DOI: 10.5061/dryad.9zw3r22hn
title: Data of carcass monitoring in rewilding mountain landscapes

description: Rural abandonment and subsequent vegetation regeneration (‘passive
 rewilding’) are expected to increase worldwide, producing cascades of
 dynamic socioeconomic, landscape and biological changes. Although
 landscape characteristics strongly influence the structure and functioning
 of scavengers, little is known about the ecological consequences of
 passive rewilding due to woody encroachment (i.e., ‘landscape closure’) on
 scavenging assemblages. We investigated differences in ‘scavenger
 assemblage composition’ (species richness and abundances) and ‘scavenging
 efficiency’ (scavenging frequency, detection and consumption times and
 consumption rates) in a mountain agroecosystem (Pyrenees) undergoing
 passive rewilding. We monitored 178 carcasses in three landscapes: ‘open’,
 ‘shrubland’ and ‘forest’, and evaluated the effects of landscape type on
 ‘scavenger assemblage composition’ and ‘scavenging efficiency’ at the
 community and species levels, while accounting for the influences of
 carcass size, type and placement time. We also examined whether the
 locally most abundant and efficient scavenger (i.e., the griffon vulture
 Gyps fulvus) affects scavenging patterns. We found that landscape type was
 the main factor governing scavenging dynamics. Overall and average
 scavenger richness were similar in open and shrubland landscapes, while
 forests contained the lowest number of scavengers, mainly comprising
 mammals. Unlike mammals, avian scavenging frequency decreased as
 vegetation cover increased, especially for obligate scavengers (i.e.,
 vultures). Scavenger abundances were highest in open landscapes, and
 carcasses were detected and consumed more rapidly in these landscapes.
 Carcass size did not influence detection and consumption times, although
 it did affect average scavenger richness, abundances and consumption
 rates. Consumption rates were higher in open landscapes and were strongly
 associated with the presence of griffon vultures. Interestingly, we found
 that griffon vultures influenced scavenging dynamics via facilitation
 processes. However, woody encroachment could reduce the scavenging role of
 this species, while favoring mammalian facultative scavengers. Finally,
 our findings highlight the pivotal role of griffon vultures, mediated by
 landscape characteristics, in reducing carcass persistence.
description: From October 2017 to August
 2019, we monitored 178 carcasses (herbivores, n = 154; carnivores, n = 24)
 of different species ranging in size from 1–100 kg, placed across three
 landscape types (open, n = 70; shrubland, n = 71; and forest, n = 37).
 Herbivore carcasses consisted of sheep/goat <em>Ovis
 aries</em>/<em>Capra hircus</em> (n = 60, mean ± SD =
 47.65 ± 12.53 kg, including lambs/kids: n = 31, 9.34 ± 6.33 kg); wild boar
 Sus scrofa (n = 40, 53.20 ± 22.47 kg); roe deer (n = 8, 22.04 ± 3.60 kg);
 and European rabbit <em>Oryctolagus cuniculus</em> (n = 15,
 1.48 ± 0.29 kg). Carnivore carcasses (mean weight ± SD = 5.71 ± 3.14 kg)
 consisted of red fox <em>Vulpes vulpes</em> (n = 6), European
 badger <em>Meles meles</em> (n = 9), stone marten
 <em>Martes foina</em> (n = 2) and domestic cat <em>Felis
 silvestris catus</em> (n = 7). Carcasses were placed between 600 and
 1750 m a.s.l.