Small Mammal Carrion Depletion Rates in Tropical Landscapes (2023-2024)

Description SummaryThe decomposition and recycling of necromass is a vital ecological process that returns nutrients and energy to forest ecosystems. In this dataset, we quantify the depletion (i.e., decomposition or removal) rate of small mammal carrion in a tropical old-growth forest and assess how conversion to oil palm plantation influences these rates. Between March 2023 and December 2024, we conducted a series of scavenger exclusion experiments at two contrasting landscapes in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo: an old-growth forest (OG) and an oil palm plantation (OP). Each experimental plot included three treatments: Control (A) – open access to all scavengers; Vertebrate exclusion (B); and Full exclusion (C) – exclusion of both vertebrates and invertebrates. A total of 244 small mammal carcasses (Mus musculus) were deployed across these treatments and landscapes. Scavenger activity and carrion depletion were monitored using camera traps, pitfall traps, hand collection, and daily visual observations. This dataset contributes critical insights into carrion decomposition dynamics in tropical ecosystems and addresses knowledge gaps in land-use impacts on scavenging processes.Notes for usersEach experiment was assigned a unique plot number (e.g., Plot 34). Treatments within a plot were labeled 34A (Control), 34B (Vertebrate exclusion), and 34C (Full exclusion). Treatments were spaced 75 m apart within a plot, and plots were spaced 200 m apart. An experiment was considered complete when: (i) The carcass was visibly removed (from camera trap evidence), (ii) Reduced to bones at the site, or in treatment C, when the exclusion bag weighed 6 g (approximate weight of bones alone). Invertebrate scavengers were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic order based on visual observation. A separate dataset with genus- and species-level identifications will be released later. Mold colonization was noted in some cases; however, no genetic analysis was performed. These are labeled generally as "mold" or "microbes."Missing values (NA): "NA" appears for some GPS coordinates where data was unavailable at the time of compilation. Deployment dates may be marked "NA" due to experimental failure (e.g., animal disturbance, adverse weather, or elephant presence). Decomposition stage is marked "NA" when carrion was buried or inaccessible.Contact detailsFor more information and any questions related to the dataset, please contact [e-mail] Funding These data were collected as part of research funded by: ATBC Seed Grant (Standard grant , https://tropicalbiology.org/ ) Russell train Education for Nature grant (Standard grant , EFN16908 , https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/russell-e-train-education-for-nature ) Nagao Natural Environmental Foundation (Standard grant , https://www.nagaofoundation.or.jp/e/ ) This dataset is released under the CC-BY 4.0 licence, requiring that you cite the dataset in any outputs, but has the additional condition that you acknowledge the contribution of these funders in any outputs. Permits These data were collected under permit from the following authorities: Sabah Biodiversity Council ( Research licence JKM/MBS.1000-2/2 JLD.19 (174)) JAWATANKUASA ETIKA HAIWAN UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SABAH ( Research licence AEC 0026 / 2022) Files This dataset consists of 1 file: small_mammal_carrion_depletion_rates.xlsx small_mammal_carrion_depletion_rates.xlsx This file contains dataset metadata and 3 data tables: Site Deployment for carcass removal experiment Worksheet: Deployment Description: Deployment and site information for each of the control and treatment Number of fields: 12 Number of data rows: 267 Unique_Point_ID: Point ID (type: location) Plot_No: Plot number the corresponding to the treatment set (type: replicate) Land_use_type: Land-use type (type: categorical) Treatment: The type of exclusion or control applied (type: categorical) Point_Code: Specific code for each point (type: replicate) Location_Description: Reference block name (type: comments) Date_Deployed: Date the carrion was deployed in the field (type: date) Deployment_Time: Time carrion was deployed (type: time) Carrion_Weight: Weight of the carrion on mesh net using a spring