Scavenging on European bison carcasses in Bialowieza Primeval Forest (eastern Poland)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2003
Authors:Selva, N, Jedrzejewska, B, Jedrzejewski, W, Wajrak, A
Journal:Ecoscience
Volume:10
Date Published:2003
Keywords:Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes
Abstract:

We investigated the utilization of European bison, Bison bonasus, carcasses by the scavenging guild in Bialowieza Primeval Forest (eastern Poland) during 1997-2001. Twelve carcasses were monitored in systematic visits till total depletion (N=303). Thirteen species of birds and mammals utilized bison carcasses. Most frequent scavengers and their mean scavenging frequencies (mean percentage of visits to each carcass with a given scavenger species recorded) were raven, Corvus corax, 72%; red fox, Vulpes vulpes, 41%; wolf, Canis lupus, 29%; common buzzard, Buteo buteo, 23%; raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, 20%; and white-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla, 16%. Ravens and white-tailed eagles were observed significantly more often at carcasses placed in clearings than at those exposed in the forest. The opposite was recorded for raccoon dogs. Manifest habitat segregation was also found for flocks of immature ravens and territorial pairs. Wolves had an important facilitation effect for other species and triggered their scavenging activity. Bison carcasses were utilized for an average of 106 ¨± 61 days (mean ¨± SD), to over 80% of live weight consumed. The estimated mean daily consumption by all scavengers was 3 kg day-1 (range 0-68), being highest during the first 2 weeks (6.8 ¨± 6.2 kg day-1). The utilization time of bison carcasses depended on the index of carcass openness, the number of wolf feeding visits to the carcass, the date of carcass exposure, and the habitat type (forest versus open clearings). Ambient temperature had a significant effect on the rate of carcass depletion, while the effects of snow cover and precipitation were negligible.

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