Temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within South African carnivore communities
Abstract Carnivora occupy many ecological niches fundamental to ecosystem functioning. Within this diverse order, carnivore species compete to establish dominance, ensure survival and maintain fitness. Subordinate carnivores must, therefore, adapt their behaviour to coexist with dominant species. On...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10380 |
| _version_ | 1797732744854241280 |
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| author | Kyle Smith Jan A. Venter Mike Peel Mark Keith Michael J. Somers |
| author_facet | Kyle Smith Jan A. Venter Mike Peel Mark Keith Michael J. Somers |
| author_sort | Kyle Smith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Carnivora occupy many ecological niches fundamental to ecosystem functioning. Within this diverse order, carnivore species compete to establish dominance, ensure survival and maintain fitness. Subordinate carnivores must, therefore, adapt their behaviour to coexist with dominant species. One such strategy is the partitioning of temporal activity patterns. We aim to determine interspecific avoidance patterns among sympatric carnivores by examining coexistence along a temporal axis. We compared the temporal activity patterns of 13 carnivore species using multi‐seasonal camera trapping data from four protected areas across South Africa: Associated Private Nature Reserves, Madikwe Game Reserve, Mountain Zebra National Park and Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. Interspecific coefficients of overlap in diel and core activity periods were calculated over the study period and during the wet and dry seasons. Furthermore, interspecific spatiotemporal behaviour was examined using time‐to‐event analyses. Our results showed that complete avoidance of diel activity patterns was rare among South African carnivore species. Most species were predominantly nocturnal and, therefore, diel activity overlap was high, whereas core activity overlap was significantly lower (p < .001). Diel activity overlap was significantly lower during the dry than wet seasons (p = .045). Lastly, evidence of spatiotemporal aggregation revolved around scavenging species. We show the importance of seasonality in the temporal avoidance behaviours of South African carnivores while highlighting the need for fine‐scaled behavioural analyses. Overall, we show that the daily activity patterns of most subordinate South African carnivore species are not influenced by top‐down forces in the form of competitional suppression and risk exerted by dominant species. If avoidance is required, it is more likely to manifest as fine‐scaled avoidance of core activity periods. We suggest that the focus on core activity periods might be a more suitable tool for interspecific temporal partitioning research. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:19:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b76e748396d24c2bb193bf3e4cc1988a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T12:19:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-b76e748396d24c2bb193bf3e4cc1988a2023-08-30T06:50:40ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582023-08-01138n/an/a10.1002/ece3.10380Temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within South African carnivore communitiesKyle Smith0Jan A. Venter1Mike Peel2Mark Keith3Michael J. Somers4Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria South AfricaARC‐Animal Production Institute Rangeland Ecology Group Nelspruit South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria South AfricaMammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology University of Pretoria Pretoria South AfricaAbstract Carnivora occupy many ecological niches fundamental to ecosystem functioning. Within this diverse order, carnivore species compete to establish dominance, ensure survival and maintain fitness. Subordinate carnivores must, therefore, adapt their behaviour to coexist with dominant species. One such strategy is the partitioning of temporal activity patterns. We aim to determine interspecific avoidance patterns among sympatric carnivores by examining coexistence along a temporal axis. We compared the temporal activity patterns of 13 carnivore species using multi‐seasonal camera trapping data from four protected areas across South Africa: Associated Private Nature Reserves, Madikwe Game Reserve, Mountain Zebra National Park and Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. Interspecific coefficients of overlap in diel and core activity periods were calculated over the study period and during the wet and dry seasons. Furthermore, interspecific spatiotemporal behaviour was examined using time‐to‐event analyses. Our results showed that complete avoidance of diel activity patterns was rare among South African carnivore species. Most species were predominantly nocturnal and, therefore, diel activity overlap was high, whereas core activity overlap was significantly lower (p < .001). Diel activity overlap was significantly lower during the dry than wet seasons (p = .045). Lastly, evidence of spatiotemporal aggregation revolved around scavenging species. We show the importance of seasonality in the temporal avoidance behaviours of South African carnivores while highlighting the need for fine‐scaled behavioural analyses. Overall, we show that the daily activity patterns of most subordinate South African carnivore species are not influenced by top‐down forces in the form of competitional suppression and risk exerted by dominant species. If avoidance is required, it is more likely to manifest as fine‐scaled avoidance of core activity periods. We suggest that the focus on core activity periods might be a more suitable tool for interspecific temporal partitioning research.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10380activitycamera trapsCarnivoraoverlapSouth Africatemporal avoidance |
| spellingShingle | Kyle Smith Jan A. Venter Mike Peel Mark Keith Michael J. Somers Temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within South African carnivore communities Ecology and Evolution activity camera traps Carnivora overlap South Africa temporal avoidance |
| title | Temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within South African carnivore communities |
| title_full | Temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within South African carnivore communities |
| title_fullStr | Temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within South African carnivore communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within South African carnivore communities |
| title_short | Temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within South African carnivore communities |
| title_sort | temporal partitioning and the potential for avoidance behaviour within south african carnivore communities |
| topic | activity camera traps Carnivora overlap South Africa temporal avoidance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10380 |
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