An assessment of diet overlap of two mesocarnivores in the North-West Province, South Africa

摘要: We used scat analysis to study the diet of two sympatric medium-sized carnivores: brown hyaena and black-backed jackal, in North West Province South Africa. Seven major dietary categories were identified from scats, with mammal remains being most common for both species. Brown scats contained more large remains, which together presence invertebrates (in 50% all scats), suggests that they mainly scavenged. Jackal a higher proportion small suggesting jackals actively hunted often than hyaenas did. The diets differed significantly between species, even though overlap was fairly high (0.79). Further analysis, albeit based on sample sizes, these mesopredators differ protected reserves apex predators unprotected areas without predators, thus confounding generalizations. studies are therefore required investigate possible mesopredator release when absent.