balance (type: numeric) Weighing_device: Weight of weighing device (type: numeric) Actual_Weight: Weight of carrion (total weigh difference from the mesh layer) (type: numeric) Notes_on_deployment: Additional notes and observations during deployment (type: comments) Rate of carrion removal by treatment Worksheet: Depletion_rate_raw Description: Raw data of the depletion / removal rate for each sampling point Number of fields: 16 Number of data rows: 235 Land_use: type of land-use either old growth (OG) or oil palm (OP) (type: categorical) Location: unique trap point code (type: location) Treatment: three treatments were deployed (type: categorical) Start_date: the date of carcass deployment (type: date) End_date: the date of carcass depletion (type: date) Fresh: First date of carcass placement (type: date) Active: carcass showing signs of active decomposition (type: date) Advanced: carcass at the advanced stage of decomposition (type: date) Decay: last stage of carcass decomposition (type: date) Outcomes: the key outcome of the carcass (type: categorical) Depletion_days: the rate of depletion (days) (type: numeric) Certainty: Certainty of the scavenger species (type: categorical) Final_scavenger: The species responsible for the depletion (type: taxa) Scavenger_guild: the guild of the scavenger (type: categorical) Mould_formation: White mould seen on the bones or remains of the carcass in advanced decay (type: categorical) Notes: additional observations (type: comments) Rate of carrion removal by treatment Worksheet: Depletion_rate_cleaned Description: Cleaned data of the depletion/ removal rate for each sampling point Number of fields: 14 Number of data rows: 233 Land_use: type of land-use either old growth (OG) or oil palm (OP) (type: categorical) Location: unique trap point code (type: location) Treatment: three treatments were deployed (type: categorical) Start_date: the date of carcass deployment (type: date) End_date: the date of carcass depletion (type: date) Fresh: the first day of carrion decomposition (type: date) Remains: the day bones and fur were observed (type: date) Outcomes: the key outcome of the carcass (type: categorical) Depletion_days: the rate of depletion (days) (type: numeric) Final_scavenger: The species responsible for the depletion (type: taxa) Certainty: Confirmation of scavenger species (type: categorical) Scavenger_guild: the guild of the scavenger (type: categorical) Mould_formation: White mould seen on the bones or remains of the carcass in advanced decay (type: categorical) Notes: additional observations (type: comments) Extents Date range: 2023-02-26 to 2024-09-16 Latitudinal extent: 4.628° to 4.969° Longitudinal extent: 117.444° to 117.81° Taxonomic coverage This dataset contains data associated with taxa and these have been validated against appropriate taxonomic authority databases. GBIF taxa details The following taxa were validated against the GBIF backbone dataset (version 2023-08-28). If a dataset uses a synonym, the accepted usage is shown followed by the dataset usage in brackets. Taxa that cannot be validated, including new species and other unknown taxa, morphospecies, functional groups and taxonomic levels not used in the GBIF backbone are shown in square brackets. - Animalia - - Arthropoda - - - Insecta - - - - Coleoptera - - - - - Scarabaeidae - - - - - - Parascatonomus - - - - - - - Parascatonomus semiaureus - - - - Diptera - - - - - Calliphoridae - - - - Hymenoptera - - - - - Formicidae - - - - - - Dinomyrmex - - - - - - - Dinomyrmex gigas - - - - - - Leptogenys - - - - - - Oecophylla - - - - - - - Oecophylla smaragdina - - Chordata - - - Aves - - - - Cuculiformes - - - - - Cuculidae - - - - - - Carpococcyx - - - - - - - Carpococcyx radiceus - - - - Passeriformes - - - - - Muscicapidae - - - - - - Copsychus - - - - - - - Copsychus stricklandii - - - Mammalia - - - - Carnivora - - - - - Felidae - - - - - - Prionailurus - - - - - - - Prionailurus bengalensis - - - - - Herpestidae - - - - - - Herpestes - - - - - - - Herpestes brachyurus (as synonym: Urva brachyura) - - - - - Viverridae - - - - - - Paradoxurus - - - - - - - Paradoxurus hermaphroditus - - - - - - Viverra - - - - - - - Viverra tangalunga - - - - Rodentia - - - - - Muridae - - - - - - Maxomys - - - - - - - Maxomys rajah - - - Squamata - - - - Varanidae - - - - - Varanus - - - - - - Varanus salvator