Predators play an important role in the food chain and cleaning up the ecosystem. With this in mind, the researchers wanted to find out how different seasons affect the prey choices of raptors in Kosciuszko National Park in the Australian Alps.
IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT PREDATORS ARE SEASONALLY CLEANING AND THE CARCASSES OF DIFFERENT ANIMALS ARE EATEN ALL YEAR ROUND.
Most surprisingly, opossums and ravens were recorded as the top predators this season. These animals determined hunting trends among carnivores.
Opossums consumed the most prey in winter, but ravens in spring.
Scientists report that the small predators also play an important role in nature, and also reveal new facts about the eating habits of opossums. Plants and various insects are usually considered to be the opossum’s diet, but these facts prove otherwise.
IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IN THE SEASON WHEN PREDATORS HAVE CHILDREN, THEY HUNT AND CONSUME ANIMAL CARCASSES MUCH MORE.
Of the recorded camera recordings, 88% of the game was eaten directly by opossums and ravens.
The study has established a baseline for clearing dynamics in the Australian Alpine ecosystem. In this case, it appears that opossums are the ones consuming the most carcasses in the Australian Alps.
