The noble cats and the big bad scavengers: effects of dominant scavengers on solitary predators

@article{Krofel2012TheNC,
  title={The noble cats and the big bad scavengers: effects of dominant scavengers on solitary predators},
  author={Miha Krofel and Ivan M. Kos and Klemen Jerina},
  journal={Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology},
  year={2012},
  volume={66},
  pages={1297-1304}
}
Scavenging is an important but poorly understood ecological process. Dominant scavengers can impose a selection pressure that alters the predator’s fitness, morphology, behavior, and ecology. Interactions between ursids, likely the most important dominant scavengers in the Holarctic region, and solitary felids, which are characterized by long feeding times, provide a good opportunity for studying the effects of kleptoparasitism by dominant scavengers. We analyzed the effects of scavenging by… 
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126 Citations

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It is argued that targeting the conservation of ungulate–carnivore–vulture modules, rather than a species‐specific approach, will be a more effective strategy to ensure the long‐term persistence of Andean condors and other obligate scavengers.

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The results suggest that higher bear densities over time may reduce cougar feeding bout durations and influence the prey selection trade‐off for cougars when alternative, but more dangerous, large prey are available.

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