Molecular analysis of scats revealed diet and prey choice of grey wolves and Eurasian lynx in the contact zone between the Dinaric Mountains and the Alps

Bužan, Elena (author), Potočnik, Hubert (author), Pokorny, Boštjan (author), Potušek, Sandra (author), Iacolina, Laura (author), Gerič, Urška (author), Urzi, Felicita (author), Kos, Ivan (author)

A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to get ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of non-invasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations. The objective of this study was to employ DNA metabarcoding to accurately determine the prey species in grey wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) scat samples collected in the Julian Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia. The primary prey of wolves were red deer (Cervus elaphus) (detected in 96% scat samples), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (68%), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) (45%). A smaller portion of their diet consisted of mesocarnivores, small mammals, and domestic animals. In contrast, the lynx diet mostly consisted of European roe deer (82%) and red deer (64%). However, small mammals and domestic animals were also present in lynx diet, albeit to a lesser extent. Our findings indicate that the dietary habits of wolves and lynx are influenced by geographical location. Snapshot dietary analyses using metabarcoding are valuable for comprehending the behaviour and ecology of predators, and for devising conservation measures aimed at sustainable management of both their natural habitats and prey populations. However, to gain a more detailed understanding of wolf and lynx dietary habits and ecological impact, it would be essential to conduct long-term genetic monitoring of their diet.

• Language: English
• Keywords: dietary analysis, non-invasice samples, scats, metabarcoding, Canis lupus, Lynx lynx
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 15 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 21, art. 9
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-164773
• UDC: 599.742.734
• ISSN on article: 1742-9994
• DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00530-6
• COBISS.SI-ID: 189563139
• Publication date in RUL: 11.11.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Frontiers in zoology
• Shortened title: Front. zool.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 1742-9994
• COBISS.SI-ID: 513901081

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.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: analiza prehrane, neinvazivni vzorci, iztrebki, metabarkodiranje, Canis lupus, Lynx lynx