Meso-Carnivore Niche Expansion in Response to an Apex Predator's Reintroduction - a Stable Isotope Approach

摘要: Apex predators can have considerable impacts on meso-carnivore diets, through competition or facilitation. Facilitation occurs when smaller consume carrion created by larger predators, especially large-bodied prey species normally inaccessible to meso-carnivores. In contrast, apex also negatively affect consumption of important resources competitive interactions. Thus, predicting responses trophic structure changes (i.e. predator extirpation reintroduction) is often difficult. We investigated stable carbon and nitrogen isotope niche breadths black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) in response the reintroduction an predator, African lion (Panthera leo), Karoo National Park, South Africa. Jackal faecal isotopic widths were post-lion than pre-lion samples, indicating a expansion include pure C3- C4-based food sources lions present. Most items this nature study area are ungulates. Our results agree with traditional scat analysis, which showed that >92 kg consumed more after reintroduction. Stable data from carnivore faeces effective for tracking wildlife changing ecological conditions, providing alternative source information about community brought management interventions.