IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Farrell, L.E.; Roman, J.; Sunquist, M.E. | |
| Dietary separation of sympatric carnivores identified by molecular analysis of scats | |
| 2001 Molecular Ecology (9): 1583-1590 | |
We studied the diets of four sympatric carnivores in the flooding savannas of western Venezuela by analysing predator DNA and prey remains in faeces. DNA was isolated and a portion of the cytochrome _b _gene of the mitochondrial genome amplified and sequenced from 20 of 34 scats. Species were diagnosed by comparing the resulting sequences to reference sequences generated from the blood of puma (_Puma concolor_), jaguar (_Panthera onca_), ocelot (_Leopardus pardalus_) and crab-eating fox (_Cerdocyon thous_). Scat size has previously been used to identify predators, but DNA data show that puma and jaguar scats overlap in size, as do those of puma, ocelot and fox. Prey-content analysis suggests minimal prey partitioning between pumas and jaguars. In field testing this technique for large carnivores, two potential limitations emerged: locating intact faecal samples and recovering DNA sequences from samples obtained in the wet season. Nonetheless, this study illustrates the tremendous potential of DNA faecal studies. The presence of domestic dog (_Canis familiaris_) in one puma scat and of wild pig (_Sus scrofa_), set as bait, in one jaguar sample exemplifies the forensic possibilities of this non-invasive analysis. In addition to defining the dietary habits of similar size sympatric mammals, DNA identifications from faeces allow wildlife managers to detect the presence of endangered taxa and manage prey for their conservation. |
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