Moving the corpse to hide the evidence: horizontal as well as vertical movement is important when burying beetles cache a carcass

Being the first to discover a resource can provide competitive advantage (priority effect), even for an animal that is inferior in aggressive contests. Nicrophorus spp. (burying beetles) are known caching small vertebrate carcass as provision their young, reducing volatile cues available rivals by burying (vertical movement) and altering microbial community. A decomposing carcass, however, leave (residues of decay) on soil leaf litter beetle has less opportunity neutralize. I investigated whether horizontal movement beetles, separating from at site death, might reduce competition congeners. When fresh carcasses were placed field top with residues decay, akin no displacement, discovered within 24 h free-flying competitors more frequently (58.2%) than when was 1 m treated (8.3%). In second experiment, likely be beetles chemical attractant (methyl thiocyanate) near (0.03 0.25 m) it distant (1 5 or controls (no attractant). The results suggest displacement after discovery serves not only locate suitable spot burial but also information searching resource.