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ViewAttendees 13

MUVE

Student Competition 10-Minute Paper

Grad 10-min: MUVE, Forensic Entomology, Muscoid Flies

Carrion fate in fragmented landscapes: Predation paradox and red imported fire ant dilemma

On-Demand
Student Competition On-Demand
Carrion is an ephemeral resource that both invertebrate and vertebrate animals
consume. However, studies of dipterans relying on these resources have primarily focused on
insect-insect interactions despite their intense competition with vertebrates. Increased
urbanization has led to a predation paradox, where the number of predators in a localized area
will increase due to habitat fragmentation, while predation remains low as predator\s prefer more
predictable and densely caloric food sources. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the
impact of vertebrate scavenging on the reproductive success of blow flies (Diptera:
Calliphoridae) across season, habitat, carrion type, and coat color in human impacted areas.
Vertebrate scavengers consumed all carrion during the winter. In the summer, 62% of the carrion
was removed by vertebrate scavengers with scavenging occurring more often in wooded habitats.
Blow flies (e.g., Lucilia eximia and Chrysomya rufifacies) colonized 25% of the remaining
carrion. With regards to reproductive success, vertebrate scavenging completely suppressed blow
fly reproductive output during the winter. Interestingly, the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis
invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) suppressed blow fly access to carrion not scavenged by
vertebrates by as much as 40%. When blow flies were able to colonize in the absence of S.
invicta, reproductive output was over nine times greater.