IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
| Palacios, R.; Walker, R.S.; Novaro, A.J. | |
| Differences in diet and trophic interactions of Patagonian carnivores between areas with mostly native or exotic prey | |
| 2012 Mammalian Biology (77): 183-189 | |
The prey base for Patagonian carnivores has been altered greatly over the past150years due to widespread overgrazing by livestock, invasions by exotic wildlife, and hunting. On ranches in northern Patagonia carnivores consume mostly exotic species, and native herbivores are ecologically extinct in their role as prey. In this study we compare diets of the culpeo (_Lycalopex culpaeus_), chilla (_L. griseus_), puma (_Puma concolor_), Geoffroy's cat (_Leopardus geoffroyi_), colocolo (_L. colocolo_), and hog-nosed skunks (_Conepatus chinga_ and _C. humboldtii_) in a reserve with a mostly native prey base to their diets on the ranches, and evaluate how differences in prey bases affect trophic interactions among carnivores. Carnivores in the reserve consumed mostly native prey. Dietary overlap among carnivores was not significant on the reserve, but was highly significant on the ranches. This homogenization of diets where densities of native species are reduced could lead to stronger negative interactions among carnivores, altering the composition of the carnivore assemblage to the detriment of the more specialized species. Study of carnivore diets may be a relatively quick way to evaluate the conservation status and ecological functionality of prey assemblages in Patagonia and other areas where these have been altered. |
|
 |
PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here |
(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |