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Food niche separation between four sympatric Namib Desert carnivores
Author(s) -
Bothma J. Du P.,
Nel J. A. J.,
Macdonald A.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1984.tb05086.x
Subject(s) - sympatric speciation , carnivore , biology , predation , range (aeronautics) , ecology , arid , niche , zoology , predator , materials science , composite material
The diet of four sympatric carnivore species was established by analyzing scats collected during 1978‐1980, a period of increasing drought in the Namib Desert. Termites were especially important in the diet of Aardwolves and Bat‐eared foxes and the food spectrum was not broadened in response to increased aridity. Black‐backed jackals utilized a wide range of prey items, especially rodents and lagomorphs, while the Cape fox largely depended on murid rodents, but also took lagomorphs and insects. Separation in use of space and times of activity between the four species also occurred.