Abstract:
Interaction among species through competition is a principle process structuring ecological communities, affecting
behavior, distribution, and ultimately the population dynamics of species. High competition among large African carnivores,
associated with extensive diet overlap, manifests in interactions between subordinate African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) and
dominant lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta). Using locations of large carnivores in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
Park, South Africa, we found different responses from wild dogs to their two main competitors. Wild dogs avoided lions,
particularly during denning, through a combination of spatial and temporal avoidance. However, wild dogs did not exhibit
spatial or temporal avoidance of spotted hyenas, likely because wild dog pack sizes were large enough to adequately
defend their kills. Understanding that larger carnivores affect the movements and space use of other carnivores is important
for managing current small and fragmented carnivore populations, especially as reintroductions and translocations are
essential tools used for the survival of endangered species, as with African wild dogs.
