FOS: Biological sciences
scavenger
trophic cascades
carcass use
Survival analysis
mesoscavenger release
carnivore extinction
Australian Research Council
https://ror.org/05mmh0f86
FL160100101
Australian Research Council
https://ror.org/05mmh0f86
CE170100015
Australian Research Council
https://ror.org/05mmh0f86
DP110103069
Equity Trustees
https://ror.org/05psqqq26
2022-05-03T00:00:00Z
2022-05-03T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.06.459188
44866 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Scavenging by large carnivores is integral for ecosystem functioning by
limiting the build-up of carrion and facilitating widespread energy flows.
However, top carnivores have declined across the world, triggering trophic
shifts within ecosystems. In this study, we use a natural ‘removal
experiment’ of disease-driven decline and island extirpation of native
mammalian (marsupial) carnivores to investigate top-down control on
utilisation of experimentally placed carcasses by two mesoscavengers – the
invasive feral cat and native forest raven. Ravens were the main
beneficiary of carnivore loss, scavenging for five times longer in the
absence of native mammalian carnivores. Cats scavenged on half of all
carcasses in the region without dominant native carnivores. This was eight
times more than in areas where other carnivores were at high densities.
All carcasses persisted longer than the three-week monitoring period in
the absence of native mammalian carnivores, while in areas with high
carnivore abundance, all carcasses were fully consumed. Our results reveal
the efficiency of carrion consumption by mammalian scavengers. These
services are not readily replaced by less-efficient facultative
scavengers. Overall, our results demonstrate the significance of global
carnivore conservation and support management approaches, such as
rewilding in areas where the natural suite of carnivores is missing.