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Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey

Year 2020, Volume: 33 Issue: 2, 342 - 353, 01.06.2020
https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.595222

Abstract

Fairly recently scavenging was thought to be restricted to a few groups of 'classic' and sometimes facultative scavengers and vultures, but what most of the more recent researches has shown is that a much wider range of groups and species are scavenger. There is a need to investigate this diversity and interactions with different communities of avian and mammalian scavengers in Turkey. The diversity of scavenger vertebrate species, their behaviour, and interactions between individuals are investigated. This study was conducted in Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Bolu, Turkey. Twenty five species are recorded (eighteen birds and seven mammal) while feeding on the carcasses. The diversity of vertebrates feeding on the carcass is varied according to the carcass type. Opportunistic non-obligatory scavengers are more dominant than obligatory scavengers in this study. The intraspecific and interspecific competitions are detected between scavengers. This is the first assessment of scavenger vertebrates in Turkey. It could be the useful reference for new assessments in the future.

Thanks

We would like to thank Ornitofoto Bird and Wildlife Photographers Association and The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for local support and the establishment of the vulture restaurant. We thank to Richard Inger for scientific suggestions about the scavenger.

References

  • 1. Barton, P. S., Cunningham, S. A., Lindenmayer, D. L. and Manning A.D., “The role of carrion in maintaining biodiversity and ecological processes in terrestrial ecosystems”, Oecologia, 171(4): 761–772, (2012).
  • 2. Chardonnet, P., des Clers, B., Fisher, J., Gerhold, R., Jori, F. and Lamarque, F., The value of wildlife. In Infectious diseases of wildlife: detection, diagnosis and management, (Part One) (R.G. Bengis, ed.). Scientific and Technical Review, 21 (1): 15–51, (2002).
  • 3. Houston, D.C., The adaptations of scavengers. In: Sinclair, A.R.E., Norton-Griffiths, M. (Eds.), Serengeti: dynamics of an ecosystem, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 263–286, (1979).
  • 4. Houston, D.C., Vultures and Condors. Colin Baxter, Grantonon-Spey, pp. 72, (2001).
  • 5. Ruxton, G.D. and Houston, D.C., “Obligate scavengers must be soaring fliers”, Journal of theoretical Biology, 228: 431–436, (2004).
  • 6. Devault, T., Brisbin, I. and Rhodes, O. E., “Factors influencing the acquisition of rodent carrion by vertebrate scavengers and decomposers”, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 89: 502-509, (2004).
  • 7. Campbell, M., “Factors for the presence of avian scavengers in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana”, Area 41(3): 341–349, (2009).
  • 8. ARK Nature and Rewilding Europe., Circle of Life, A new way to support Europe’s scavengers. A new way to support Europe’s scaveng, pp 28, (2017).
  • 9. Kirwan, G.M, Boyla K.A, Castell, P., Demirci, B., Özen, M., Welch, H. and Marlow, T., The Birds of Turkey. Christopher Helm, London, UK, (2008).
  • 10. Golden, N.H., Warner, S.E. and M.J. Coffey., “A review and assessment of spent lead ammunition and its exposure and effects to scavenging birds in the United States(2016)”, Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 237: 123–191. (2016).
  • 11. DeVault, T.L., Rhodes, Jr.O.R. and Shivik JA., “Scavenging by vertebrates: behavioural, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives on an important energy transfer pathway in terrestrial ecosystems”, Oikos, 102: 225–234, (2003).
  • 12. Peisley, R.K., Saunders, M.E., Robinson W.A. and Luck, G.W., “The role of avian scavengers in the breakdown of carcasses in pastoral landscapes”, Emu - Austral Ornithology, 117(1): 68–77, (2017).
  • 13. Moleón, M., Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., Sebastián-González, E. and Owen-Smith, N., “Carcass size shapes the structure and functioning of an African scavenging assemblage”, Oikos; 124, 1391–1403, (2015).
  • 14. Inger, R., Cox, D.T.C., Per, E., Norton, B. and Gaston, K.J., “Ecological role of vertebrate scavengers in urban ecosystems in the UK”, Ecology and Evolution, 6(19): 7015-7023, (2016).
  • 15. Cort ́es-Avizanda, A., Jovani, R., Carrete, M. and Don ́azar, J. A., “Resource unpredictability promotes species diversity and coexistence in an avian scavengerguild: a field experiment”, Ecology, 93: 2570 – 2579, (2012).
  • 16. Scholten, J., “Comparing behaviour and species diversity of scavengers between two areas with different density of brown bears” (MSc), HAS Applied Biology, University of Applied Sciences, Grimsö, Sweden, (2012).
  • 17. Selva, N., Je˛drzejewska, B., Je˛drzejewski, W. and Wajrak, A., “Factors affecting carcass use by a guild of scavengers in European temperate woodland”, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 83: 1590–1601, (2005).
  • 18. Stahler, D., Heinrich, B. and Smith, D., “Common raven, Corvus corax, preferentially associated with grey wolves, Canis lupus, as a foraging strategy in winter”. Animal Behaviour, 64(2): 283–290, (2002).
  • 19. Kendall, C. J., “The early bird gets the carcass: temporal segregation and its effects on foraging success in avian scavengers”, Auk, 131: 12–19, (2014).
  • 20. Inger, R., Per, E., Cox, D.T.C. and Gaston, K.J., “Key role in ecosystem functioning of scavengers reliant on a single common species”, Scientific Reports, 6: 29641, (2016).
  • 21. Mundy, P.J., “The biology of vultures: a summary of the workshop proceedings”, ICBP Technical Publication 5: 457–482, (1985).
  • 22. Doğansoysal, B. and Türker, T. “Dörtdivan Akbabaları Koruma Projesi, Ornitofoto Kuş ve Yaban Hayat Fotoğraf Dergisi”, 1: 66–75, (2013).
  • 23. Payne, J. A., “A summer carrion study of the baby pig Sus scrofa Linnaeus”, Ecology, 46: 592–602, (1965).
  • 24. Olson, Z. H., Beasley, J. C. and Rhodes, O. E., “Carcass Type Affects Local Scavenger Guilds More than Habitat Connectivity”. PLoS ONE, 11(2): e0147798, (2016).
  • 25. Steyaert, S. M. J. G., Leclerc, M., Pelletier, F., Kindberg, J., Brunberg, S., Swenson, J.E. and Zedrosser, A., “Human shields mediate sexual conflict in a top predator”, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 283: 20160906, (2016).
  • 26. Length, B. E., Knight, R.L. and Brennan, M.E., “The Effects of Dogs on Wildlife Communities”, Natural Areas Journal, 28(3): 218–227, (2008).
Year 2020, Volume: 33 Issue: 2, 342 - 353, 01.06.2020
https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.595222

