Importancia del conejo zacatuche (Romerolagus diazi) en la dieta del coyote (Canis lastrans) y del lince (Lynx rufus)

Abstract

Importance of the volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) in the coyote (Canis lastrans) and bobcat (Lynx rufus) dietsImportancia del conejo zacatuche (Romerolagus diazi) en la dieta del coyote (Canis lastrans) y del lince (Lynx rufus) Introduction: Predation may have important effects on prey populations, especially when the prey species is considered endangered such as the volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi). Understanding the importance of the volcano rabbit in the coyote and bobcat diet is important to recognize the possible impact that thesepredators can have on the populations of this endangered rabbit. Methods:We studied the food habits of the coyote and during three climate seasons in the Chichinautzin Biological Corridor through scat analysis. We obtained the frequency of occurrence and consumed biomass of each identified prey item. Additionally we estimated the relative abundance of some of the potential prey species for these two predators and analyzed the relationship between prey abundance and the use of the prey found on the diet of these two predators. Results:The most common prey species and with the greatest biomass contribution on the diet of coyotes and bobcats were the rabbits of the genus Sylvilagus sp., followed by the volcano rabbit. We did not find differences in the frequency of occurrence of prey or in the consumed biomass between the studied seasons, indicating that the diet of both predators remains constant throughout the year. Prey selection analysis showed that both predators selected Sylvilagus rabbits, while volcano rabbits are consumed less than their availability in the environment. Discussion and conclusions:Reduced consumption of the volcano rabbit according with their availability on the environment by coyotes and bobcats could be the result of the selection of larger prey and the nocturnal behavior patterns of both predators. Even though we did not find that both predators are selecting volcano rabbits on their diets, our results showed that coyotes and bobcats are important predators for R. diazi. It is necessary to determine the potential number of volcano rabbits consumed by both predators in order to understand the impact of these predators on this endangered species.Key words: conservation; endangered species; predation; prey selection; volcano rabbit.Introducción: La depredación puede tener efectos importantes en las poblaciones de las presas, siendo este efecto mayor cuando la presa es una especie en peligro de extinción. Entender la importancia del conejo zacatuche en la dieta del coyote y del lince es importante para conocer el impacto que estos depredadores pueden estar ejerciendo sobre las poblaciones de este conejo catalogado en peligro de extinción.Metodología: Se estudió la dieta del coyote y el lince durante tres temporadas climáticas en el Corredor Biológico Chichinautzin a través del análisis de sus heces fecales. Calculamos la proporción de aparición y el porcentaje de biomasa total consumida de cada presa identificada. Además, se estimó la abundancia relativa d...

Peer Review #2 of "Diverse methanogens, bacteria and tannase genes in the feces of the endangered volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) (v0.1)"

“…The volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) is an endemic species classified as endangered by Mexican legislation (SEMARNAT 2010) and as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List (Velázquez & Guerrero 2019). It plays an important ecological role as part of the diet of carnivorous mammals, prey for birds and reptiles (Cervantes & Martínez-Vázquez 1996;Uriostegui Velarde et al 2015). Besides, the volcano rabbit consumes large amounts of vegetative parts of grasses, seedlings, shrubs, trees and can regulate plant composition and seed PeerJ reviewing PDF | ( 2021:03:59685:1:1:NEW 9 Jul 2021) Manuscript to be reviewed dispersal processes (Granados-Sánchez et al 2004).…”

Diverse methanogens, bacteria and tannase genes in the feces of the endangered volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi)

“…The volcano rabbit (Romerolagus diazi) is an endemic species classified as endangered by Mexican legislation (SEMARNAT, 2010) and as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List (Velázquez & Guerrero, 2019). It plays an important ecological role as part of the diet of carnivorous mammals, prey for birds and reptiles (Cervantes & Martínez-Vázquez, 1996;Uriostegui Velarde & García, 2015). Besides, the volcano rabbit consumes large amounts of vegetative parts of grasses, seedlings, shrubs, trees and can regulate plant composition and seed dispersal processes (Granados-Sánchez, López-Ríos & Hernández-García, 2004).…”

<b>DEPREDACIÓN DE UN CINCUATE (<i>Pituophis lineaticollis</i>) Y UNA ARDILLA ARBORÍCOLA (<i>Sciurus aerogaster</i>) POR UN GATO MONTÉS (<i>Lynx rufus escuinapae</i>) EN EL PARQUE ESTATAL HERMENEGILDO GALEANA, ESTADO DE MÉXICO</b>

“…Es un carnívoro que se alimenta de una gran variedad de presas que van desde tamaños pequeños como musarañas, hasta medianos como conejos (Romero, 2005). En México sus presas incluyen principalmente mamíferos entre los que sobresalen conejos, liebres, ardillas, ratas y ratones, y en menor proporción aves y reptiles (Aranda et al, 2012;Delibes et al, 1997;García et al, 2014;Martínez-Meyer, 1994;Rivera Contreras, 2010;Romero, 2005;Uriostegui-Velarde et al, 2015). En Sonora la composición de su dieta incluyó 97% de mamíferos, 2% de reptiles y 1% de aves (Aranda et al, 2012).…”