IBYME   02675
INSTITUTO DE BIOLOGIA Y MEDICINA EXPERIMENTAL
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
artículos
Título:
Interactions of exotic and native carnivores in an ecotone, the coast of the Beagle Channel, Argentina
Autor/es:
GÓMEZ JJ, MACDONALD D, GALLO E, CENTRON D, CASSINI MH
Revista:
POLAR BIOLOGY
Editorial:
SPRINGER
Referencias:
Año: 2010 vol. 652 p. 389 - 394
ISSN:
0722-4060
Resumen:
In coasts bordering highly productive seas, there
can be a flux of resources to the terrestrial ecosystem, and
terrestrial carnivores can use marine prey extensively. Two
native, endangered species (otter Lontra provocax and culpeo
fox Pseudalopex culpaeus lycoides) and two exotic
species (mink Neovison vison and grey fox Pseudalopex
griseus) inhabit the Beagle coast. The objectives of this paper
are: (1) to describe the diet, habitat use and distribution of
otters, mink and foxes on the coast of the Beagle channel and
(2) to discuss the role of marine resources in the ecological
interactions among these species. Diet was determined from
the analysis of 245 faeces, and distribution was established
from sign surveys. Marine prey occurred in the scats of 98.3,
70.4, 35.5 and 18.2% of otters, mink, culpeo and grey foxes,
respectively. Other terrestrial species also use marine
resources in Southern Patagonia. All this evidence suggests
that the Fueguian coastal channels provide an illuminating
example of allochthonous food subsidies from the sea. In the
community of four sympatric predators, two native (and
endangered) and two exotic, coexistence appears to be
facilitated by a renewing marine food subsidy.