Jackals among wolves: balancing between competition and tolerance

Competition plays a key role in shaping predator communities, but carrion abundance can alter these interactions. We investigated interactions between grey wolves (Canis lupus), an apex predator, and golden jackals (Canis aureus), an opportunistic mesocarnivore, in carrion-rich regions of Greece, where livestock carcasses are frequently dumped by farmers. Using UAVs with thermal imaging, handheld thermal cameras, and camera traps, we recorded nearly 1,100 wolf and over 9,000 jackal sightings across landscapes. Our analyses showed that jackals fed and rested more often near abundant food, with larger carcasses leading to prolonged interactions. There was a strong positive relationship between carcass biomass and jackal group size, highly moderated by season, facilitating joint feeding and accelerating carrion consumption. Wolves feeding alongside jackals were mostly solitary, while jackals formed groups of around five, likely benefiting from reduced risk and greater feeding opportunities..., , # Jackals among wolves: balancing between competition and tolerance

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.9ghx3ffz0](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9ghx3ffz0)

## Description of the data and file structure

Supporting Information for *Jackals among wolves: balancing between competition and tolerance* ― Dataset and R Script.

This repository contains observational datasets and code accompanying the manuscript on interactions between golden jackals (*Canis aureus*) and grey wolves (*Canis lupus*) at livestock carcasses in Greece (2018–2024). Data were collected using UAVs with thermal cameras, handheld thermal-imaging devices, and camera traps deployed at carcass deposition sites. These sites receive frequent dead livestock dumps, resulting in unusually high carrion availability that strongly influences interspecific interactions.

Each row in the primary dataset represents a single behavioural observation event extracted from video frames or thermal imagery. Variables include behaviour, group size...,

竞争在塑造捕食者群落结构中发挥关键作用，但腐食资源丰度可显著改变此类种间相互作用。本研究针对希腊腐食资源富集区域（当地农户常丢弃家畜尸体）内的顶级捕食者灰狼（Canis lupus）与机会主义中型食肉动物金豺（Canis aureus）之间的种间相互作用展开调查。研究团队借助搭载热成像功能的无人机（UAV）、手持热成像相机与红外触发相机，在研究区域内累计记录到近1100次灰狼观测事件与9000余次金豺观测事件。分析结果显示，金豺会更频繁地在食物充足区域觅食与休憩，体型更大的腐尸会延长二者的相互作用时长；腐尸生物量与金豺群体规模之间存在显著正相关关系，且受季节的强烈调控，这促进了二者的协同觅食行为并加快了腐食资源的消耗速率。与金豺一同觅食的灰狼多为单独个体，而金豺通常以约5只的群体活动，此举或可通过降低被捕食风险、提升觅食机会而获益……——《狼群中的金豺：平衡竞争与耐受》

数据集DOI：[10.5061/dryad.9ghx3ffz0](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9ghx3ffz0)

## 数据与文件结构说明
《狼群中的金豺：平衡竞争与耐受》补充材料——数据集与R脚本。
本仓库包含2018—2024年间希腊区域内金豺（*Canis aureus*）与灰狼（*Canis lupus*）在家畜腐尸位点的种间相互作用相关研究论文的配套观测数据集与代码。数据采集依托部署于腐尸堆积位点的搭载热成像相机的无人机（UAV）、手持热成像设备与红外触发相机完成。该类位点常被丢弃家畜尸体，因此腐食资源丰度异常偏高，对种间相互作用产生显著调控影响。
主数据集中的每一行对应从视频帧或热成像影像中提取的单次行为观测事件，变量包含行为类型、群体规模……