Scavenging and frugivory data in the Greater Everglades, 2019 (ver. 2.0, July 2024)

Mid-sized mammals (i.e., mesomammals) fulfill important ecological roles, serving as essential scavengers, predators, pollinators, and seed dispersers in the ecosystems they inhabit. Consequently, declines in mesomammal populations have the potential to disrupt ecological processes and degrade ecosystems. However, ecosystems characterized by high functional redundancy, where multiple species can fulfill similar ecological roles, may be less impacted by the loss of mesomammals and other vertebrates. The Greater Everglades Ecosystem in southern Florida is a historically biodiverse region that has recently been impacted by multiple anthropogenic threats, most notably the introduction of the Burmese python (Python bivittatus). Since pythons became established, mesomammal populations have become greatly reduced. To assess whether these declines in mesomammals have affected two critical ecosystem functions—scavenging and frugivory—we conducted experiments in areas where mesomammals were present and absent. After passive sampling had concluded at each site, we conducted scavenging and frugivory experiments to quantify how mesomammal presence affected frugivory and scavenging rates. To assess these processes, we monitored the persistence of carrion and fruit using motion triggered cameras. We reviewed photos to identify species and determine if they consumed carrion/fruit. To quantify scavenging rates, we secured carrion to a 40 x 40 cm board at each station and recorded detection time (the elapsed time between deployment and the first scavenger’s arrival) and consumption time (the elapsed time between deployment and the complete consumption of the carcass).