Jackal in hide: detection dogs show first success in the quest for golden jackal ( Canis aureus ) scats

摘要: Golden jackal (Canis aureus) monitoring in central Europe generates more interest and becomes increasingly important with the species’ appearance areas where it was previously unestablished. For genetic of golden jackals via scat collection, distinction scats from those related species such as red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is crucial: if done incorrectly, can falsify diet studies or inflate costs DNA analyses. In this study, we tested potential benefits using domestic dogs to specifically find scats. We used trained detection locate identify an area dense shrubland, presence confirmed bioacoustic monitoring. On a total 133 km transects covering at least two groups, human-dog teams found 34 putative A 26 these were successfully genetically analysed, which 19 attributed 13 individual jackals, accuracy rate 73%. Our results show that differentiate other species. This tool be applied detect establish reliable estimates group number size than determined through stimulation. By combining both methods, questions about family structures kinship, seasonal differences habitat use territory sizes answered. The regular present efficient method monitor on long-term basis learn their behaviour population dynamics.