Unravelling the vertebrate scavenger assemblage in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia
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Title: | Unravelling the vertebrate scavenger assemblage in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia |
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Authors: | Orihuela-Torres, Adrian | Morales-Reyes, Zebensui | Pérez-García, Juan M. | Naves-Alegre, Lara | Sánchez-Zapata, José A. | Sebastián-González, Esther |
Center, Department or Service: | Universidad de Alicante. Departamento de Ecología |
Keywords: | Arid ecosystem | Carrion | Consumption rate | Seminomadic herder | Species richness | Vulture |
Knowledge Area: | Ecología |
Issue Date: | Jul-2021 |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Citation: | Journal of Arid Environments. 2021, 190: 104509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104509 |
Abstract: | Despite the essential role that vertebrate scavengers play in ecosystems, most studies have been conducted in Europe and North America, and there is a lack of information on vertebrate scavengers in vast regions of the world. Our aim was to describe the functioning and composition of the unknown vertebrate scavenger assemblage in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia, and determine how carcass size and habitat type affect species composition and carrion use. We monitored carcasses with camera traps and we also conducted observation points to survey the raptor community and identify the proportion of raptor species making use of the carcasses. We recorded eight vertebrate scavenger species (five birds and three mammals) by camera trap and seven raptors at observation points. Over half of the raptor species recorded at the observation points were also found feeding on carrion. The two most threatened species were only recorded in the mountain habitat. Furthermore, scavenger abundance and consumption rates were higher at large carcasses. This study highlights the importance of scavenging by raptors and other vertebrate scavengers for carrion elimination in ecosystems with extreme climatic conditions. |
Sponsor: | AOT, JMPG, ZMR, LNA and ESG were supported by Generalitat Valenciana (SEJI/2018/024), ZMR and LNA also by contracts co-funded by the Generalitat Valenciana and the European Social Fund (APOSTD/2019/016 and ACIF/2019/056, respectively), and JASZ by funds from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the European Regional Development Fund (RTI 2018-099609-B-C21). |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/10045/114445 |
ISSN: | 0140-1963 (Print) | 1095-922X (Online) |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104509 |
Language: | eng |
Type: | info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
Rights: | © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. |
Peer Review: | si |
Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2021.104509 |
Appears in Collections: | Personal Investigador sin Adscripción a Grupo INV - ECPCA - Artículos de Revistas |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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Orihuela-Torres_etal_2021_JAridEnviron_final.pdf | Versión final (acceso restringido) | 4,68 MB | Adobe PDF | Open Request a copy |
Orihuela-Torres_etal_2021_JAridEnviron_preprint.pdf | Preprint (acceso abierto) | 1,09 MB | Adobe PDF | Open Preview |
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