Abstract
The degree of coexistence among predators can determine the structure of ecological communities. Niche partitioning is a common strategy applied by species to enhance their coexistence. Diet, habitat, or time use can be responsible for segregation among carnivore species, the latter factor being the least studied in Mediterranean ecosystems. Terrestrial medium‐sized carnivores (i.e., mesocarnivores) carry out important functions in ecosystems, and identifying their interactions is essential for their conservation.In this study, we explore the activity of a terrestrial mesocarnivore guild in order to determine seasonal differences in daily activity patterns of competitors and prey. We also investigate how the abundance of a common mesocarnivore prey in the region, small mammals, influences the activity of predators.During a year, camera trap devices (n = 18) were installed in Montseny Natural Park (Catalan Pre‐Coastal Range, North‐East Iberian Peninsula), a region that hosts five mesocarnivore species. Camera trapping detections were used to estimate their daily activity patterns and corresponding overlaps. We also surveyed small mammal plots (n = 5) in order to calculate prey abundance and test its effect on the relative activity of each carnivore species.Despite all target mesocarnivores are mainly nocturnal, the activity overlap among them varies according to species particularities and season. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) appears as a generalist species in terms of time use, whereas stone marten (Martes foina) and genet (Genetta genetta) show the most similar activity patterns and both of them seem to be positively influenced by small mammal abundance. Overall, the diversity found in the way mesocarnivore species use time could facilitate their coexistence.Despite activity pattern similarities among carnivore species should not be directly translated to negative interactions, they can have a strong influence in habitat and resource‐limited ecosystems. Therefore, activity overlaps should be taken into account when discussing wildlife management actions.
Highlights
Mammal carnivores play an important role in terrestrial landscapes, as their top-down effects can regulate prey populations with consequences spreading across the entire food web (Roemer, Gompper, & Van Valkenburgh, 2009; Schmitz, Hambäck, & Beckerman, 2000)
We explore the activity of a terrestrial mesocarnivore guild in order to determine seasonal differences in daily activity patterns of competitors and prey
Despite activity pattern similarities among carnivore species should not be directly translated to negative interactions, they can have a strong influence in habitat and resource-limited ecosystems
Summary
Mammal carnivores play an important role in terrestrial landscapes, as their top-down effects can regulate prey populations with consequences spreading across the entire food web (Roemer, Gompper, & Van Valkenburgh, 2009; Schmitz, Hambäck, & Beckerman, 2000). The main objective of this study was to investigate the temporal niche partitioning process in a terrestrial mesocarnivore guild that inhabits a Mediterranean ecosystem To fulfill this aim, we deployed 18 camera trap stations in Montseny Natural Park (Catalan Pre-Coastal Range, North-East Iberian Peninsula) during 1 year and estimated two different activity variables of mesocarnivore species: one at a daily level (activity pattern) and the other at a yearly scale (Relative Activity Index—RAI). We deployed 18 camera trap stations in Montseny Natural Park (Catalan Pre-Coastal Range, North-East Iberian Peninsula) during 1 year and estimated two different activity variables of mesocarnivore species: one at a daily level (activity pattern) and the other at a yearly scale (Relative Activity Index—RAI) From the former, we analyzed the activity overlap within the mesocarnivore guild and between predators and a common mesocarnivore prey in the region: small mammals. The results of this work highlight the importance of identifying the way carnivores use time and the variables that influence it in order to understand potential intraguild coexistence issues and define appropriate conservation measures to face them
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