Food, food availability and weight of badgers (Meles meles) in relation to agricultural changes

摘要: SUMMARY (1) The food of badgers was studied by analysis faeces collected over 8 years in an area northern Scotland. most important earthworms, followed barley. (2) During the study earthworm populations declined, and so did consumption worms. Barley taken when no more oats were available, rose to a relatively high level. (3) Badger body weights spring early summer positively correlated with at those times year. (4) It is postulated that low availability earthworms lose weight, they compensate eating other foods, especially barley, later This paper describes changes badger (Meles meles (L.)) one north central Scotland 8-year period, as well weight concurrent agricultural land use which affected availability, it discusses hypothesis explain relationships observed. In earlier studies, (Lumbricus terrestris L.) found be far both our elsewhere northwest Europe (Skoog 1970; Bradbury 1974; Wiertz 1976; Kruuk & Parish 1981). Not only eaten often larger quantities than but also remained item diet despite very wide seasonal fluctuations large differences between areas population sizes. Other foods according availability; changed their foraging strategies cope avail- ability. At same time, numbers biomass (Kruuk 1982); this suggested long-term affect size. effect long term decline on interactions are described here. suggestion 1983) related there investigated comparing within from different availability. effects territory sizes will discussed elsewhere.