Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
6349369 | Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology | 2016 | 46 Pages |
Abstract
We calculated body masses and prey mass spectrum for tigers and potential competitors using linear regressions. Niche overlap was then estimated based on the prey mass spectrum after which niche-overlaps were used as indicators for competition potentials. Reconstructed body mass for H. ultimum, H. zwierzyckii, M. merriami are 154Â kg (comparable to Homotherium from Untermassfeld), 130Â kg and 52Â kg, respectively. The niche overlap between tigers and Merriam's Dog is highest (100%) while it is comparatively low (60%) between tigers and H. ultimum. Tigers have not increased body mass before Ngandong faunal level, but competitors like Merriam's Dog seem to have decreased body mass to avoid competition with tigers. The sabertoothed cats on the other hand seem to have been unable to adapt to competition and went extinct.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth-Surface Processes
Authors
Rebekka Volmer, Christine Hertler, Alexandra van der Geer,