scholarly journals Spring diet of the pine marten in Sardinia, Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lombardini ◽  
◽  
M. Murru ◽  
A. Repossi ◽  
C. E. Cinerari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Pine Marten ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Eliomys Quercinus ◽  
Index Value

Knowledge of a carnivore’s foraging behaviour is essential to understand its ecology. The pine marten Martes martes is commonly defined as an opportunistic generalist predator since its diet in Europe includes mammals, fruits, birds and invertebrates. Based on faecal analyses, we evaluated spring feeding habits and trophic niche breadth of the pine marten in a Mediterranean landscape on the island of Sardinia (Central Italy). The most important source of food for the pine marten was small mammals (mainly Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus musculus and Eliomys quercinus), accounting for 52% of the percent mean volume. Important secondary foods were invertebrates (mainly beetles and insect larvae) and birds (almost exclusively passerines), whereas large mammals, lagomorphs, reptiles and fruits made little contribution to the diet. The diet composition and the Levins’ index value suggest that the pine marten in Sardinia behaves as a facultative specialist predator, with a specialization towards small mammals.

Feeding habits and trophic niche overlap between sympatric golden jackal (Canis aureus) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the Pannonian ecoregion (Hungary)

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 1647-1656 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Lanszki ◽  
M. Heltai ◽  
L. Szabó
Keyword(s):  
Wild Boar ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Lepus Europaeus ◽  
Golden Jackal ◽  
Canis Aureus

The feeding ecology of the golden jackal ( Canis aureus L., 1758) and its interspecific trophic relationship with the sympatric red fox (Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)) was investigated in an area of recent range expansion of the golden jackal in Hungary, central Europe. Diet composition was determined by scat analysis (over 4 years: jackal 814 scats; fox 894 scats). Compared with jackals, foxes consumed more small mammals (mean biomass consumed: jackal 77%; fox 68%) and to a lesser extent plant matter (6% and 18%, respectively). The importance of other prey, such as wild boar ( Sus scrofa L., 1758), cervids, brown hare ( Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778), birds, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, and domestic animals, was minimal. Both mesocarnivores consumed primarily small animals (<50 g: 92% and 87%, respectively); this implies a typical searching and solitary hunting strategy. The trophic niche breadth of both species was very narrow and the fox proved to be more of a generalist. The food overlap index between the two canids was high (mean, 73%) and varied with the decreasing availability and consumption of small mammals. Based on prey remains found in scats, small-mammal specialization over a 2-year period and seasonal predation upon wild boar piglets (mainly by the jackal), seasonal fruit eating (mainly by the fox), and scavenging on wild or domestic ungulates (both predators) were found.

scholarly journals Small rodent cycles influence interactions among predators in a boreal forest ecosystem

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-593
Author(s):  
Rocío Cano-Martínez ◽  
David Carricondo-Sanchez ◽  
Olivier Devineau ◽  
Morten Odden
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Small Rodent ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Pine Marten ◽  
Mustela Nivalis ◽  
Rodent Abundance

AbstractCyclic fluctuations of prey have profound effects on the functioning of ecosystems, for example, by changing the dynamics, behavior, and intraguild interactions of predators. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of rodent cyclic fluctuations in the interspecific interactions of a guild of small- and medium-sized predators: red fox (Vulpes vulpes), pine marten (Martes martes), and weasels (Mustela erminea and Mustela nivalis) in the boreal ecosystem. We analyzed eight years (2007–2014) of snow tracking data from southeastern Norway using structural equation models to assess hypothesized networks of causal relationships. Our results show that fluctuations in rodent abundance alter the strength of predator’s interactions, as well as the effect of determinant environmental variables. Pine marten and weasel abundances were positively associated with rodent population growth rate, but not red fox abundance. All predators were positively associated with each other; however, the association between red fox and the other predators weakened when rodents increased. Rodent fluctuations had variable effects on the habitat use of the predators. The presence of agricultural land was important for all predators, but this importance weakened for the mustelids as rodent abundance increased. We discuss the shifting role of interference and exploitative competition as possible mechanisms behind these patterns. Overall, we highlight the importance of accounting for the dynamics of prey resources when studying interspecific interactions among predators. Additionally, we demonstrate the importance of monitoring the predator populations in order to anticipate undesirable outcomes such as increased generalist predator abundances to the detriment of specialists.

