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Iberian wolf’s diet and its quality during breeding season: exploring the influence of zone, wolf groups, prey availability and individual factors

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Abstract

Large predators are essential in maintaining ecosystem functioning, and comprehending how their feeding habits change across natural and human-dominated landscapes is crucial to preserve biodiversity. In this study, the diet of Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus) during pup rearing season (July to September) has been studied in relation to prey abundance and putting emphasis in the analysis of the differences between zones, wolf groups and individual factors (age, sex and social status). For this, non-invasive monitoring was carried out in three zones of Spain where nine different wolf breeding groups were detected (Galicia, n = 4; Zamora, n = 4 and Valladolid, n = 1). Faecal samples were collected near breeding sites for dietary and genetic analyses, registering if it was or not a scent mark to know the social status of the individuals. Prey availability was determined by camera trapping or requesting the official census of wild prey in the study areas. We found differences in wolf’s diet depending on the zone and the breeding group however, the diet did not vary depending on the age, sex and social status. In general, Iberian wolves mainly fed on wild ungulates (wild boar, roe deer and red deer), feeding on the most abundant prey, except for Baldriz group in Galicia which seems to be specialized in hunting roe deer. Domestic animals’ consumption (sheep, goat, donkey, pig) was not high, but it occurred specially in agriculture and livestock areas (Ferreras in Zamora and Valladolid) where wild prey were less available.

Significance statement

In this study, we shed light on the vital role of Iberian wolves in the ecosystem by investigating the dietary preferences during pup rearing season across different landscapes. Our research revealed differences in wolf diets based on geographic location and breeding groups, emphasizing their adaptability. We found that age, sex, and social status did not significantly influence their dietary preferences. Iberian wolves predominantly target wild ungulates, except for a specialized group in Galicia. Our study introduces a novel approach as it is the first to analyse wolf diet based on individual factors and using nitrogen analysis. Additionally, the study highlights previously overlooked dietary patterns of the Iberian wolf subspecies, despite its critical role in the ecosystem as a top predator. Furthermore, we emphasize the necessity of conserving wild ungulate populations to reduce livestock attacks by ensuring a stable supply of wild prey, promoting coexistence between humans and wolves.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Xunta de Galicia, the Junta de Castilla y León and the Reserva de Caza de la Sierra de la Culebra for the permits granted to carry out this study. Also, to all the gamekeepers for their collaboration, specially to Tomás, Ricardo, Paco, Ruben and Roberto. During part of this study, IB was granted a postdoctoral contract by the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the reviewers for their valuable time and insightful comments on our manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/ Darwin 2, Campus Universitario de Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Isabel Barja, Ana Piñeiro, Álvaro Navarro-Castilla, Toni Gago-Barja & M. Carmen Hernández

  2. Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM) Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C. Darwin 2, E-28049, Madrid, Spain

    Isabel Barja & Álvaro Navarro-Castilla

  3. Llobu, Ecoturismo y Medio Ambiente, C/ Santa María 126, 49522 Mahide (Sierra de la Culebra), Zamora, Spain

    Javier Talegón

  4. Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), C/ Paseo de la Universidad 7, 01006, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain

    Aritz Ruiz-González & Amaia Caro

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  1. Isabel Barja
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Contributions

Conceptualization and design: IB; Field work: IB, AP, JT, TG-B; samples analysis for diet: IB; preprocessing of faecal samples to evaluate diet quality: AN-C (The total N % was analyzed in the SIDI); genetic analysis: AR-G, AC; data analysis: MCH, IB; wrote the paper: MCH, IB. The field work of the project was self-sponsored by IB.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Carmen Hernández.

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Ethical statement

This study employed non-invasive methodologies in the examination of the wolf’s diet. This research was performed in compliance with all applicable laws and rules set forth by Xunta de Galicia, the Junta de Castilla y León and the Reserva de Caza de la Sierra de la Culebra. All the necessary permits for faecal sample collection and camera trapping were in hand when the research was conducted. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the research of wild animals were followed.

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We declare that we have no competing interests.

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Communicated by K. Eva Ruckstuhl.

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Barja, I., Piñeiro, A., Talegón, J. et al. Iberian wolf’s diet and its quality during breeding season: exploring the influence of zone, wolf groups, prey availability and individual factors. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 78, 41 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-024-03457-4

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