Computing biomass consumption from prey occurrences in Indian wolf scats
Publication Type: |
Journal Article |
Year of Publication: |
2004 |
Authors: |
Bharat D. Jethva, Yadvendradev V. Jhala |
Publication/Journal: |
Zoo Biology |
Publisher: |
A Wiley Company, Inc., Wiley Subscription Services |
Keywords: |
canis lupus pallipes, captive wolves, feeding trials, scat analysis |
ISBN: |
1098-2361 |
Abstract:
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20030.abs We determined a relationship between biomass consumed per collectable scat and prey weight. We fed prey items (ranging from rodent (0.75 kg) to juvenile cattle (65 kg), covering the normal weight range for prey of the Indian wolf (Canis lupus papllipes)) to groups of two to five captive wolves in 13 feeding trials at Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh, India. The prey biomass eaten per collectable scat (Y) increased as the live body weight of prey (X) increased (Y=0.0148X+0.135; R2=0.87; F=75.8; df=1,11; P<0.001). The slope of our regression (0.015; tropical domestic prey) did not differ from that reported by Floyd et al. [1978] (temperate wild prey, P=0.17); therefore, we pooled the data from both studies and derived a combined regression (Y=0.0182X+0.217; R2=0.77; df=1,20; P<0.001). In addition to the widely accepted explanation that the surface-area-to-mass ratio is larger for small prey, we found that this relationship reflected the fact that percent utilization was greater, and digestibility was lower for smaller prey. Zoo Biol 23:513–520, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.