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Scavengers definition biology9/11/2023 Many vulture deaths stemming from toxins are preventable, and sometimes these deaths result from purposeful poisoning. What is poisoning vultures? Vultures are present on five continents, and their well-being is threatened by toxins on at least three. Sadly, some toxins are still deadly to these scavengers, and such substances are responsible for the majority of vulture deaths over the last 40 years-a trend that has landed most vulture species on the endangered list. Vultures, which exclusively eat dead animal carcasses, are particularly effective at removing pathogens and toxins in the environment because they rapidly consume carrion before it decays, and their stomachs contain an incredibly potent acid that destroys many of the harmful substances found in dead animals. Scavengers eliminate these harmful substances from the environment, mitigating the spread of disease that may otherwise impact local food webs and potentially harm human health and the economy. For example, if left to thrive in a carcass, bacteria and other pathogens may spread within the local environment and infect other animals, including livestock and humans. By consuming dead animals, called carrion, scavengers remove dead carcasses from the environment-a valuable service that goes well beyond environmental aesthetics. However, the research community has become increasingly aware of the critical role scavenging plays in the stability of ecosystems and food webs. When thinking about the beauty and balance of nature, scavengers may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
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