Abstract
In this study, we establish the seasonal variation of the Culpeo fox’s diet in a seasonal ecosystem of south-central Chile. By scat analyses, 21 prey taxa were identified, 16 were animal and five were plant species. Mammals (88.47%) were the main biomass contribution with small seasonal fluctuations. Plants contributed the most to the differences observed in all seasons since they showed very marked changes. We determined that the Culpeo fox inhabiting the Andes of south-central Chile feeds mainly on small non-native mammals all year round, and supplements its diet opportunistically from items whose abundance oscillates seasonally.
Funding source: Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico
Award Identifier / Grant number: 1170486
Acknowledgments
We thank MSc Tania Coronado and biologists M. Ignacia Concha, Natalia Monsalve, Juliett Erice and Jimena González for their help. Also, we appreciate the contribution made by two anonymous reviewers and the associate editor of Mammalia.
Author contribution: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
Researchfunding: The work was funded by FONDECYT 1170486.
Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.
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