Feeding Ecology of Central Chilean Foxes, Dusicyon culpaeus and Dusicyon griseus

Jaksić, Fabián M.; Schlatter, Roberto; Yáñez, José

doi:10.2307/1380046

Cited by 82 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Another point to be considered, which requires further studies, is the consumption of rabbits captured in snare-traps. Given that usually adult rabbits are the most often trapped with snares whereas juveniles are most frequently dug up from their warrens by culpeo foxes (Jaksic et al 1980), snare-robbing might explain the high relative abundance of adults rabbits in the diet of culpeo foxes at Chena and Lonquén Hills, which are both sites where we observed high illegal hunting activity with snare-traps.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Introduced European rabbit as main prey of the native carnivore culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in disturbed ecosystems of central Chile

Rubio

Alvarado

Bonacic

2013

Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study describes food habits of the culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) by scat analysis in two hills considered Priority Conservation Sites of the Mediterranean Region of central Chile, one of the most disturbed and modified ecosystems in the country. The results showed that foxes from both sites consume the introduced European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as primary prey and native small mammals as secondary prey. This is the first record of feeding habits of the culpeo fox in central Chile that reports a higher consumption of European rabbit over pooled native small mammals. The reason for this result, as well as the higher trophic niche breadth and trophic niche diversity found in culpeo fox populations from the less disturbed hill, might be due to anthropogenic impacts on the study sites. However, to validate this claim, further studies on prey availability and human impact are required. The culpeo fox can have an important role in controlling pests such as the European rabbit; therefore, a more extensive study of this issue can bring important information for the conservation and management of natural areas of central Chile that show high human impact. Este estudio describe los hábitos alimentarios del zorro culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus) en dos cerros considerados "Sitios Prioritarios de Conservación" de la eco-región mediterránea de Chile central, el cual es una de las zonas más intervenidas y modificadas del país. Los resultados encontrados muestran que los zorros de ambos cerros consumen como presa primaria al conejo europeo (Oryctolagus cuniculus) y a los pequeños mamíferos nativos como presa secundaria. Este es el primer registro de la dieta del zorro culpeo en Chile central que reporta un mayor consumo de conejo europeo por sobre el consumo de pequeños mamíferos nativos en su conjunto. La razón de este resultado, además de la mayor amplitud y diversidad de nicho trófico encontrado en la población de zorro culpeo en el cerro menos intervenido, podría deberse al impacto antropogénico en los sitios de estudios. Sin embargo, para validar esta afirmación se necesitan estudios sobre disponibilidad de presas e impacto humano. El zorro culpeo puede tener un papel importante en el control de plagas como el conejo europeo, por lo cual se requiere un estudio más acabado de esta temática, lo cual puede brindar información importante para la conservación y manejo de áreas naturales de Chile central que presenten un alto impacto antropogénico.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Introduced European rabbit as main prey of the native carnivore culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in disturbed ecosystems of central Chile

Rubio

Alvarado

Bonacic

2013

Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Throughout their sympatric range, the diets of pumas and culpeo foxes vary in prey size; when they consume the same prey, their diets vary in prey frequency (Iriarte et al 1991, Jaksic et al 1992, Johnson and Franklin 1994, Meserve et al 1996, Franklin et al 1999, Novaro et al 2000, Rau and Jim é nez 2002, Pia et al 2003, Zapata et al 2005, Walker et al 2007. Several studies have concluded that both species are opportunistic and display trophic plasticity (Crespo and De Carlo 1963, Jaksic et al 1980, Iriarte et al 1990, Sunquist and Sunquist 2002. A number of studies in Argentina and Chile have focused on the ecology of each species separately (Jaksic et al 1980, Iriarte et al 1991, Johnson and Franklin 1994, Branch et al 1996, Jim é nez et al 1996, Pessino et al 2001, Donadio et al 2010 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trophic interactions between puma and endemic culpeo fox after livestock removal in the high mountains of central Argentina

Pia¹

2013

mammalia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study presents the first data on the diet of the puma ( Puma concolor ) and an endemic culpeo fox ( Pseudalopex culpaeus smithersi ) in the high mountains of central Argentina, based on scat analysis. Trophic interactions of both carnivores were examined from 2003 to 2008 inside a protected area after livestock removal. A total of 604 scats were analyzed. Native species (small cavids and cricetine rodents) were most frequently consumed (58 % -100 % ) by both carnivores. Exotic prey were consumed more in 2003 than in other years by both carnivores. Culpeo foxes consumed a higher number of prey items and a lower mean weight of mammalian prey than pumas. Niche breadth was high for pumas in 2003 and for culpeo foxes in 2004, decreasing in subsequent years with the same tendency in both carnivores. Diet overlap was high in all years. Pumas seemed to prey on available prey items, suggesting a trend toward diet specialization in small prey in both carnivores. Native prey are the most important food items for both carnivores inside the park; these results are encouraging in terms of the resilience of at least some components of the predator-prey assemblage in the high mountains of central Argentina.

show abstract

“…Los roedores y lagomorfos corresponden al ítem presa más común, no obstante lo cual es capaz de utilizar variados recursos cuando la abundancia de sus presas principales disminuyen (Martínez et al 1993). En chile la dieta de L. culpaeus ha sido estudiada en poblaciones de las estepas patagónicas del extremo sur (Yánez & Rau 1980, Jaksic et al1983, la región semiárida del norte chico (Meserve et al 1987;Castro et al 1994), las zonas arbustivas de la zona central (Yánez & Jaksic 1979;Jaksic et al 1980;Iriarte et al 1989) y el altiplano del extremo norte, donde en líneas generales consume micromamíferos e insectos, siendo considerado un animal oportunista y adaptado a la oferta del medio (Marquet et al 1993). Si bien en Chile la distribución de este cánido se asocia principalmente a la cordillera de los Andes, en la Región de Tarapacá se han divisado algunos individuos en el desierto del litoral costero (W. Sielfeld Obs.…”

Section: Introduccionunclassified

DIETA DE LYCALOPEX CULPAEUS (Mammalia: Canidae) EN EL EXTREMO NORTE DE CHILE (REGION DE TARAPACA)

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Feeding Ecology of Central Chilean Foxes, Dusicyon culpaeus and Dusicyon griseus

Cited by 82 publications

References 4 publications

Introduced European rabbit as main prey of the native carnivore culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in disturbed ecosystems of central Chile

Introduced European rabbit as main prey of the native carnivore culpeo fox (Lycalopex culpaeus) in disturbed ecosystems of central Chile

Trophic interactions between puma and endemic culpeo fox after livestock removal in the high mountains of central Argentina

DIETA DE LYCALOPEX CULPAEUS (Mammalia: Canidae) EN EL EXTREMO NORTE DE CHILE (REGION DE TARAPACA)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About