Abstract

References

  • 1. Barton, P. S., Cunningham, S. A., Lindenmayer, D. L. and Manning A.D., “The role of carrion in maintaining biodiversity and ecological processes in terrestrial ecosystems”, Oecologia, 171(4): 761–772, (2012).
  • 2. Chardonnet, P., des Clers, B., Fisher, J., Gerhold, R., Jori, F. and Lamarque, F., The value of wildlife. In Infectious diseases of wildlife: detection, diagnosis and management, (Part One) (R.G. Bengis, ed.). Scientific and Technical Review, 21 (1): 15–51, (2002).
  • 3. Houston, D.C., The adaptations of scavengers. In: Sinclair, A.R.E., Norton-Griffiths, M. (Eds.), Serengeti: dynamics of an ecosystem, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp. 263–286, (1979).
  • 4. Houston, D.C., Vultures and Condors. Colin Baxter, Grantonon-Spey, pp. 72, (2001).
  • 5. Ruxton, G.D. and Houston, D.C., “Obligate scavengers must be soaring fliers”, Journal of theoretical Biology, 228: 431–436, (2004).
  • 6. Devault, T., Brisbin, I. and Rhodes, O. E., “Factors influencing the acquisition of rodent carrion by vertebrate scavengers and decomposers”, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 89: 502-509, (2004).
  • 7. Campbell, M., “Factors for the presence of avian scavengers in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana”, Area 41(3): 341–349, (2009).
  • 8. ARK Nature and Rewilding Europe., Circle of Life, A new way to support Europe’s scavengers. A new way to support Europe’s scaveng, pp 28, (2017).
  • 9. Kirwan, G.M, Boyla K.A, Castell, P., Demirci, B., Özen, M., Welch, H. and Marlow, T., The Birds of Turkey. Christopher Helm, London, UK, (2008).
  • 10. Golden, N.H., Warner, S.E. and M.J. Coffey., “A review and assessment of spent lead ammunition and its exposure and effects to scavenging birds in the United States(2016)”, Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 237: 123–191. (2016).
  • 11. DeVault, T.L., Rhodes, Jr.O.R. and Shivik JA., “Scavenging by vertebrates: behavioural, ecological, and evolutionary perspectives on an important energy transfer pathway in terrestrial ecosystems”, Oikos, 102: 225–234, (2003).
  • 12. Peisley, R.K., Saunders, M.E., Robinson W.A. and Luck, G.W., “The role of avian scavengers in the breakdown of carcasses in pastoral landscapes”, Emu - Austral Ornithology, 117(1): 68–77, (2017).
  • 13. Moleón, M., Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., Sebastián-González, E. and Owen-Smith, N., “Carcass size shapes the structure and functioning of an African scavenging assemblage”, Oikos; 124, 1391–1403, (2015).
  • 14. Inger, R., Cox, D.T.C., Per, E., Norton, B. and Gaston, K.J., “Ecological role of vertebrate scavengers in urban ecosystems in the UK”, Ecology and Evolution, 6(19): 7015-7023, (2016).
  • 15. Cort ́es-Avizanda, A., Jovani, R., Carrete, M. and Don ́azar, J. A., “Resource unpredictability promotes species diversity and coexistence in an avian scavengerguild: a field experiment”, Ecology, 93: 2570 – 2579, (2012).
  • 16. Scholten, J., “Comparing behaviour and species diversity of scavengers between two areas with different density of brown bears” (MSc), HAS Applied Biology, University of Applied Sciences, Grimsö, Sweden, (2012).
  • 17. Selva, N., Je˛drzejewska, B., Je˛drzejewski, W. and Wajrak, A., “Factors affecting carcass use by a guild of scavengers in European temperate woodland”, Canadian Journal of Zoology, 83: 1590–1601, (2005).
  • 18. Stahler, D., Heinrich, B. and Smith, D., “Common raven, Corvus corax, preferentially associated with grey wolves, Canis lupus, as a foraging strategy in winter”. Animal Behaviour, 64(2): 283–290, (2002).
  • 19. Kendall, C. J., “The early bird gets the carcass: temporal segregation and its effects on foraging success in avian scavengers”, Auk, 131: 12–19, (2014).
  • 20. Inger, R., Per, E., Cox, D.T.C. and Gaston, K.J., “Key role in ecosystem functioning of scavengers reliant on a single common species”, Scientific Reports, 6: 29641, (2016).
  • 21. Mundy, P.J., “The biology of vultures: a summary of the workshop proceedings”, ICBP Technical Publication 5: 457–482, (1985).
  • 22. Doğansoysal, B. and Türker, T. “Dörtdivan Akbabaları Koruma Projesi, Ornitofoto Kuş ve Yaban Hayat Fotoğraf Dergisi”, 1: 66–75, (2013).
  • 23. Payne, J. A., “A summer carrion study of the baby pig Sus scrofa Linnaeus”, Ecology, 46: 592–602, (1965).
  • 24. Olson, Z. H., Beasley, J. C. and Rhodes, O. E., “Carcass Type Affects Local Scavenger Guilds More than Habitat Connectivity”. PLoS ONE, 11(2): e0147798, (2016).
  • 25. Steyaert, S. M. J. G., Leclerc, M., Pelletier, F., Kindberg, J., Brunberg, S., Swenson, J.E. and Zedrosser, A., “Human shields mediate sexual conflict in a top predator”, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 283: 20160906, (2016).
  • 26. Length, B. E., Knight, R.L. and Brennan, M.E., “The Effects of Dogs on Wildlife Communities”, Natural Areas Journal, 28(3): 218–227, (2008).
There are 26 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Engineering
Journal Section Biology
Authors

Esra Per 0000-0002-7764-1215

Yunus Ayhan This is me

Publication Date June 1, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020 Volume: 33 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Per, E., & Ayhan, Y. (2020). Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey. Gazi University Journal of Science, 33(2), 342-353. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.595222
AMA Per E, Ayhan Y. Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey. Gazi University Journal of Science. June 2020;33(2):342-353. doi:10.35378/gujs.595222
Chicago Per, Esra, and Yunus Ayhan. “Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey”. Gazi University Journal of Science 33, no. 2 (June 2020): 342-53. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.595222.
EndNote Per E, Ayhan Y (June 1, 2020) Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey. Gazi University Journal of Science 33 2 342–353.
IEEE E. Per and Y. Ayhan, “Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey”, Gazi University Journal of Science, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 342–353, 2020, doi: 10.35378/gujs.595222.
ISNAD Per, Esra - Ayhan, Yunus. “Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey”. Gazi University Journal of Science 33/2 (June 2020), 342-353. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.595222.
JAMA Per E, Ayhan Y. Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey. Gazi University Journal of Science. 2020;33:342–353.
MLA Per, Esra and Yunus Ayhan. “Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey”. Gazi University Journal of Science, vol. 33, no. 2, 2020, pp. 342-53, doi:10.35378/gujs.595222.
Vancouver Per E, Ayhan Y. Scavenger Vertebrates of Dörtdivan Vulture Restaurant, Turkey. Gazi University Journal of Science. 2020;33(2):342-53.