scholarly journals Dietary niche overlap in a nearshore elasmobranch mesopredator community

2011 ◽  
Vol 425 ◽  
pp. 247-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Vaudo ◽  
MR Heithaus
Keyword(s):  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Dietary Niche

scholarly journals Dietary niche overlap of free-roaming dingoes and domestic dogs: the role of human-provided food

2014 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Newsome ◽  
Guy-Anthony Ballard ◽  
Mathew S. Crowther ◽  
Peter J. S. Fleming ◽  
Christopher R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Domestic Dogs ◽  
Dietary Niche

The influence of food availability, quality and body size on patch selection of coexisting grazer ungulates in western Serengeti National Park

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bukombe ◽  
Andrew Kittle ◽  
Ramadhan B. Senzota ◽  
Hamza Kija ◽  
Simon Mduma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Patch Selection ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Serengeti Ecosystem ◽  
Dietary Niche

Context Differences in body size and mouth morphologies influence dietary resource separation among savanna ungulates, and this influences their distribution across landscape. Aim The aim was to understand the influence of body size and mouth morphology differences on both diet and patch selection by ungulate species in western Serengeti. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) for ungulate species, the relative body sizes and muzzle widths (mean muzzle width range: 3.1- 9.85) relate directly to food biomass, and to quality of diets selected in the wet season when food is abundant; (2) in the wet season, if food is not limiting, similar-sized species should exhibit greater dietary niche overlap than ungulate species that differ greatly in body size and muzzle width; moreover, similar-sized species exhibit less dietary niche overlap than ungulate species that differ greatly in body size. Methods In the western Serengeti ecosystem, road transects and direct observation were used to obtain data on the distribution and diet of five ungulate species namely buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, topi and impala; which have of varying sizes (range: 70–630kg) feeding in three different vegetation types. Grassland biomass, structure, nutrient content and ungulate use were measured at sites along transects. Key Results Results indicated that large-bodied ungulates utilised patches of greater food abundance compared with those of smaller ungulates. Body mass was also negatively correlated with diet quality, so that smaller animals ate higher protein and lower-fibre foods, as predicted. Diet niche overlap (niche similarity) showed a strong positive relationship with body mass differences among ungulate species, in support of the second of the two predictions from this hypothesis, namely that dissimilarly sized species could eat the same food. Conclusion Overall, the results suggest that in this savanna system, variation in ungulate body size influences resource separation even in the food-abundant wet season, and that this helps multiple species to co-exist. Implications Implementing more focused conservation strategies will improve wildlife habitat quality by integrating fire as a forage management tool with grazing preferences to promote forage heterogeneity in protected areas.

scholarly journals Isotopic evidence for dietary niche overlap between barking deer and four-horned antelope in Nepal

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Prasad Pokharel ◽  
Elizabeth Yohannes ◽  
Ioanna Salvarina ◽  
Ilse Storch
Keyword(s):  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Isotopic Evidence ◽  
Dietary Niche

scholarly journals The role of dietary competition in the origination and early diversification of North American euprimates

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1884) ◽  
pp. 20181230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura K. Stroik ◽  
Gary T. Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Competitive Displacement ◽  
Core Component ◽  
Competitive Coexistence ◽  
Early Diversification ◽  
Dietary Niche ◽  
Molar Morphology

The conditions under which early euprimates (adapids and omomyids) originated and evolved is an area of longstanding debate. The leading hypotheses of euprimate origins promulgate diet as a core component of the early evolution of this group, despite the role of dietary competition in euprimate originations never being tested directly. This study compared three competition models (non-competition, competitive displacement, competitive coexistence) with observed patterns of dietary niche overlap, reconstructed from three-dimensional molar morphology, at the time of the euprimate radiation in North America (at the Paleocene–Eocene boundary). Overlap of reconstructed multidimensional dietary niches between euprimates and members of their guild were analysed using a modified MANOVA to establish the nature of the competitive environment surrounding euprimate origins in North America (an immigration event). Results indicated that adapids entered the mammalian guild in the absence of competition, suggesting dietary adaptations that were unique within the community. Conversely, omomyids experienced strong, but transitory, competition with nyctitheriids, suggesting that omomyids possessed the ability to out-compete this group. These results show that adapids and omomyids experienced different competitive scenarios upon their arrival (origination) in North America and confirm the significance of diet (and dietary adaptations) in euprimate origination and early diversification in mammalian communities.

scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism, diet, and notes on reproduction in Oxyrhopus trigeminus (Serpentes: Colubridae) in the semiarid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
Rafael Damasceno Fernandes Coelho ◽  
Raul Fernandes Dantas Sales ◽  
Leonardo Barros Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Minimum Size ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Dietary Niche ◽  
Males And Females

