El Hondo study links scavenger diet to disease prevention

A scientific study conducted in El Hondo Natural Park in Elche provides empirical evidence that many scavenger vertebrates avoid consuming the carcasses of species that are evolutionarily close to them. This behavior supports the concept that avoiding closely related species serves as a natural defense mechanism to reduce the risk of contracting diseases and infections.

The research, carried out between 2020 and 2021, involved placing 174 carcasses from 35 different species of fish, birds, and mammals throughout the wetland. Using motion-activated camera traps, researchers identified 24 scavenger species, including birds, mammals, and a reptile. The findings indicate that these animals tend to consume remains from species that are evolutionarily more distant than would be expected by chance.

The study was a collaborative effort between scientists from the Center for Research and Innovation in Agri-food and Agro-environmental Sciences at Miguel Hernández University (CIAGRO-UMH), the Department of Ecology at the University of Alicante (UA), and the Department of Zoology at the University of Granada (UGR).