Monitoring the dynamics of consumption of ungulate game by-products in vulture feeding stations in Iberian Mediterranean ecosystems

Vulture feeding stations (VFS) are strategic sites for the management of ungulate game by-products, with major implications for the conservation of obligate avian scavengers. These feeding points are designed to prevent access by facultative mammalian scavengers and to reduce the risk of trophically...

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Published in:Research in veterinary science 2023-11, Vol.164, p.105026-105026, Article 105026
Main Authors: Gonzálvez, Moisés, Paniagua, Jorge, Jiménez-Martín, Débora, Cano-Terriza, David, Castro-Scholten, Sabrina, Barbero-Moyano, Jesús, Jiménez-Ruiz, Saúl, García-Bocanegra, Ignacio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Camera-trapping
Eco-epidemiology
Scavengers
Transmission risk
Vulture feeding stations
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Summary:Vulture feeding stations (VFS) are strategic sites for the management of ungulate game by-products, with major implications for the conservation of obligate avian scavengers. These feeding points are designed to prevent access by facultative mammalian scavengers and to reduce the risk of trophically transmitted pathogen infection through scavenging behaviour. The aim of this study, using camera trap video recordings, was to evaluate the feeding dynamics around 32 lots of ungulate game by-products deposited in VFS in southern Spain. During the study period (2017–2022), 11 different avian and mammal scavenger species was detected. Also, many feeding events involving all scavenger species (51.1%; 362/709) and mammal scavenger species (23.4%; 166/709) was recorded. A significantly earlier presence of major obligate scavengers (Gyps fulvus and Aegypius monachus) (P = 0.023) and a lower persistence of by-products deposited (P 
ISSN:0034-5288
1532-2661
DOI:10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105026