Dieta del zorro culpeo Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) durante la megasequía de Chile central: rol del ganado y evidencia de una alta interacción trófica entre mamíferos carnívoros

Abstract

. Diet of culpeo fox Lycalopex culpaeus (Molina, 1782) during the mega-drought of central Chile: role of cattle and evidence of a high trophic interaction between carnivorous mammals. Chile has experienced a strong drought, which has been sustained since 2010. In this context, we conducted a trophic study for Lycalopex culpaeus , in the Chilean Mediterranean area, during this extreme climatic event to analyze how this phenomenon of restriction in the availability of trophic resources affects the diet of these foxes. The analysis of feces allows us to observe that L. culpaeus based its diet on lagomorphs and on the use of cattle, probably dead. During the study there was no change in foxes activity. Another interesting aspect was the sustained presence of carnivorous mammals in the feces throughout the year; the latter supports what has been observed in other regions, in that interspecific kills are common among carnivorous mammals.