20.500.12556/DiRROS-21465 Molecular analysis of scats revealed diet and prey choice of grey wolves and Eurasian lynx in the contact zone between the Dinaric Mountains and the Alps A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to get ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of non-invasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations. The objective of this study was to employ DNA metabarcoding to accurately determine the prey species in grey wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) scat samples collected in the Julian Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia. The primary prey of wolves were red deer (Cervus elaphus) (detected in 96% scat samples), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (68%), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) (45%). A smaller portion of their diet consisted of mesocarnivores, small mammals, and domestic animals. In contrast, the lynx diet mostly consisted of European roe deer (82%) and red deer (64%). However, small mammals and domestic animals were also present in lynx diet, albeit to a lesser extent. Our findings indicate that the dietary habits of wolves and lynx are influenced by geographical location. Snapshot dietary analyses using metabarcoding are valuable for comprehending the behaviour and ecology of predators, and for devising conservation measures aimed at sustainable management of both their natural habitats and prey populations. However, to gain a more detailed understanding of wolf and lynx dietary habits and ecological impact, it would be essential to conduct long-term genetic monitoring of their diet. dietary analysis non-invasice samples scats metabarcoding Canis lupus Lynx lynx analiza prehrane neinvazivni vzorci iztrebki metabarkodiranje Canis lupus Lynx lynx true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Neznano 2025-02-10 11:46:17 2025-02-10 11:46:18 2025-02-11 03:36:32 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2024 0 0 Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Opis vira z dne 19. 3. 2024; Soavtorji: Hubert Potočnik, Boštjan Pokorny, Sandra Potušek, Laura Iacolina, Urška Gerič, Felicita Urzi & Ivan Kos; Št. članka:; str. 1-15 art. 9 Vol. 21 2024 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 0000-00-00 2024-01-01 599.742.734 1742-9994 10.1186/s12983-024-00530-6 189563139 https://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12983-024-00530-6 1 43ced975-e79c-11ef-9f1e-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=30635 s12983-024-00530-6.pdf s12983-024-00530-6.pdf 1 CADDD54EBF5DF902094A9ED77CF2ECF6 318edb22e088003d1428bbb35488b442244406310099652cf21dce11c5fe832d 4bb2d5dd-e79c-11ef-9f1e-001a4af901a5 https://dirros.openscience.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=30637 Gozdarski inštitut Slovenije 0 0 0