INVESTIGADORES
NOVARO Andres Jose
artículos
Título:
Differences in diet and trophic interactions of Patagonian carnivores between areas with mostly native or exotic prey
Autor/es:
PALACIOS, R.; R. S. WALKER; A. J. NOVARO
Revista:
MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY
Editorial:
ELSEVIER GMBH
Referencias:
Año: 2012 vol. 77 p. 183 - 190
ISSN:
1616-5047
Resumen:
The prey base for Patagonian carnivores has been altered greatly over the past150years due to widespread
overgrazing by livestock, invasions by exotic wildlife, and hunting. On ranches in northern Patagonia carnivores
consume mostly exotic species, and native herbivores are ecologically extinct in their role as prey.
In this study we compare diets of the culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus), chilla (L. griseus), puma (Puma concolor),
Geoffroys cat (Leopardus geoffroyi), colocolo (L. colocolo), and hog-nosed skunks (Conepatus chinga and
C. humboldtii) in a reserve with a mostly native prey base to their diets on the ranches, and evaluate
how differences in prey bases affect trophic interactions among carnivores. Carnivores in the reserve
consumed mostly native prey. Dietary overlap among carnivores was not significant on the reserve, but
was highly significant on the ranches. This homogenization of diets where densities of native species are
reduced could lead to stronger negative interactions among carnivores, altering the composition of the
carnivore assemblage to the detriment of the more specialized species. Study of carnivore diets may be a
relatively quick way to evaluate the conservation status and ecological functionality of prey assemblages
in Patagonia and other areas where these have been altered.