The decomposition of prey carcasses contributes to increased nutrient levels in the soil and vegetation, attracting herbivores that become prey for mountain lions.
A new study published on March 27 in the journal Landscape Ecology found that nutrients accumulated in the soil from the carcasses of mountain lion prey can improve crop quality, thereby attracting ungulates to forage in these areas. Consequently, mountain lions can ambush them in their preferred hunting environment using a technique known as “gardening to hunt.”
Mountain lions typically stalk and ambush ungulates. (Photo: Neal Wight/Panthera)
In the Teton Range of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in Wyoming, USA, researchers focused on 12 mountain lions. They estimated that these lions produce over 100,000 kg of carrion annually, equivalent to a blue whale. Using GPS collars, the research team identified areas where mountain lions killed ungulates and subsequently collected and analyzed 1,007 soil samples from 172 locations. They also sampled vegetation from 65 sites.
The researchers found that kill sites had increased nutrient levels in both soil and plants. Carcasses were found in only a small portion of the mountain lions’ home range. It was estimated that over an average lifespan of 9 years, each mountain lion creates approximately 482 hotspots with enhanced nutrients due to decomposing prey. These areas benefit the mountain lion’s preferred hunting method of stalking and ambushing.
Mountain lions contribute over one million kg of meat to the ecosystem each day, improving soil and plant quality, sustaining hundreds of species, and supporting ecosystem health and life networks on the planet, said Dr. Mark Elbroch, director at Panthera.
The findings indicate that mountain lions are more likely to hunt in low-elevation habitats with steep slopes, dense canopies, near forest edges, roads, and rivers. Their preferred environment for successful hunting is deciduous forests. The carcasses of prey killed by mountain lions impact nutrient levels, particularly nitrogen content in the vegetation and soil in the area.
Local plants have higher nitrogen availability for absorption, leading to chemical changes and increased protein levels, making the vegetation more attractive to herbivores. The research team plans to investigate whether herbivores prefer to forage in areas that were once hunting sites.
