Assessment of temporal partitioning in foraging patterns of syntopic Virginia opossums and raccoons

Abstract

Temporal partitioning in foraging patterns of syntopic Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) and raccoons (Procyon lotor) was investigated at 3 sites in western Tennessee through the use of timers attached to live traps on trapping grids and through time-stamped remote photography using infrared-triggered cameras at bait stations. Data were analyzed using Watson's U2-test, chi-square analyses, and probability tests. Results revealed no intraspecific differences in time of foraging for either species and a lack of interspecific differentiation. A high degree of overlap in foraging times of the species was observed. Virginia opossums and raccoons apparently did not partition their times of foraging. Foraging patterns of each species seem to be independent of the other (neutral association). © 2011 American Society of Mammalogists.

Publication Title

Journal of Mammalogy

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