title: The Lion King and the Hyaena Queen: large carnivore interactions and coexistence.
abstract: Interactions among species, which range from competition to facilitation, have profound effects on ecosystem functioning. Large carnivores are of particular importance in shaping community structure since they are at the top of the food chain, and many efforts are made to conserve such keystone species. Despite this, the mechanisms of carnivore interactions are far from understood, yet they are key to enabling or hindering their coexistence and hence are highly relevant for their conservation. The goal of this review is thus to provide detailed information on the extents of competition and facilitation between large carnivores and their impact in shaping their life histories. Here, we use the example of spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) and lions (Panthera leo) and provide a comprehensive knowledge of their interactions based on meta-analyses from available literature (148 publications). Despite their strong potential for both exploitation and interference competition (range and diet overlap, intraguild predation and kleptoparasitism), we underline some mechanisms facilitating their coexistence (different prey-age selection and scavenging opportunities). We stress the fact that prey abundance is key to their coexistence and that hyaenas forming very large groups in rich ecosystems could have a negative impact on lions. We show that the coexistence of spotted hyaenas and lions is a complex balance between competition and facilitation, and that prey availability within the ecosystem determines which predator is dominant. However, there are still many gaps in our knowledge such as the spatio-temporal dynamics of their interactions. As both species' survival becomes increasingly dependent on protected areas, where their densities can be high, it is critical to understand their interactions to inform both reintroduction programs and protected area management.
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 5558 LBBE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bat. Gregor Mendel, 43, Bd. du 11 Novembre 1918, 69 622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Périquet
authors.affiliation: CNRS UMR 5558 LBBE, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bat. Gregor Mendel, 43, Bd. du 11 Novembre 1918, 69 622, Villeurbanne Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC), c/Américo Vespucio s/n, Isla de la Cartuja, 41 092, Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Eloy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Revilla
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D045968:Hyaenidae / Q000502:physiology*; D008045:Lions / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male
keywords: Crocuta crocuta; Panthera leo; facilitation; interspecific competition; intraguild predation; kleptoparasitism; predator; scavenging