Predation or scavenging? Prey body condition influences decision‐making in a facultative predator, the wolverine

摘要: The interaction between predators and their prey is a key factor driving population dynamics shaping wildlife communities. Most will scavenge in addition to killing own prey, which alters predation effects implies that one cannot treat these as independent processes. However, the relative importance of vs. scavenging mechanisms variation such are relatively unstudied ecological research on predator-prey relationships. Foraging decisions facultative likely respond environmental conditions (e.g., seasonality) inter- or intraspecific interactions availability, presence top predators, competition). Using data 41 GPS-collared wolverines (Gulo gulo) during 2401 monitoring days, four study sites Scandinavia, we studied diet feeding strategies (predation scavenging), along gradient productivity, seasonality, density, body mass main semidomestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). most important affecting extent was mean mass. Predation more pronounced summer, when vulnerable calves abundant, individual kill rates were negatively related local This relationship absent winter. probability higher winter increased with decreasing mass, response carrion supply. Wolverine strategy further influenced by predictable anthropogenic food resources slaughter remains from hunted ungulates) predator, Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), provided continuous supply promoting scavenging. Our results suggest wolverine flexible strongly seasonally dependent responses condition combination demonstrates large-scale can result contrasting predator strategies, trophic potentially