IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Yoshimura, H.; Hayakawa, T.; Kikuchi, D.M.; Zhumabai Uulu, K.; Qi, H.; Sugimoto, T.; Sharma, K.; Kinoshita, K. | |
| Metabarcoding analysis provides insight into the link between prey and plant intake in a large alpine cat carnivore, the snow leopard | |
| 2024 Royal Society Open Science (11): 240132 | |
Species of the family Felidae are thought to be obligate carnivores. However, detection of plants in their faeces raises questions about the role of plants in their diet. This is particularly true for the snow leopard (_Panthera uncia_). Our study aimed to comprehensively identify the prey and plants consumed by snow leopards. We applied DNA metabarcoding methods on 90 faecal samples of snow leopards collected in Kyrgyzstan, employing one vertebrate and four plant markers. We found that argali (_Ovis ammon_) was detected only from male snow leopards._Myricaraia _sp. was the most consumed among 77 plant operational taxonomic units found in snow leopard samples. It frequently appeared in samples lacking any prey animal DNA, indicating that snow leopards might have consumed this plant especially when their digestive tracts were empty. We also observed differences in the patterns of plant consumption between male and female snow leopards. Our comprehensive overview of prey and plants detected in the faeces of snow leopards and other sympatric mammals will help in formulating hypotheses and guiding future research to understand the adaptive significance of plant-eating behaviour in felids. This knowledge supports the enhancement of their captive environments and the conservation planning of their natural habitats. |
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