Resource pulses shape seasonal and individual variation in the diet of an omnivorous carnivore.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Resource pulses shape seasonal and individual variation in the diet of an omnivorous carnivore.
Authors: Jensen, Alex J.1,2 (AUTHOR), Muthersbaugh, Michael1 (AUTHOR), Ruth, Charles R.3 (AUTHOR), Butfiloski, Joseph W.3 (AUTHOR), Cantrell, Jay3 (AUTHOR), Adams, Jennifer4 (AUTHOR), Waits, Lisette4 (AUTHOR), Kilgo, John C.5 (AUTHOR), Jachowski, David S.1 (AUTHOR) djachow@clemson.edu
Source: Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Jul2024, Vol. 14 Issue 7, p1-15. 15p.
Subject Terms: *Resource availability (Ecology), *Biotic communities, Top predators, Coyote, Diet
Abstract: Resource pulses are ecologically important phenomenon that occur in most ecosystems globally. Following optimal foraging theory, many consumers switch to pulsatile foods when available, examples of which include fruit mast and vulnerable young prey. Yet how the availability of resource pulses shapes the ecology of predators is still an emerging area of research; and how much individual variation there is in response to pulses is not well understood. We hypothesized that resource pulses would lead to dietary convergence in our population, which we tested by tracking both population‐level and individual coyote diets for 3 years in South Carolina, USA. We (1) described seasonal dietary shifts in relation to resource pulses; (2) compared male and female diets across seasons; and (3) tested this dietary convergence hypothesis by quantifying individual dietary variation both across and within periods when resource pulses were available. We found that pulses of white‐tailed deer fawns and blackberries composed over half of coyote diet in summer, and persimmon fruits were an important component in fall. Male and female coyotes generally had similar diets, but males consumed more deer in fall, perhaps driven by scavenging more. We found support for our dietary convergence hypothesis, where individuals had more similar diets during resource pulses compared to a non‐pulse period. We also found that this convergence happened before peak availability, suggesting a non‐symmetric response to pulse availability. We show that nearly all coyotes eat fawns, suggesting that targeted efforts to remove "fawn killers" would be in vain. Instead, given how quickly coyotes collectively converge on resource pulses, our findings show that resource pulses could potentially be used by managers to alter the behavior of apex predators. More broadly, we open a new line of inquiry into how variation in individual foraging decisions scales up to shape the effects of resource pulses on ecological communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: GreenFILE
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: 8gh
DbLabel: GreenFILE
An: 178738132
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Resource pulses shape seasonal and individual variation in the diet of an omnivorous carnivore.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jensen%2C+Alex+J%2E%22">Jensen, Alex J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Muthersbaugh%2C+Michael%22">Muthersbaugh, Michael</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ruth%2C+Charles+R%2E%22">Ruth, Charles R.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Butfiloski%2C+Joseph+W%2E%22">Butfiloski, Joseph W.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cantrell%2C+Jay%22">Cantrell, Jay</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Adams%2C+Jennifer%22">Adams, Jennifer</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Waits%2C+Lisette%22">Waits, Lisette</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kilgo%2C+John+C%2E%22">Kilgo, John C.</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jachowski%2C+David+S%2E%22">Jachowski, David S.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> djachow@clemson.edu</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Jul2024, Vol. 14 Issue 7, p1-15. 15p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resource+availability+%28Ecology%29%22">Resource availability (Ecology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biotic+communities%22">Biotic communities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Top+predators%22">Top predators</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Coyote%22">Coyote</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diet%22">Diet</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Resource pulses are ecologically important phenomenon that occur in most ecosystems globally. Following optimal foraging theory, many consumers switch to pulsatile foods when available, examples of which include fruit mast and vulnerable young prey. Yet how the availability of resource pulses shapes the ecology of predators is still an emerging area of research; and how much individual variation there is in response to pulses is not well understood. We hypothesized that resource pulses would lead to dietary convergence in our population, which we tested by tracking both population‐level and individual coyote diets for 3 years in South Carolina, USA. We (1) described seasonal dietary shifts in relation to resource pulses; (2) compared male and female diets across seasons; and (3) tested this dietary convergence hypothesis by quantifying individual dietary variation both across and within periods when resource pulses were available. We found that pulses of white‐tailed deer fawns and blackberries composed over half of coyote diet in summer, and persimmon fruits were an important component in fall. Male and female coyotes generally had similar diets, but males consumed more deer in fall, perhaps driven by scavenging more. We found support for our dietary convergence hypothesis, where individuals had more similar diets during resource pulses compared to a non‐pulse period. We also found that this convergence happened before peak availability, suggesting a non‐symmetric response to pulse availability. We show that nearly all coyotes eat fawns, suggesting that targeted efforts to remove "fawn killers" would be in vain. Instead, given how quickly coyotes collectively converge on resource pulses, our findings show that resource pulses could potentially be used by managers to alter the behavior of apex predators. More broadly, we open a new line of inquiry into how variation in individual foraging decisions scales up to shape the effects of resource pulses on ecological communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=178738132
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/ece3.11632
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Resource availability (Ecology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biotic communities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Top predators
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Coyote
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Diet
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Resource pulses shape seasonal and individual variation in the diet of an omnivorous carnivore.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jensen, Alex J.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Muthersbaugh, Michael
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ruth, Charles R.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Butfiloski, Joseph W.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cantrell, Jay
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Adams, Jennifer
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Waits, Lisette
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kilgo, John C.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jachowski, David S.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: Jul2024
              Type: published
              Y: 2024
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 20457758
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 14
            – Type: issue
              Value: 7
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Ecology & Evolution (20457758)
              Type: main
ResultId 1