Sexual dimorphism, diet, and notes on reproduction in Oxyrhopus trigeminus (Serpentes: Colubridae) in the semiarid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. Selected morphological characters, diet, and reproduction of the false-coral snake, Oxyrhopus trigeminus, from several localities in the Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil are described based on examination of preserved specimens. Sexual dimorphism is evident, with females attaining larger body sizes than males, but males have relatively larger heads and tails. A total of 25 prey items was identifed in 23 of the 97 O. trigeminus examined; based on the orientation of the prey in the stomachs, all items were ingested headfrst. Lizards are the most frequent prey (96%) of O. trigeminus, with the lizard Tropidurus hispidus being the most important prey species both in number and in volume; marsupials account for 4% of the diet. Juveniles have a narrower dietary niche width than adults, presumably because they have smaller mouths with a narrower gape. Females have a wider dietary niche than males, but there is a high niche overlap between the sexes; males and females do not differ in prey volumes. The analysis of the gonads showed that 10 females have 4–13 vitellogenic follicles (mean 7.8 ± 2.8 follicles), and 2 females have oviducal eggs, one with only one egg and the other with fve eggs. The estimated minimum size at maturity for female O. trigeminus in the Caatinga is 400 mm.

scholarly journals Could controlling mammalian carnivores lead to mesopredator release of carnivorous reptiles?

2010 ◽  
Vol 278 (1706) ◽  
pp. 641-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan R. Sutherland ◽  
Alistair S. Glen ◽  
Paul J. de Tores
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Mesopredator Release ◽  
Specific Approach ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Community Approach ◽  
Dietary Niche

Emerging evidence increasingly illustrates the importance of a holistic, rather than taxon-specific, approach to the study of ecological communities. Considerable resources are expended to manage both introduced and native mammalian carnivores to improve conservation outcomes; however, management can result in unforeseen and sometimes catastrophic outcomes. Varanid lizards are likely to be apex- or mesopredators, but being reptiles are rarely considered by managers and researchers when investigating the impacts of mammalian carnivore management. Instances of mesopredator release have been described for Varanus gouldii as a result of fox and cat management in Australia, with cascading effects on faunal community structure. A meta-analysis showing extensive dietary niche overlap between varanids, foxes and cats plus a review of experimental and circumstantial evidence suggests mesopredator release of V. gouldii and about five other medium to large species of varanid lizard is likely in other regions. This highlights the need for managers to adopt a whole-of-community approach when attempting to manage predators for sustained fauna conservation, and that additional research is required to elucidate whether mesopredator release of varanids is a widespread consequence of carnivore management, altering the intended faunal responses.

Dietary niche overlap in sympatric asexual and sexual livebearing fishes Poecilia spp.

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (7) ◽  
pp. 1760-1773 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Scharnweber ◽  
M. Plath ◽  
K. O. Winemiller ◽  
M. Tobler
Keyword(s):  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Dietary Niche

High Dietary Niche Overlap Between Non-native and Native Ant Species in Natural Ecosystems

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna F Probert ◽  
Darren F Ward ◽  
Jacqueline R Beggs ◽  
Sarah J Bury ◽  
Syrie M Hermans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Isotopic Niche ◽  
Dietary Overlap ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Pattern Sequence ◽  
Dietary Niche

Abstract Ants represent a highly diverse and ecologically important group of insects found in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. A subset of ant species have been widely transported around the globe and invade many natural ecosystems, often out-competing native counterparts and causing varying impacts on recipient ecosystems. Decisions to control non-native ant populations require an understanding of their interactions and related impacts on native communities. We employed stable isotope analysis and metabarcoding techniques to identify potential dietary niche overlap and identify gut contents of 10 ant species found in natural ecosystems in Aotearoa New Zealand. Additionally, we looked at co-occurrence to identify potential competitive interactions among native and non-native ant species. Ants fed mainly across two trophic levels, with high dietary overlap. Relative to other ant species sampled, two non-native ant species, Linepithema humile and Technomyrmex jocosus, were found to feed at the lowest trophic level. The largest isotopic niche overlap was observed between the native Monomorium antarcticum and the invasive Ochetellus glaber, with analyses revealing a negative co-occurrence pattern. Sequence data of ant gut content identified 51 molecular operational taxonomic units, representing 22 orders and 34 families, and primarily consisting of arthropod DNA. Although we generally found high dietary overlap among species, negative occurrence between a dominant, non-native species and a ubiquitous native species indicates that species-specific interactions could be negatively impacting native ecosystems. Our research progresses and informs the currently limited knowledge around establishing protocols for metabarcoding to investigate ant diet and interactions between native and non-native ant species.

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