Interplay of competition and facilitation in grazing succession by migrant Serengeti herbivores

T. Michael Anderson; Staci A. Hepler; Ricardo M. Holdo; Jason E. Donaldson; Robert J. Erhardt; Grant J.C. Hopcraft; Matthew C. Hutchinson; Sarah E. Huebner; Thomas A. Morrison; Jeffry Muday; Issack N. Munuo; Meredith S. Palmer; Johan Pansu; Robert M. Pringle; Robert Sketch; Craig Packer

doi:10.1126/science.adg0744

Interplay of competition and facilitation in grazing succession by migrant Serengeti herbivores

T. Michael Anderson, Staci A. Hepler, Ricardo M. Holdo, Jason E. Donaldson, Robert J. Erhardt, Grant J.C. Hopcraft, Matthew C. Hutchinson, Sarah E. Huebner, Thomas A. Morrison, Jeffry Muday, Issack N. Munuo, Meredith S. Palmer, Johan Pansu, Robert M. Pringle, Robert Sketch, Craig Packer

Princeton University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Competition, facilitation, and predation offer alternative explanations for successional patterns of migratory herbivores. However, these interactions are difficult to measure, leaving uncertainty about the mechanisms underlying body-size-dependent grazing—and even whether succession occurs at all. We used data from an 8-year camera-trap survey, GPS-collared herbivores, and fecal DNA metabarcoding to analyze the timing, arrival order, and interactions among migratory grazers in Serengeti National Park. Temporal grazing succession is characterized by a “push-pull” dynamic: Competitive grazing nudges zebra ahead of co-migrating wildebeest, whereas grass consumption by these large-bodied migrants attracts trailing, small-bodied gazelle that benefit from facilitation. “Natural experiments” involving intense wildfires and rainfall respectively disrupted and strengthened these effects. Our results highlight a balance between facilitative and competitive forces in co-regulating large-scale ungulate migrations.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	782-788
Number of pages	7
Journal	Science
Volume	383
Issue number	6684
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg0744
State	Published - Feb 16 2024

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Michael Anderson, T., Hepler, S. A., Holdo, R. M., Donaldson, J. E., Erhardt, R. J., Hopcraft, G. J. C., Hutchinson, M. C., Huebner, S. E., Morrison, T. A., Muday, J., Munuo, I. N., Palmer, M. S., Pansu, J., Pringle, R. M., Sketch, R., & Packer, C. (2024). Interplay of competition and facilitation in grazing succession by migrant Serengeti herbivores. Science, 383(6684), 782-788. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg0744

@article{ccc9104614494fa6817941704c6c7c73,

title = "Interplay of competition and facilitation in grazing succession by migrant Serengeti herbivores",

abstract = "Competition, facilitation, and predation offer alternative explanations for successional patterns of migratory herbivores. However, these interactions are difficult to measure, leaving uncertainty about the mechanisms underlying body-size-dependent grazing—and even whether succession occurs at all. We used data from an 8-year camera-trap survey, GPS-collared herbivores, and fecal DNA metabarcoding to analyze the timing, arrival order, and interactions among migratory grazers in Serengeti National Park. Temporal grazing succession is characterized by a “push-pull” dynamic: Competitive grazing nudges zebra ahead of co-migrating wildebeest, whereas grass consumption by these large-bodied migrants attracts trailing, small-bodied gazelle that benefit from facilitation. “Natural experiments” involving intense wildfires and rainfall respectively disrupted and strengthened these effects. Our results highlight a balance between facilitative and competitive forces in co-regulating large-scale ungulate migrations.",

author = "{Michael Anderson}, T. and Hepler, {Staci A.} and Holdo, {Ricardo M.} and Donaldson, {Jason E.} and Erhardt, {Robert J.} and Hopcraft, {Grant J.C.} and Hutchinson, {Matthew C.} and Huebner, {Sarah E.} and Morrison, {Thomas A.} and Jeffry Muday and Munuo, {Issack N.} and Palmer, {Meredith S.} and Johan Pansu and Pringle, {Robert M.} and Robert Sketch and Craig Packer",

year = "2024",

month = feb,

day = "16",

doi = "10.1126/science.adg0744",

language = "American English",

volume = "383",

pages = "782--788",

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number = "6684",

}

Michael Anderson, T, Hepler, SA, Holdo, RM, Donaldson, JE, Erhardt, RJ, Hopcraft, GJC, Hutchinson, MC, Huebner, SE, Morrison, TA, Muday, J, Munuo, IN, Palmer, MS, Pansu, J, Pringle, RM, Sketch, R & Packer, C 2024, 'Interplay of competition and facilitation in grazing succession by migrant Serengeti herbivores', Science, vol. 383, no. 6684, pp. 782-788. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg0744

TY - JOUR

T1 - Interplay of competition and facilitation in grazing succession by migrant Serengeti herbivores

AU - Michael Anderson, T.

AU - Hepler, Staci A.

AU - Holdo, Ricardo M.

AU - Donaldson, Jason E.

AU - Erhardt, Robert J.

AU - Hopcraft, Grant J.C.

AU - Hutchinson, Matthew C.

AU - Huebner, Sarah E.

AU - Morrison, Thomas A.

AU - Muday, Jeffry

AU - Munuo, Issack N.

AU - Palmer, Meredith S.

AU - Pansu, Johan

AU - Pringle, Robert M.

AU - Sketch, Robert

AU - Packer, Craig

PY - 2024/2/16

Y1 - 2024/2/16

N2 - Competition, facilitation, and predation offer alternative explanations for successional patterns of migratory herbivores. However, these interactions are difficult to measure, leaving uncertainty about the mechanisms underlying body-size-dependent grazing—and even whether succession occurs at all. We used data from an 8-year camera-trap survey, GPS-collared herbivores, and fecal DNA metabarcoding to analyze the timing, arrival order, and interactions among migratory grazers in Serengeti National Park. Temporal grazing succession is characterized by a “push-pull” dynamic: Competitive grazing nudges zebra ahead of co-migrating wildebeest, whereas grass consumption by these large-bodied migrants attracts trailing, small-bodied gazelle that benefit from facilitation. “Natural experiments” involving intense wildfires and rainfall respectively disrupted and strengthened these effects. Our results highlight a balance between facilitative and competitive forces in co-regulating large-scale ungulate migrations.

AB - Competition, facilitation, and predation offer alternative explanations for successional patterns of migratory herbivores. However, these interactions are difficult to measure, leaving uncertainty about the mechanisms underlying body-size-dependent grazing—and even whether succession occurs at all. We used data from an 8-year camera-trap survey, GPS-collared herbivores, and fecal DNA metabarcoding to analyze the timing, arrival order, and interactions among migratory grazers in Serengeti National Park. Temporal grazing succession is characterized by a “push-pull” dynamic: Competitive grazing nudges zebra ahead of co-migrating wildebeest, whereas grass consumption by these large-bodied migrants attracts trailing, small-bodied gazelle that benefit from facilitation. “Natural experiments” involving intense wildfires and rainfall respectively disrupted and strengthened these effects. Our results highlight a balance between facilitative and competitive forces in co-regulating large-scale ungulate migrations.

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ER -

Interplay of competition and facilitation in grazing succession by migrant Serengeti herbivores

Abstract

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