Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus Temminck, 1827 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in central Spain: trophic niche of an isolated population
| Autor: | Germán Alonso Campos, Pedro Alfaya Herbello, Ariadna Invernón |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
lcsh:QH1-199.5 Frequency of occurrence Niche Zoology niche overlap lcsh:General. Including nature conservation geographical distribution Management Monitoring Policy and Law 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences Predation niche breadth single nucleotide polymorphism lcsh:QH540-549.5 biology.domesticated_animal Transect Ecology Evolution Behavior and Systematics Nature and Landscape Conservation Mamíferos biology 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology lagomorphs Animal Science and Zoology lcsh:Ecology European rabbit diet Trophic niche |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Threatened Taxa, Vol 12, Iss 2, Pp 15229-15237 (2020) E-Prints Complutense: Archivo Institucional de la UCM Universidad Complutense de Madrid E-Prints Complutense. Archivo Institucional de la UCM instname |
| ISSN: | 0974-7907 0974-7893 |
| DOI: | 10.11609/jott.5506.12.2.15229-15237 |
| Popis: | Understanding predator-prey relationships is fundamental to develop effective conservation plans. Between 2015 and 2018, we combed 21 transects, each 7km long, searching for Iberian Lynx Lynx pardinus scat within the province of Madrid in central Spain. In order to minimise inherent subjectivity of visual identification as much as possible, we performed a double specific nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by a primer extension assay addressed to two Iberian Lynx diagnostic single nucleotide polymorphisms. Forty-six scat samples were positively identified as belonging to Iberian Lynx through genetic analysis. From these, we extracted remains of consumed prey, which we determined to the lowest possible taxonomic level, mainly through hair identification. Identified prey was divided into four types: lagomorphs, small mammals, birds, and ungulates. The species’ diet composition was described based on the frequency of occurrence (FO) of each prey and niche breadth, and also compared with prior knowledge of the species using four prior studies as a comparative reference through the calculation of the niche overlap value. The FO of lagomorphs (39%) was the lowest, while the FO of small mammals (54%) was the highest recorded to date. The niche breath (0.36) was higher than recorded in prior studies, but still showing the specialist character of the Iberian Lynx. Niche overlap was low (C = 0.49), showing differences in trophic niche between the population in our study area and the one studied in southern Spain. This indicates that the Iberian Lynx is adept at switching its main prey, an ability that has previously been firmly rejected. It is, however, capable of adapting to alternative prey more often than recorded to date, which could be a behavioural response to the patchy distribution of European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus in the study area. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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