scholarly journals Diet composition of the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and badger (Meles meles) in Czech Republic

Author(s):  
Hana Šuláková

Diets of the raccoon dog and badger were studied in the Landscape Protected Area (LPA) Litovelské Pomoraví from 2000 to 2001 by collecting faeces from latrines during March – December every year. The relative volume and frequency occurrence of each food item in the feaces were calculated. Vertebrates and invertebrates constituted the bulk of the raccoon dog diet, while plants and invertebrates were most frequently eaten by the badger. Insecta and Rodentia were important to the raccoon dog, but it also consumed other food items. The raccoon dog was more omnivorous that the badger. Badger fed very frequently on plant material, raccoon dog, instead, frequently ate insects, especially beetles. In conclusion, the diet of the raccoon dog overlaps largely with that of badger, and some competition for food may occur between these species in the LPA Litovelské Pomoraví; however, their preferred food sources differ to some extent, which helps them to avoid competition.

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (12) ◽  
pp. 1389-1396 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kowalczyk ◽  
B. Jędrzejewska ◽  
A. Zalewski ◽  
W. Jędrzejewski

Based on radio-tracking of Eurasian badgers ( Meles meles (L., 1758)), red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)), and raccoon dogs ( Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834)) and observations at burrows conducted in Białowieża Primeval Forest (eastern Poland) in 1996–2002, we addressed the hypothesis that facilitative interactions between a native (badger) and an alien (raccoon dog) species contributed to the invasion success of the latter. In winter, 88% of badger setts were occupied by both badgers and raccoon dogs, 4% by badgers and red foxes, and 4% by all three species. In summer, only 20% of badger setts were cohabited by other carnivore species (10% by raccoon dogs and 10% by foxes). Duration of occupation of badger setts by raccoon dogs averaged 117 days (SE = 21 days). Seasonal variation in raccoon dog use of badger setts was explained by changes in ambient temperature: the lower was the temperature, the higher was the rate of sett occupation by raccoon dogs. When wintering in the same sett, badgers and raccoon dogs used different parts of the sett. We conclude that facilitation by badgers (through habitat amelioration and refuge from cold and predation) makes the realized niche of raccoon dogs larger than predicted from their fundamental niche. The facilitating role of badger is stronger in winter, which is a critical period for raccoon dog survival in the temperate and boreal zone.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. p16
Author(s):  
Marina Silva-Opps ◽  
Whitney Kelly-Clark ◽  
Sheldon Opps

It has been postulated that red foxes (Vulpesvulpes) inhabiting Prince Edward Island National Park (Canada) make very little use of natural food sources and that anthropogenic food play an integral part in their diet. The use of anthropogenic food sources has also been associated with an increased number of fatal fox vehicle-collisions in the park. The main goal of this study was to examine the composition of the diet of foxes inhabiting Prince Edward Island National Park and to compare this diet with foxes found in other areas of the island. In particular, we examined the importance of anthropogenic food items in foxes inhabiting the national park. We analyzed 38 stomachs from foxes killed by trappers or vehiclesduring late fall and early winter within and outside the national park. Our results showed that rodents and vegetation were the most common food items present in fox stomachs whether the animals were obtained from within or outside the park. Values of coefficient of variation of food items found in fox stomachs indicated a great diversity in diet composition. However, only six stomachs contained anthropogenic food items. Stomachs of foxes killed by vehicles contained twice the amount of anthropogenic food items than those that were collected from trappers. Overall, our findings indicate that anthropogenic food items are only a minor component in the diet of foxes occurring within the park, at least during the period of time examined in this study. Future studies should examine diet composition during other seasons when the quantity and quality of anthropogenic food sources is different. 


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morten Elmeros ◽  
Dorthe Malene Götz Mikkelsen ◽  
Louise Solveig Nørgaard ◽  
Cino Pertoldi ◽  
Trine Hammer Jensen ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 685-693
Author(s):  
Arushi Jain ◽  
Pulkit Mathur

Background: Sulphites added as preservatives in food have been associated with adverse health effects in humans. Objective: The present study was designed with an objective of assessing the risk of sulphite exposure through food in adolescents (12-16 years old) of Delhi, India. Methods: A total of 1030 adolescents selected from four private and four government schools of Delhi, were asked to record their food intake using a 24 hour food record, repeated on three days, for assessing exposure to sulphites. The risk was assessed using six different scenarios of exposure. Results: The actual intake for sulphites for average consumers was 0.15 ± 0.13 mg / kg b.w. / day which was 21.4% of acceptable daily intake (ADI). For high consumers (P95), it was 65% of the ADI. However, for 2 respondents, the actual intake exceeded the ADI. The major food contributors to sulphite intake were beverage concentrates (46%), ready to serve beverages (22%) followed by miscellaneous food items (16%), mainly ice creams and snowballs. Estimation of sulphite intake using different exposure scenarios revealed that for certain scenarios where the highest reported sulphite level or maximum permissible levels were considered for calculation, the high consumers exceeded the ADI, though, for average consumers, intake was well below the ADI. Conclusion: Actual intake of sulphite for average consumers was well below the ADI but for high consumers was approaching the ADI. People with sulphite sensitivity need to be aware of hidden food sources of sulphites.


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