Ewe are what ewe eat: Using stable isotope analysis to infer diet specialization of cougars

• Main Authors: Widmeyer, Samantha, Boyce, Mark
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: F1000 Research Limited 2019
• Subjects: Alces alces; Lynx
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.7490/f1000research.1117356.1; https://f1000research.com/posters/8-1448

Although typically referred to as a generalist species, individual prey specialization has been documented in cougars ( Puma concolor ). This behaviour has the potential to limit and regulate ungulate dynamics, particularly in cases where ungulates exist in small or isolated populations. Cougars are notoriously difficult to monitor due to their low density, large range-size, and solitary nature. Traditional methods used to quantitatively estimate the diets of these carnivores are often resource limited, labour intensive, and restricted in their resolution. We explored the use of stable isotope analysis to infer prey specialization of 7 cougars in west-central Alberta and compared results to observed specialization as estimated through kill-site analysis. We defined four isotopically distinct ( P < 0.001) prey sources: bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis ), cervids ( Odocoileus spp., Cervus elaphus , and Alces alces ), small carnivores (canid spp. and Lynx canadensis ), and snowshoe hare ( Lepus americanus ). Specialization inferred through stable isotope analysis agreed with observed estimates, indicating this method may be an efficient and reliable alternative to traditional approaches for monitoring cougar diets.