Feeding ecology of Symbolophorus californiensis larvae (Teleostei: Myctophidae) in the southern transition region of the western North Pacific

2009 ◽  
Vol 90 (6) ◽  
pp. 1249-1256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiyuki Sassa
Keyword(s):  
Transition Region ◽  
North Pacific ◽  
Western North Pacific ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Size Class ◽  
Gut Contents ◽  
Wide Range

The feeding habits of myctophid larvae of Symbolophorus californiensis were examined in the southern transition region of the western North Pacific where the main spawning and nursery grounds of S. californiensis are formed. This species is a key component of the pelagic ecosystems of this region, and their larvae attain one of the largest sizes among myctophids. To analyse gut contents larvae, including most life history stages after yolk-sac absorption (3.7 to 22.2 mm body length (BL)), were collected in the upper 100 m layer in 1997 and 1998. Feeding incidence was higher during the day than at night (53.1–92.3% versus 0–5.6%), and daytime feeding incidence increased gradually with larval growth. Larvae fed mainly on copepods of various developmental stages. Larvae of S. californiensis showed an ontogenetic change in their diet: larvae ≤7.9 mm BL (i.e. preflexion stage) fed mainly on copepod eggs and nauplii, while the larvae ≥8 mm BL consumed mainly calanoid copepodites such as Pseudocalanus and Paracalanus spp. In the largest size-class (16–22.2 mm BL), the furcilia stage of euphausiids was also an important prey item. There was an increase in the average prey size with growth in larvae ≤11.9 mm BL, while the number of prey eaten positively correlated with growth in larvae ≥12 mm BL. The trophic niche breadth also increased with larval growth, which would ensure a wide range of available food resources for the larger size-class larvae.

Feeding habits and trophic level of the smooth hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena (Carcharhiniformes: Sphyrnidae), off Ecuador

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 673-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colombo Estupiñán-Montaño ◽  
Luis Cedeño-Figueroa ◽  
José F. Estupiñán-Ortiz ◽  
Felipe Galván-Magaña ◽  
Alejandro Sandoval-Londoño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trophic Level ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Commercial Fishing ◽  
Dosidicus Gigas ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
Marine Food Webs ◽  
Fishing Vessels ◽  
Marine Food ◽  
Index Of Relative Importance

As apex predators, sharks are known to play an important role in marine food webs. Detailed information on their diet and trophic level is however needed to make clear inferences about their role in the ecosystem. A total of 335 stomachs of smooth hammerhead sharks, Sphyrna zygaena, were obtained from commercial fishing vessels operating in the Ecuadorian Pacific between January and December 2004. A total of 53 prey items were found in the stomachs. According to the Index of Relative Importance (%IRI), cephalopods were the main prey (Dosidicus gigas, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, Ancistrocheirus lesueurii and Lolliguncula [Loliolopsis] diomedeae). Sphyrna zygaena was thus confirmed to be a teutophagous species. The estimated trophic level of S. zygaena was between 4.6 and 5.1 (mean ± SD: 4.7 ± 0.16; males: 4.7; females: 4.8). Levin's index (BA) was low (overall: 0.07; males: 0.08; females: 0.09), indicating a narrow trophic niche. We found that sharks <150 cm in total length consumed prey of coastal origin, whereas sharks ≥150 cm foraged in oceanic waters and near the continental shelf. The analyses indicate that S. zygaena is a specialized predator consuming mainly squids.

scholarly journals Eastern Coyotes (Canis latrans var.) consuming large ungulates in a multi-ungulate system

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51
Author(s):  
Juliana Balluffi-Fry ◽  
Liane B. Nowell ◽  
Murray M. Humphries
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Castor Canadensis ◽  
Generalist Predators ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Game Reserve ◽  
Varied Diet ◽  
American Beaver

The feeding habits of generalist predators often vary among populations and regions. For example, Coyote (Canis latrans), which is a generalist predator distributed across North America, occupies a wide range of habitats and has a highly varied diet. In this observational study, we quantified the presence of mammalian prey items in 50 Eastern Coyote (Canis latrans var.) scats collected in late spring and summer in a private game reserve in southwestern Quebec. Nearly all scats contained hair of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus; 44%), Moose (Alces americanus; 38%), or American Beaver (Castor canadensis; 38%). Although all three species are known to be consumed by coyotes, such a high proportion of Moose and White-tailed Deer simultaneously occurring in the diet of coyotes has not been previously reported. The uniqueness of the study area, with its relatively high abundance of all three prey species, may account for the uniqueness of the diet of Eastern Coyotes living there.

scholarly journals Trophic niche breadth of pond zooplankton species using stable isotope analysis and the relationship with the abiotic and biotic factors

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 180917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideyuki Doi ◽  
Kwang-Hyeon Chang ◽  
Shin-ichi Nakano
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Zooplankton Biomass ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Zooplankton Species ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Ecosystem Size ◽  
The Relationship

