Carbon and nitrogen isotopic similarity between the endangered Darwin's fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) and sympatric free-ranging dogs in Chiloé Island, Chile.
IF 1.1 4区 环境科学与生态学Q4 CHEMISTRY, INORGANIC & NUCLEAR
C Canales-Cerro, E Hidalgo-Hermoso, J Cabello, I Sacristán, A Cevidanes, S Di Cataldo, C Napolitano, D Moreira-Arce, S Klarian, J Millán
{"title":"Carbon and nitrogen isotopic similarity between the endangered Darwin's fox (<i>Lycalopex fulvipes</i>) and sympatric free-ranging dogs in Chiloé Island, Chile.","authors":"C Canales-Cerro, E Hidalgo-Hermoso, J Cabello, I Sacristán, A Cevidanes, S Di Cataldo, C Napolitano, D Moreira-Arce, S Klarian, J Millán","doi":"10.1080/10256016.2022.2106225","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Darwin's fox is an opportunistic omnivorous predator native to Chile classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. Habitat use by Darwin's foxes can be negatively affected by the presence of free-ranging dogs that range freely across native and non-native habitats and can be a source of fox mortality. The objective of this study was to analyze the isotopic similarity of Darwin's fox and sympatric free-ranging dogs in Chiloé Island to determine the impact of anthropogenic environmental alterations on wild predators. We use hair samples to characterise and compare their <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C and <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N values and to evaluate isotopic similarity and isotope niches overlap. A generalised linear model was used to associate the isotope value with landscape variables (forest cover and vegetation type) and distance to the nearest house. We found no significant differences in <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C or <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N values between foxes and dogs, and a marginally significant isotope niche overlap (59.4 %). None of the selected variables at landscape and site scale were related to isotope values. Although our study is not a probe of direct contact between foxes and free-ranging dogs, the high isotopic similarity highlights the risk of pathogen spillover from free-ranging dogs to Darwin's foxes.</p>","PeriodicalId":14597,"journal":{"name":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","volume":"58 4-6","pages":"316-326"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2022-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies","FirstCategoryId":"93","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10256016.2022.2106225","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, INORGANIC & NUCLEAR","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Darwin's fox is an opportunistic omnivorous predator native to Chile classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. Habitat use by Darwin's foxes can be negatively affected by the presence of free-ranging dogs that range freely across native and non-native habitats and can be a source of fox mortality. The objective of this study was to analyze the isotopic similarity of Darwin's fox and sympatric free-ranging dogs in Chiloé Island to determine the impact of anthropogenic environmental alterations on wild predators. We use hair samples to characterise and compare their δ13C and δ15N values and to evaluate isotopic similarity and isotope niches overlap. A generalised linear model was used to associate the isotope value with landscape variables (forest cover and vegetation type) and distance to the nearest house. We found no significant differences in δ13C or δ15N values between foxes and dogs, and a marginally significant isotope niche overlap (59.4 %). None of the selected variables at landscape and site scale were related to isotope values. Although our study is not a probe of direct contact between foxes and free-ranging dogs, the high isotopic similarity highlights the risk of pathogen spillover from free-ranging dogs to Darwin's foxes.
期刊介绍:
Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies provides a unique platform for stable isotope studies in geological and life sciences, with emphasis on ecology. The international journal publishes original research papers, review articles, short communications, and book reviews relating to the following topics:
-variations in natural isotope abundance (isotope ecology, isotope biochemistry, isotope hydrology, isotope geology)
-stable isotope tracer techniques to follow the fate of certain substances in soil, water, plants, animals and in the human body
-isotope effects and tracer theory linked with mathematical modelling
-isotope measurement methods and equipment with respect to environmental and health research
-diagnostic stable isotope application in medicine and in health studies
-environmental sources of ionizing radiation and its effects on all living matter