Diet of Eurasian lynx <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lynx lynx</Emphasis> in the northern Dinaric Mountains (Slovenia and Croatia) |
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Authors: | Miha Krofel Djuro Huber Ivan Kos |
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Institution: | (1) Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 111, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia;(2) Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia |
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Abstract: | The Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx (Linnaeus 1758) is an opportunistic predator that usually selects the smallest ungulate available. Its diet varies considerably
among different regions; therefore it is important to study lynx diet in different parts of the species’ range. We studied
the diet of lynx from the endangered Dinaric population in Slovenia and Croatia by analyzing lynx scats, prey remains, and
stomach contents. Dinaric lynx mainly killed European roe deer Capreolus capreolus (0.64 frequency of occurrence, 79% of all consumed biomass), which were used more frequently during winter and spring. Ungulates
were killed more often by adult males than by lynx of other age and sex groups. In contrast to studies from other regions,
lynx in the northern Dinaric Mountains also frequently fed on the edible dormice Glis glis (0.18 frequency of occurrence, 7% of all consumed biomass). This large rodent appears to be an important alternative prey,
especially for females and young lynx, and was the reason for the highest use of rodents reported so far for the Eurasian
lynx. Edible dormice in Dinaric forests have highly variable numbers of active animals. Seasonal and possibly annual variation
in dormouse availability obviously affects lynx diet. This is a rare example where variability in the availability of the
alternative prey and not the preferred prey leads to the dietary shift. This study confirms the opportunistic nature of Eurasian
lynx and the regional variability of its diet. |
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