Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in a Typical Mediterranean Ecosystem
Stone martens (Martes foina) are documented as generalist throughout their distributional range whose diet composition is affected by food availability. We tested if this occurs and what feeding strategies it follows in a typical Mediterranean ecosystem in Central Greece by analysing contents from 1...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2012-01-01
|
| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/163920 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832552930792701952 |
|---|---|
| author | Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis Christos G. Vlachos Malamati A. Papakosta Vasileios A. Bontzorlos Evangelos N. Chatzinikos |
| author_facet | Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis Christos G. Vlachos Malamati A. Papakosta Vasileios A. Bontzorlos Evangelos N. Chatzinikos |
| author_sort | Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stone martens (Martes foina) are documented as generalist throughout their distributional range whose diet composition is affected by food availability. We tested if this occurs and what feeding strategies it follows in a typical Mediterranean ecosystem in Central Greece by analysing contents from 106 stomachs, seasonally collected from three different habitats during 2003–2006. Seasonal variation in diet and feeding strategies was evident and linked to seasonal nutritional requirements, but possibly imposed by strong interference competition and intraguild predation. Fleshy fruits and arthropods predominated in the diet, but also mammals and birds were frequently consumed. An overall low dietary niche breadth (BA=0.128) indicated a fruit specialization tendency. A generalised diet occurred in spring with high individual specialisation, whereas more animal-type prey was consumed than fruits. A population specialization towards fruits was indicated during summer and autumn, whereas insects were consumed occasionally by males. In those seasons it switched to more clumped food types such as fruits and insects. In winter it selectively exploited both adult and larvae insects and partially fruits overwinter on plants. The tendency to consume particular prey items seasonally reflected both the population specialist behaviour and the individual flexibility preyed on different food resources. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-91cc5751d6a348dea105978b4c1b9b2e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-91cc5751d6a348dea105978b4c1b9b2e2025-02-03T05:57:27ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2012-01-01201210.1100/2012/163920163920Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in a Typical Mediterranean EcosystemDimitrios E. Bakaloudis0Christos G. Vlachos1Malamati A. Papakosta2Vasileios A. Bontzorlos3Evangelos N. Chatzinikos4Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Department of Forestry and Natural Environment Management, Technological Educational Institute of Kavala, 1st km Drama-Mikrohori, 661 00 Drama, GreeceDepartment of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 540 06 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 540 06 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 540 06 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, P.O. Box 241, 540 06 Thessaloniki, GreeceStone martens (Martes foina) are documented as generalist throughout their distributional range whose diet composition is affected by food availability. We tested if this occurs and what feeding strategies it follows in a typical Mediterranean ecosystem in Central Greece by analysing contents from 106 stomachs, seasonally collected from three different habitats during 2003–2006. Seasonal variation in diet and feeding strategies was evident and linked to seasonal nutritional requirements, but possibly imposed by strong interference competition and intraguild predation. Fleshy fruits and arthropods predominated in the diet, but also mammals and birds were frequently consumed. An overall low dietary niche breadth (BA=0.128) indicated a fruit specialization tendency. A generalised diet occurred in spring with high individual specialisation, whereas more animal-type prey was consumed than fruits. A population specialization towards fruits was indicated during summer and autumn, whereas insects were consumed occasionally by males. In those seasons it switched to more clumped food types such as fruits and insects. In winter it selectively exploited both adult and larvae insects and partially fruits overwinter on plants. The tendency to consume particular prey items seasonally reflected both the population specialist behaviour and the individual flexibility preyed on different food resources.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/163920 |
| spellingShingle | Dimitrios E. Bakaloudis Christos G. Vlachos Malamati A. Papakosta Vasileios A. Bontzorlos Evangelos N. Chatzinikos Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in a Typical Mediterranean Ecosystem The Scientific World Journal |
| title | Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in a Typical Mediterranean Ecosystem |
| title_full | Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in a Typical Mediterranean Ecosystem |
| title_fullStr | Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in a Typical Mediterranean Ecosystem |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in a Typical Mediterranean Ecosystem |
| title_short | Diet Composition and Feeding Strategies of the Stone Marten (Martes foina) in a Typical Mediterranean Ecosystem |
| title_sort | diet composition and feeding strategies of the stone marten martes foina in a typical mediterranean ecosystem |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/163920 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dimitriosebakaloudis dietcompositionandfeedingstrategiesofthestonemartenmartesfoinainatypicalmediterraneanecosystem AT christosgvlachos dietcompositionandfeedingstrategiesofthestonemartenmartesfoinainatypicalmediterraneanecosystem AT malamatiapapakosta dietcompositionandfeedingstrategiesofthestonemartenmartesfoinainatypicalmediterraneanecosystem AT vasileiosabontzorlos dietcompositionandfeedingstrategiesofthestonemartenmartesfoinainatypicalmediterraneanecosystem AT evangelosnchatzinikos dietcompositionandfeedingstrategiesofthestonemartenmartesfoinainatypicalmediterraneanecosystem |