Abstract
We evaluated the strategies of resources partitioning among species, dietary overlap and niche breadth in an assemblage of carnivores integrated by top predators (Puma concolor and Panthera onca) and mesopredators(Leoparduspardalis,Leoparduswiedii,Puma yagouaroundi,Nasuanarica andUrocyoncinereoargenteus). The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms explaining the coexistence among species at a temperate zone in central Mexico. We collected 259 scats of carnivores and identified 45 food items. The analysis showed the common consumptionof mammals in the assemblage, and the correspondence analysis showed three guilds: 1) top predators associated with the use of medium-sized mammals and the exclusive consumption of large mammals, 2) carnivore mesopredators associated with the consumption of small mammals and birds and 3) omnivore mesopredators associated with the consumption of arthropods and plants. The dietary overlap analysis indicated a low overlap between guilds and a high overlap within them. Top predators were specialist foragers, whilst the carnivore mesopredators showed generalist consumption. The coexistence in this carnivore assemblage seems to be related to body size, morphology and prey segregation because such characteristics suggest the presence of three guilds. We observed high dietary overlap within guilds and resource partitioning betweenguilds.
Highlights
We evaluated the strategies of resources partitioning among species, dietary overlap and niche breadth in an assemblage of carnivores integrated by top predators (Puma concolor and Panthera onca) and mesopredators (Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii, Puma yagouaroundi, Nasua narica and Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
We investigated the feeding strategies that may explain the coexistence among members of a carnivore assemblage at a temperate zone of central Mexico in relation to morphological similarity
The largest number of scats was from U. cinereoargenteus (90), whilst the rest were from P. concolor (54), P. yagouaroundi (42), L. pardalis (21), N. narica (20), L. wiedii (16) and P. onca (16)
Summary
We evaluated the strategies of resources partitioning among species, dietary overlap and niche breadth in an assemblage of carnivores integrated by top predators (Puma concolor and Panthera onca) and mesopredators (Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii, Puma yagouaroundi, Nasua narica and Urocyon cinereoargenteus). The evaluation of feeding relationships between predators, prey and their environment is used to identify factors structuring communities (Carvalho and Gomes 2004). To reach this aim, it is necessary to analyse trophic interactions between species that use similar resources, namely guilds (Root 1967; Jaksic 1981). Ecological interactions and the mechanisms involved in resource partitioning and species coexistence are studied in relation to food, space or time segregation (MacArthur and Levins 1967; Schoener 1974). The opportunistic ability of some species represents an advantage in the use of resources and favours coexistence on the guild (Jaksic et al 1996; Guerrero et al 2002)
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