Consumption of carnivores by wolves : a worldwide analysis of patterns and drivers

Martins, Inês (author), Krofel, Miha (author), Mota, Paulo G. (author), Álvares, Francisco (author)

The occurrence of carnivore species in wolf diet has been overlooked and poorly studied despite the potential implications for wolf ecology and wildlife management. We conducted an extensive literature review, focusing on 120 wolf diet studies worldwide to assess global patterns of carnivore consumption by wolves and their ecological and human-related determinants. We used a total of 143 sampling sites with data on the consumption of carnivores by wolves. In total, 35 carnivore species were reported to be consumed by wolves, comprising members of all taxonomic carnivore families represented within the gray wolf range. The carnivores were mostly limited to occasional consumption (<5% of wolf diet) but could account for as much as 25% in some study areas. The most frequently consumed carnivore species were those with reported scavenging behavior, belonging to medium-sized generalist canids. Generalized linear model (GLM) analysis revealed that higher magnitudes of carnivore consumption were related to nonprotected areas as well as lower occurrences of wild ungulates, domestic ungulates, and small mammals in wolf diet, while higher numbers of consumed carnivore species were related to nonprotected areas with low vegetation productivity and lower occurrences of domestic ungulates and small mammals in wolf diet. Our results suggest that carnivore consumption by wolves is driven by altered ecosystems and human-dominated landscapes, where mesopredator densities are often increased and prey densities decreased, which intensify competition and the need for alternative food sources.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Canis lupus, competition, domestic dog, interspecific killing, mesopredators, worldwide review
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 17 str.
• Numbering: article 470, iss. 12
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-124035
• UDC: 591
• ISSN on article: 1424-2818
• DOI: 10.3390/d12120470
• COBISS.SI-ID: 43772163
• Publication date in RUL: 21.12.2020

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Diversity
• Shortened title: Diversity
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1424-2818
• COBISS.SI-ID: 517523737

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 21.12.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: Canis lupus, tekmovanje, domači psi, medvrstno plenjenje, mezoplenilci, globalni pregled

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0059
• Name: Gozd, gozdarstvo in obnovljivi gozdni viri