Zooplankton species have different feeding habits, but the diversity of their food resources and the factors governing them are still largely unknown. We here estimated the differences in the trophic niche breadths of dominant zooplankton species in ponds, using stable isotopes. To understand the differences in trophic niches of different zooplankton species, we measured the carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and calculated the nearest-neighbour distance (NND), and standard deviation of NND (SDNND) of the bi-plot space of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in pond zooplankton. We tested the relationship between the NND/SDNND and environmental factors, as well as the zooplankton biomass, using generalized linear models (GLMs). For cladocerans, including Bosmina, Ceriodaphnia and Daphnia, the NNDs were significantly correlated with the biomass, pond morphology (volume and depth), total phosphorous (TP) and fish presence. For copepod species, including Eodiaptomus and cyclopoids, NNDs were significantly correlated with pond morphology, TP and fish presence, but not with biomass. In GLMs of SDNND, significant correlated factors were less than those for NND, and for some species, pond morphology and TP were significantly correlated with SDNND. Here, we found that the NND and SDNND of zooplankton species were related to various factors, including their biomass, predator presence, pond size and water quality. For cladocerans, biomass may be supported by trophic niche breadth, probably because of the consequences of resource competition. Also, predation and ecosystem size may influence trophic niche breadth due to changes in zooplankton behaviours.

scholarly journals Suidae Transition at the Miocene-Pliocene Boundary: a Reassessment of the Taxonomy and Chronology of Propotamochoerus provincialis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessio Iannucci ◽  
Marco Cherin ◽  
Leonardo Sorbelli ◽  
Raffaele Sardella
Keyword(s):  
Late Miocene ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Early Pleistocene ◽  
Messinian Salinity Crisis ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Faunal Assemblages ◽  
Paleoenvironmental Changes ◽  
Species Diagnosis ◽  
Eurasian Species

Abstract The Miocene-Pliocene (Turolian-Ruscinian) transition represents a fundamental interval in the evolution of Euro-Mediterranean paleocommunities. In fact, the paleoenvironmental changes connected with the end of the Messinian salinity crisis are reflected by a major renewal in mammal faunal assemblages. An important bioevent among terrestrial large mammals is the dispersal of the genus Sus, which replaced all other suid species during the Pliocene. Despite its possible paleoecological and biochronological relevance, correlations based on this bioevent are undermined by the supposed persistence of the late surviving late Miocene Propotamochoerus provincialis. However, a recent revision of the type material of this species revealed an admixture with remains of Sus strozzii, an early Pleistocene (Middle Villafranchian to Epivillafranchian) suid, questioning both the diagnosis and chronological range of P. provincialis. Here we review the late Miocene Suidae sample recovered from the Casino Basin (Tuscany, central Italy), whose taxonomic attribution has been controversial over the nearly 150 years since its discovery. Following a comparison with other Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene Eurasian species, the Casino Suidae are assigned to P. provincialis and the species diagnosis is emended. Moreover, it is recognized that all the late Miocene (Turolian) European Propotamochoerus material belongs to P. provincialis and that there is no compelling evidence of the occurrence of this species beyond the Turolian-Ruscinian transition (MN13-MN14).

scholarly journals Food Habits and Diet Relationship in the Redbelly Tilapia (Tilapia zillii) and Guenther’s Mouthbrooder (Chromidotilapia guntheri) from an Abandoned Gold Mine Reservoir, Southwestern Nigeria

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-155
Author(s):  
Olusola Olaniyi KOMOLAFE ◽  
Timothy Olalekan AMOO ◽  
Michael Olufemi AWODIRAN
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Gold Mine ◽  
Southwestern Nigeria ◽  
Food Items ◽  
Tilapia Zillii ◽  
Gill Net ◽  
Food And Feeding ◽  
Index Value

The food and feeding habits of the redbelly Tilapia (Tilapia zillii) and Guenther’s mouthbrooder (Chromidotilapia guntheri) were investigated in an abandoned gold mine reservoir at Igun from June 2013 to May 2014. Using a cast net and gill-net fishing gears, 370 fish individuals were caught and their stomach contents were analysed by using the frequency of occurrence and numerical methods. Tilapia zillii comprised 53.78% (199 individuals), while Chromidotilapia guntheri covered up the remaining percentage (46.22%) which is made up of 171 individuals. Food items in the stomachs of T. zillii individuals predominantly consisted of detritus, mud and algae (77.97%), while those in C. guntheri individuals mostly consisted fish remains, detritus and algae (81.67%). T. zillii exploited more food items (23 of 27) as compared to C. guntheri (17 of 27). The Schoener’s index value for the species was 0.65. The study showed that T. zillii and C. guntheri exhibited benthopelagic exploitation and are mainly herbivorous and omnivorous respectively based on the food items observed in the stomach contents of these species. The fish species fed on related food items as confirmed by Schoener’s overlap index (0.65), suggesting that there was overlap in the dietary requirements of the two species. This index value, however, was probably not an indication of competition for food between these two species because they exploited abundant food sources.

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