Poznámky k potravě vlka obecného (Canis lupus) v České republice [On the diet of the wolf (Canis lupus) in the Czech Republic]

Pages

27–33

Citation

BUFKA, Luděk, BARTOŠOVÁ, Dana, KOUBEK, Petr, ČERVENÝ, Jaroslav a FEJKLOVÁ, Petra. Poznámky k potravě vlka obecného (Canis lupus) v České republice [On the diet of the wolf (Canis lupus) in the Czech Republic]. Lynx, new series. Prague: National Museum, 2004, 35(1), 27–33. ISSN 0024-7774 (print), 1804-6460 (online). Also available from: https://publikace.nm.cz/en/periodicals/lns/35-1/poznamky-k-potrave-vlka-obecneho-canis-lupus-v-ceske-republice-on-the-diet-of-the-wolf-canis-lupus-in-the-czech-republic

Lynx, new series | 2004/35/1

The diet of the wolf (Canis lupus) was assessed using 17 faeces samples taken in the period 2000–2004 and by analysis of 69 carcasses found in 1995–2004. Nine scat sam ples and sixty two carcasses were collected in the Beskydy Mts. (eastern Moravia) and eight scat samples and seven carcasses come from the Šumava Mts. (south-western Bohemia). According to the scat analysis, ungulates were the most frequent food category when the whole country was assessed (F=64.7%), predominantly Cervus elaphus and Sus scrofa. This was also true for the regions – the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. together with the Javorníky Mts. (F=55.6%) and the Šumava Mts. (F=75.0%). Brown hare was the second most important food category (35.3% in the whole country, 44.4% in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. together with the Javorníky Mts., 25.0% in the Šumava Mts.). Domestic animals (sheep) represented 5.9% of the overall diet composition in the Czech Republic and 11.1% in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy and the Javorníky Mts. Similarly, insectivores made up 5.9% of the overall diet in the Czech Republic and 11.1% in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy and the Javorníky Mts. Fruits of Prunus cerasus represented 11.8% of the overall diet in the Czech Republic and 22.2% in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy and the Javorníky Mts. Other unidentified plant material (25.2% in the whole country, 33.3% in the Moravskoslezské Beskydy Mts. and the Javorníky Mts., 12.5% in the Šumava Mts.) could not be a food source. The results of the scat analysis are given in Table 1. They bring a new proof of the wolf occurrence in the Šumava Mts. The analysis of verified car cas ses showed rather different results, e.g. a total absence of Lepus europaeus, occurrence of domestic dogs (D=4.4%) as well as higher numbers of domestic sheep in the Beskydy Mts. (D=46.8%). The most dominant prey in the whole Czech Republic were ungulates (D=52.2%), followed by sheep (D=42.0%). No verified findings of sheep carcasses come from the Šumava Mts., the value of dominance of ungulates in the prey reached 71.4% in this region. The results of the carcass analysis are given in Table 2. Adult females of Capreolus capreolus (D=66.7%) and Cervus elaphus (D=54.5%) prevailed among the killed animals, but the value of dominance of adult males was also high: 33.3% in C. capreolus and 22.7% in C. elaphus. In Sus scrofa, one- to two- year old individuals were most abundant (D=60.0%).

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