Food habits of the world's grey wolves

摘要: Grey wolves Canis lupus have been studied extensively, but there has no detailed review of the species’ feeding ecology, despite growing debate about how to conserve wolf populations while limiting their impacts on wild or domestic ungulates. Here, we assess extent which grey diet varies among and within North America, Europe, Asia. We derived dietary data from searches published literature. We grouped studies based bioregional location. compared locations using non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis similarity. assessed whether increased human are associated with decreased diversity. Finally, southern importance ungulates in over time, coincident a decline species time. We compiled 177 incorporating 94607 scat stomach samples. was dominated by large (240–650 kg) medium-sized (23–130 kg) ungulates, variation percentages consumed, along smaller prey contributed differences found continents. We evidence that diversity globally, although results Europe suggest may switch diets away if more available. The consumed shows is capable surviving dramatic anthropogenic upheaval. However, an urgent need increase our understanding foraging ecology human-dominated landscapes, order determine restoration depleted populations, coupled effective damage-prevention measures, will reduce human-wolf conflicts.