Temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a Brazilian Conservation Unit (PARNASO)
Time and space are niche dimensions that allow local coexistence of predators and their prey. Daily activity patterns are a crucial component of mammalian ecology and behavior, and temporal avoidance is often being regarded as the most important mechanism of coexistence among species. However, temp...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sociedad Colombiana de Mastozoología (SCMas)
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Mammalogy Notes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://mammalogynotes.org/ojs/index.php/mn/article/view/223 |
| _version_ | 1798045771289853952 |
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| author | Carolina Leão Rosa M. Meri-Leão Carlos EV. Grelle |
| author_facet | Carolina Leão Rosa M. Meri-Leão Carlos EV. Grelle |
| author_sort | Carolina Leão |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Time and space are niche dimensions that allow local coexistence of predators and their prey. Daily activity patterns are a crucial component of mammalian ecology and behavior, and temporal avoidance is often being regarded as the most important mechanism of coexistence among species. However, temporal overlap alone does not define the vulnerability of the prey or the preference of the predator, since there must also be spatial segregation, which can alleviate possible hostile interactions among animals. In this study, we tested whether there are any significant differences between temporal and spatial activity patterns of predators (Leopardus wiedii and Puma concolor) and prey (Sylvilagus brasiliensis, Cuniculus paca and Didelphis aurita). We used the camera-trapping data to test if the predator’s species had less occurrence than expected by chance in Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (PARNASO), a protected area of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We used a measure of spatial segregation (C-score) and a Kernel Density Function to determine predators and preys time of activity and whether a pair of species occurred simultaneously. In addition, we calculated a coefficient of overlap between predators and prey. We found low values of C-Score in all analyses, which means high spatial co-occurrence and lack of spatial segregation among predators and their potential prey. Also, the Kernel Density Function showed that predators had more cathemeral activity while prey were mainly nocturnal. We thus show that temporal segregation is more important than spatial segregation in the study area. Our results suggest that predators are most likely to adjust their activity patterns based on the behavior of their main prey rather than to avoid competition with other species.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:26:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5ce878a761f447ca98f14860d8299390 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2382-3704 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:26:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Sociedad Colombiana de Mastozoología (SCMas) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Mammalogy Notes |
| spelling | doaj.art-5ce878a761f447ca98f14860d82993902022-12-22T03:57:18ZengSociedad Colombiana de Mastozoología (SCMas)Mammalogy Notes2382-37042022-08-017210.47603/mano.v7n2.223Temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a Brazilian Conservation Unit (PARNASO)Carolina Leão0Rosa M. Meri-Leão1Carlos EV. Grelle2Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de JaneiroPESC/COPPE - Programa de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computação, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Horácio Macedo 2030, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco H, sala 319, Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 21941-972, BrazilLaboratório de Vertebrados, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Sala A1-050 - Cidade Universitária da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 21941-902, Brazil Time and space are niche dimensions that allow local coexistence of predators and their prey. Daily activity patterns are a crucial component of mammalian ecology and behavior, and temporal avoidance is often being regarded as the most important mechanism of coexistence among species. However, temporal overlap alone does not define the vulnerability of the prey or the preference of the predator, since there must also be spatial segregation, which can alleviate possible hostile interactions among animals. In this study, we tested whether there are any significant differences between temporal and spatial activity patterns of predators (Leopardus wiedii and Puma concolor) and prey (Sylvilagus brasiliensis, Cuniculus paca and Didelphis aurita). We used the camera-trapping data to test if the predator’s species had less occurrence than expected by chance in Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos (PARNASO), a protected area of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We used a measure of spatial segregation (C-score) and a Kernel Density Function to determine predators and preys time of activity and whether a pair of species occurred simultaneously. In addition, we calculated a coefficient of overlap between predators and prey. We found low values of C-Score in all analyses, which means high spatial co-occurrence and lack of spatial segregation among predators and their potential prey. Also, the Kernel Density Function showed that predators had more cathemeral activity while prey were mainly nocturnal. We thus show that temporal segregation is more important than spatial segregation in the study area. Our results suggest that predators are most likely to adjust their activity patterns based on the behavior of their main prey rather than to avoid competition with other species. https://mammalogynotes.org/ojs/index.php/mn/article/view/223Atlantic forestNeotropical mammalniche teorytemporal segregation |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Leão Rosa M. Meri-Leão Carlos EV. Grelle Temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a Brazilian Conservation Unit (PARNASO) Mammalogy Notes Atlantic forest Neotropical mammal niche teory temporal segregation |
| title | Temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a Brazilian Conservation Unit (PARNASO) |
| title_full | Temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a Brazilian Conservation Unit (PARNASO) |
| title_fullStr | Temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a Brazilian Conservation Unit (PARNASO) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a Brazilian Conservation Unit (PARNASO) |
| title_short | Temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a Brazilian Conservation Unit (PARNASO) |
| title_sort | temporal and spatial segregation between mammal predators and their prey in a brazilian conservation unit parnaso |
| topic | Atlantic forest Neotropical mammal niche teory temporal segregation |
| url | https://mammalogynotes.org/ojs/index.php/mn/article/view/223 |
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