Nutritional ecology of a prototypical generalist predator, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

ABSTRACT: Generalist species, which exploit a wide range of food resources, are expected to be able to combine available resources as to attain their specific macronutrient ratio (percentage of caloric intake of protein, lipids and carbohydrates). Among mammalian predators, the red fox Vulpes vulpes is a widespread, opportunistic forager: its diet has been largely studied, outlining wide variation according to geographic and climatic factors. We aimed to check if, throughout the species' European range, diets vary widely in macronutrient composition or foxes can combine complementary foods to gain the same nutrient intake. First, we assessed fox's intake target in the framework of nutritional geometry. Secondly, we aimed to highlight the effects of unbalanced diets on fox density, which was assumed

SUBMITTER: Balestrieri A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10995161 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature