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Modeling the impact of feeding stations on vulture scavenging service efficiency

Author

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  • Deygout, C.
  • Gault, A.
  • Sarrazin, F.
  • Bessa-Gomes, C.

Abstract

Vultures, the only vertebrate obligate scavengers, are currently facing a dramatic worldwide decline with over half of vulture species now classified as threatened. To address this widespread decline, the use of feeding stations has been widely advocated in recovery programs. However, providing food that is more predictable in time and space than natural resources could disrupt the ecological scavenging service provided by vultures. In this study, we build a multi-agent system (MAS), which describes the social foraging behavior of Gyps vultures in order to investigate how resource predictability in space and resource management affect scavenging service efficiency. We study the possibility that vultures take into account feeding station location in addition of using local enhancement. Our results show that the efficiency of the scavenging service is heavily affected by the way resources are distributed between feeding stations and natural areas. Nevertheless, it appears possible to minimize a loss in service efficiency by increasing the number of feeding stations while keeping the total amount of resources available constant, thus reducing the predictability of the resources located on the stations. We illustrate our work in the case of European feeding stations that provide supplementary resources in areas where natural ones are scarce. Moreover, we discuss the implications worldwide, in particular in the case of India, where feeding stations for vultures are intended to lure individuals away from potentially harmful natural carrion.

Suggested Citation

  • Deygout, C. & Gault, A. & Sarrazin, F. & Bessa-Gomes, C., 2009. "Modeling the impact of feeding stations on vulture scavenging service efficiency," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(15), pages 1826-1835.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:220:y:2009:i:15:p:1826-1835
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2009.04.030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jose L. Tella, 2001. "Action is needed now, or BSE crisis could wipe out endangered birds of prey," Nature, Nature, vol. 410(6827), pages 408-408, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dupont, H. & Mihoub, J.B. & Becu, N. & Sarrazin, F., 2011. "Modelling interactions between scavenger behaviour and farming practices: Impacts on scavenger population and ecosystem service efficiency," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(4), pages 982-992.

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    2. Dupont, H. & Mihoub, J.B. & Becu, N. & Sarrazin, F., 2011. "Modelling interactions between scavenger behaviour and farming practices: Impacts on scavenger population and ecosystem service efficiency," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(4), pages 982-992.

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