A question of size and fear: competition and predation risk perception among frugivores and predators

Author(s)

Carreira, Daiane Cristina ^{[1, 2]} ; Brodie, Jedediah F. ^{[3, 4]} ; Mendes, Calebe P. ^[5] ; Ferraz, Katia Maria P. M. B. ^[6] ; Galetti, Mauro ^{[5, 7]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Super Agr Luiz Queiroz, Programa Interunidades Pos Grad Ecol Aplicada, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fdn Herminio Ometto Uniararas, BR-13607339 Araras, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Montana, Div Biol Sci, Missoula, MT 59812 - USA

^[4] Univ Montana, Wildlife Biol Program, Missoula, MT 59812 - USA

^[5] Univ Estadual Paulista UNESP, Inst Biociencias, Dept Ecol, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Florestais, ESALQ, BR-13418900 Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

^[7] Univ Miami, Dept Biol, Coral Gables, FL 33146 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY; v. 101, n. 3, p. 648-657, MAY 22 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Mammalian spatial and temporal activity patterns can vary depending on foraging behavior or the perception of predation or competition risk among species. These behaviors may in turn be altered by human influences such as defaunation. Herein, we evaluate whether frugivores avoid areas with high visitation rates by potential predators or competitors, and whether this avoidance changes in areas with different degrees of defaunation. We installed 189 cameras under fruit trees in six areas of the Atlantic Forest, Brazil, that differ in the abundance of top predators and large frugivores. Small predators and small frugivores were more frequent at night while large frugivores were more frequent during the day, but small frugivores visited and spent less time at fruiting trees on brighter nights, unlike large predators and large frugivores. Small frugivores also were less frequent in areas with high visitation by large frugivores and more frequent in highly defaunated areas. Our results suggest that the dynamics among mammalian functional groups varied according to die! patterns, potential competitors, and defaunation. We highlight the importance of understanding how species interactions are changing in areas exposed to strong human impacts to mitigate the indirect effects of defaunation. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/01986-0 - Ecological consequences of defaunation in the Atlantic Rainforest
• Grantee: Mauro Galetti Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/09300-0 - Trophic ecology, functional diversity and occurrence of terrestrial mammals in the Atlantic Forest
• Grantee: Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants