Native forest replacement by exotic plantations triggers changes in prey selection of mesocarnivores

摘要: ABSTRACT Replacement of native forests by forest plantations may change the composition and abundance small mammals, thus influencing foraging behavior mesocarnivores in these human-created habitats. We assessed how differences prey between exotic southern Chile explain selection four mesocarnivores, as analyzed from their scats. Using a spatial zero-inflated Poisson model, we determined that most mammals was lower than forests, except for three common species, which had similar or larger abundances plantations. mesocarnivores' assessing coefficients log-ratios use availability Bayesian Resource Selection Function. forest, preferences kodkod ( Leopardus guigna ) arboreal stronger, whereas chilla fox Pseudalopex griseus Darwin's fulvipes exhibited selective preference ground prey. also habitat-dependent changes leaf-eared mouse Phyllotis darwini ), positive log ratio to negative Conversely, culpeo culpaeus selected long-tailed colilargo Oligoryzomys longicaudatus Chilean climbing Irenomys tarsalis only, even though were more abundant forests. Although mature commercial provide feeding grounds depending on species-specific ability capture available prey, decline mammal modify mesocarnivores.