Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation
The Iberian wolf ( Canis lupus signatus ) is recolonizing historical distribution areas after decades of absence. As in other human-dominated landscapes, finding a balance to protect this species by favoring recolonization and mitigating human–wildlife conflicts is a challenge. Since wolves are ofte...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213364 https://doaj.org/article/ad5de9985b574a31b869a3a4ea89db2a |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ad5de9985b574a31b869a3a4ea89db2a 2023-12-10T09:47:31+01:00 Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation Isabel Barja Álvaro Navarro-Castilla Lorena Ortiz-Jiménez Ángel España Roberto Hinojosa David Sánchez-Sotomayor Ángel Iglesias José España Sergio Rubio-Sánchez Santiago Martín-Romero Juan Vielva Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213364 https://doaj.org/article/ad5de9985b574a31b869a3a4ea89db2a EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3364 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2615 doi:10.3390/ani13213364 2076-2615 https://doaj.org/article/ad5de9985b574a31b869a3a4ea89db2a Animals, Vol 13, Iss 21, p 3364 (2023) Canis lupus signatus domestic ungulates wild ungulates Iberian wolf recolonization Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213364 2023-11-12T01:36:32Z The Iberian wolf ( Canis lupus signatus ) is recolonizing historical distribution areas after decades of absence. As in other human-dominated landscapes, finding a balance to protect this species by favoring recolonization and mitigating human–wildlife conflicts is a challenge. Since wolves are often generalist opportunistic predators, we studied their diet composition in central Spain to evaluate the consumption of domestic ungulates and provide reliable data that could help local authorities to deal with the current wolf–cattle ranchers conflict and coexistence. Diet composition (% prey occurrence, % prey ingested biomass) was analyzed through the identification of prey hairs present in 671 scats collected between 2017 and 2021. The wolves fed more on wild ungulates (82% occurrence) than domestic ones (18%). Wild boar ( Sus scrofa , 44% occurrence) and roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus , 35%) were the most consumed prey. The wolves positively selected these two species. The wolves’ diets varied between seasons, years, and forest regions, but a diet based on wild ungulates predominated over domestic ones. Food niche breadth showed variations depending on seasons and years. Preserving the availability and diversity of wild ungulates may favor reducing livestock attacks and would be an achievable goal that would help to conserve this species and reduce conservation conflicts. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Animals 13 21 3364 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Canis lupus signatus domestic ungulates wild ungulates Iberian wolf recolonization Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 |
spellingShingle |
Canis lupus signatus domestic ungulates wild ungulates Iberian wolf recolonization Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 Isabel Barja Álvaro Navarro-Castilla Lorena Ortiz-Jiménez Ángel España Roberto Hinojosa David Sánchez-Sotomayor Ángel Iglesias José España Sergio Rubio-Sánchez Santiago Martín-Romero Juan Vielva Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation |
topic_facet |
Canis lupus signatus domestic ungulates wild ungulates Iberian wolf recolonization Veterinary medicine SF600-1100 Zoology QL1-991 |
description |
The Iberian wolf ( Canis lupus signatus ) is recolonizing historical distribution areas after decades of absence. As in other human-dominated landscapes, finding a balance to protect this species by favoring recolonization and mitigating human–wildlife conflicts is a challenge. Since wolves are often generalist opportunistic predators, we studied their diet composition in central Spain to evaluate the consumption of domestic ungulates and provide reliable data that could help local authorities to deal with the current wolf–cattle ranchers conflict and coexistence. Diet composition (% prey occurrence, % prey ingested biomass) was analyzed through the identification of prey hairs present in 671 scats collected between 2017 and 2021. The wolves fed more on wild ungulates (82% occurrence) than domestic ones (18%). Wild boar ( Sus scrofa , 44% occurrence) and roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus , 35%) were the most consumed prey. The wolves positively selected these two species. The wolves’ diets varied between seasons, years, and forest regions, but a diet based on wild ungulates predominated over domestic ones. Food niche breadth showed variations depending on seasons and years. Preserving the availability and diversity of wild ungulates may favor reducing livestock attacks and would be an achievable goal that would help to conserve this species and reduce conservation conflicts. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Isabel Barja Álvaro Navarro-Castilla Lorena Ortiz-Jiménez Ángel España Roberto Hinojosa David Sánchez-Sotomayor Ángel Iglesias José España Sergio Rubio-Sánchez Santiago Martín-Romero Juan Vielva Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez |
author_facet |
Isabel Barja Álvaro Navarro-Castilla Lorena Ortiz-Jiménez Ángel España Roberto Hinojosa David Sánchez-Sotomayor Ángel Iglesias José España Sergio Rubio-Sánchez Santiago Martín-Romero Juan Vielva Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez |
author_sort |
Isabel Barja |
title |
Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation |
title_short |
Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation |
title_full |
Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation |
title_fullStr |
Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation |
title_sort |
wild ungulates constitute the basis of the diet of the iberian wolf in a recently recolonized area: wild boar and roe deer as key species for its conservation |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213364 https://doaj.org/article/ad5de9985b574a31b869a3a4ea89db2a |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
Animals, Vol 13, Iss 21, p 3364 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3364 https://doaj.org/toc/2076-2615 doi:10.3390/ani13213364 2076-2615 https://doaj.org/article/ad5de9985b574a31b869a3a4ea89db2a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213364 |
container_title |
Animals |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
21 |
container_start_page |
3364 |
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1784891167607881728 |