Temporal resource partitioning mediates vertebrate coexistence at carcasses: The role of competitive and facilitative interactions

Unravelling how biodiversity is maintained despite species competition for shared resources has been a central question in community ecology, and gaining relevance amidst the current crisis. Yet, we have still poor understanding of mechanisms that regulate coexistence shape structure assemblages highly competitive environments such as carrion pulsed resources. Here, study large vertebrates coexist scavenger by adapting their diel activity at ungulate carcasses NW Spain. We used camera traps to record vertebrate scavengers consuming 34 livestock hunted wild ungulates, which allowed us assess also differences regarding carcass origin. To evaluate temporal resource partition among species, estimated overlap patterns mean times each carcasses. recorded 16 scavengers, 7 mammals 9 birds, found similar richness both types Birds showed contrasting patterns, with birds using during daytime (mean= 11:38 h) mostly night (23:09 h). The unimodal asynchronous peaks species. Subordinate modified apex reduce overlap. Also, vultures closely followed those corvids, suggesting facilitation processes corvids would enhance detection vultures. Two mammal (12.5%) increased nocturnality could be response human disturbance. Our results suggest segregation coupling mediate These might lead richer thereby more efficient ones driving critical ecosystem functions related consumption, energy nutrient recycling maintenance.