TY  - JOUR
A1  - Drygala, Frank
A1  - Werner, Ulrike
A1  - Zoller, Hinrich
T1  - Diet composition of the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in north-east Germany
JF  - Hystrix : the Italian journal of mammalogy
N2  - Invasive alien species pose a great threat to the integrity of natural communities by competition with and predation on native species. In Germany the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and the native red fox (Vulpes vulpes) occupy a similar ecological niche. Therefore, the aim of our study was to discover the extent of exploitative diet competition between these two generalist carnivores. Carcasses of red foxes (n=256) and raccoon dogs (n=253) were collected throughout Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania (north-east Germany) and stomachs contains were analysed. Frequency of occurrence and biomass share indicate that both canids are omnivorous and pursue opportunistic feeding strategies. Small mammals and edible plant material were the most important food resources for red foxes and raccoon dogs. Nonetheless, interspecies differences were recorded for edible plant material, small mammals and insects. While red foxes mostly feed on voles, raccoon dogs consumed mice and shrews as often as voles. Only raccoon dogs preyed on amphibians. There were no differences in carrion consumption, both species scavenged on wild boar and we found clear competition for carrion year-round. Moreover, there was evidence that two red foxes foraged on raccoon dogs and vice versa. The mean annual interspecies diet overlap index was relatively high. The diets determined for raccoon dogs and red foxes were quite similar and a similar food niche breadth was recorded. However, only minor competition is assumed to take place since differences in feeding habits do exist.
KW  - Nyctereutes procyonoides
KW  - Vulpes vulpes
KW  - invasive species
KW  - diet competition
KW  - feeding strategies
Y1  - 2013
U6  - https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix.-24.2-8867
SN  - 0394-1914
SN  - 1825-5272
VL  - 24
IS  - 2
SP  - 190
EP  - 194
PB  - Associazione Teriologica Romana
CY  - Roma
ER  -