Academic literature on the topic 'True omnivore'

Of thirteen extant species of true badger, eleven have a distribution in Asia, as do the more loosely affiliated stink- and honey-badgers. Even though these badgers show superficial similarities, they exhibit very different societies, even within same species under different circumstances, and provide an informative model to advance understanding of socio-ecology. They illustrate how group-living is promoted by natal philopatry, and food security; enabled by omnivory and hibernation in cold-winter regions. Conversely predatory, carnivorous species, and those competing for food security within

Excluded from the pursuit predator niche by better-adapted early felids and canids, the musteloids exploited other hunting strategies as grasslands proliferated in the Oligocene. Unconstrained by specialised running limbs, lineages evolved to excavate prey (badgers) and enter burrows (polecats). Others took to tree-climbing (martens, procynoids) and even swimming (otters). While some species specialised in rodent hunting (weasels) others became more generalist omnivores. In-turn the dispersion of these food types dictated socio-spatial geometries, allowing insectivorous, piscivorous and frugiv

Abstract Ungulates are present worldwide with 257 recorded species, including livestock. They cover different functional gradients, be it feeding regime, digestive strategy, body size, body mass, fur characteristics or sociality. All these specificities may intervene at different stages of animal-mediated plant dispersal. Ungulates move diaspores from both native and non-native plants, through endo- and epizoochory. Initially introduced by humans, non-native plants bearing specific traits can be carried over long distances and to new environments by ungulates. These vectors can further free local resources necessary for the germination and the subsequent growth of the released diaspores. We first looked at trait-based plant community changes at different timescales in the presence of different native ungulates. We then reviewed the literature on endozoochory, regurgitation and fur-epizoochory assisted by ungulates, focusing on the dispersal of non-native plants. We made an overall assessment of ungulate-mediated non-native plant dispersal by biogeographical zone and dispersal mode, and then provided additional information on plant growth form and taxonomy, vectors and associated modes of dispersal. Results are presented for four main ungulate families: Cervidae, Bovidae, Suidae and Equidae. For each family, we highlight our findings either by ungulate if sufficiently represented (e.g. Odocoileus virginianus, Bison bison, Bos taurus) or by group of species. According to their feeding regime, grazers dispersed solely forbs and graminoids whereas omnivores also dispersed plants from other growth forms (i.e. cactus, vine, shrub and tree). Numerous non-native plants are dispersed by ungulates around the world, but this is probably the visible part of the iceberg, as only 32 ungulates (i.e. 12%) have been studied as vectors so far, suggesting their overall contribution is certainly underrated.

Ungulates are present worldwide with 257 recorded species, including livestock. They cover different functional gradients, be it feeding regime, digestive strategy, body size, body mass, fur characteristics or sociality. All these specificities may intervene at different stages of animal-mediated plant dispersal. Ungulates move diaspores from both native and non-native plants, through endo- and epizoochory. Initially introduced by humans, non-native plants bearing specific traits can be carried over long distances and to new environments by ungulates. These vectors can further free local resources necessary for the germination and the subsequent growth of the released diaspores. We first looked at trait-based plant community changes at different timescales in the presence of different native ungulates. We then reviewed the literature on endozoochory, regurgitation and fur-epizoochory assisted by ungulates, focusing on the dispersal of non-native plants. We made an overall assessment of ungulate-mediated non-native plant dispersal by biogeographical zone and dispersal mode, and then provided additional information on plant growth form and taxonomy, vectors and associated modes of dispersal. Results are presented for four main ungulate families: Cervidae, Bovidae, Suidae and Equidae. For each family, we highlight our findings either by ungulate if sufficiently represented (e.g. <i>Odocoileus virginianus, Bison bison, Bos taurus</i>) or by group of species. According to their feeding regime, grazers dispersed solely forbs and graminoids whereas omnivores also dispersed plants from other growth forms (i.e. cactus, vine, shrub and tree). Numerous non-native plants are dispersed by ungulates around the world, but this is probably the visible part of the iceberg, as only 32 ungulates (i.e. 12%) have been studied as vectors so far, suggesting their overall contribution is certainly underrated.