Niche partitioning between sympatric wild canids: the case of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in north-eastern Italy
Autor: | Claudio Delfoco, Luca Riboldi, Erica Frignani, Elisa Torretta, Elena Costa, Alberto Meriggi |
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Jazyk: | angličtina |
Rok vydání: | 2021 |
Předmět: |
Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA)
0106 biological sciences Sympatry Activity patterns Camera trapping Vulpes Evolution media_common.quotation_subject Foxes Zoology Scat analysis Niche overlap Generalist and specialist species 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Competition (biology) Niche partitioning biology.animal QH359-425 Animals 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences 050102 behavioral science & comparative psychology Realized niche width QH540-549.5 Utilization distributions media_common Wolves biology Competition Ecology Research 05 social sciences Niche differentiation Jackals General Medicine biology.organism_classification Diet Italy Jackal Canis aureus Interference |
Zdroj: | BMC Ecology and Evolution, Vol 21, Iss 1, Pp 1-15 (2021) BMC Ecology and Evolution |
ISSN: | 2730-7182 |
Popis: | Background Two coexisting species with similar ecological requirements avoid or reduce competition by changing the extent of their use of a given resource. Numerous coexistence mechanisms have been proposed, but species interactions can also be aggressive; thus, generally a subordinate species modifies its realized niche to limit the probability of direct encounters with the dominant species. We studied niche partitioning between two sympatric wild canids in north-eastern Italy: the golden jackal and the red fox, which, based on competition theories, have a high potential for competition. We considered four main niche dimensions: space, habitat, time, and diet. Results We investigated three study areas monitoring target species populations from March 2017 to November 2018 using non-invasive monitoring techniques. Red fox presence was ascertained in every study area, while golden jackal presence was not ascertained in one study area, where we collected data regarding wolf presence. Considering the two target species, we observed partial diet partitioning based on prey size, with the golden jackal mainly feeding on wild ungulates and the red fox mainly feeding on small mammals. The two canids had an extensive temporal overlap along the diel cycle, having both predominant crepuscular and nocturnal activity patterns, but marked spatial partitioning and differential use of habitats. The golden jackal proved to be specialist concerning the habitat dimension, while the red fox resulted completely generalist: the former selected less human-modified habitats and avoided intensively cultivated lands, while the latter was present in all habitats, including intensively cultivated lands. Conclusions The observed partitioning might be due partially to some ecological adaptations (e.g. specialist vs. generalist use of resources) and specific behaviours (e.g. cooperative vs. solitary hunting) and partially to the avoidance response of the red fox aimed at reducing the probability of direct encounters with the golden jackal. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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