Vertebrate scavenger guild composition and utilization of carrion in an East Asian temperate forest.

ABSTRACT: Scavenging is a common feeding behavior by many species that plays an important role in ecosystem stability and function while also providing ecosystem services. Despite its importance, facultative scavenging on large animal carcasses has generally been overlooked in Asian temperate forest ecosystems. The aim of this study was to determine the composition and feeding behavior of the facultative scavenger guild as it relates to sika deer (Cervus nippon) carcasses in Japanese forests. There are no obligate scavengers or large predators that kill adult ungulates, but humans fill the role of large predators by culling deer for population management. We documented nine vertebrate species scavenging on deer carcasses and found that mammals were more frequent scavengers than birds and also

SUBMITTER: Inagaki A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7029075 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature