Carnivory is Positively Correlated with Latitude among Omnivorous Mammals: Evidence from Brown Bears, Badgers and Pine Martens

Omnivores exploit numerous sources of protein and other nutrients throughout the year, and meat is generally considered a high-quality resource. However, it is unknown if there is any general association between latitude and carnivorous behavior in omnivorous mammals. We examined the relative import...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales zoologici fennici 2009-12, Vol.46 (6), p.395-415
Main Authors: Vulla, Egle, Hobson, Keith A, Korsten, Marju, Leht, Malle, Martin, Ants-Johannes, Lind, Ave, Männil, Peep, Valdmann, Harri, Saarma, Urmas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal feeding behavior
Ants
Badgers
Bears
Brown bears
Diet
Food
Mammals
Martens
Martes martes
Meles meles
Seasons
Ursus arctos
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Summary:Omnivores exploit numerous sources of protein and other nutrients throughout the year, and meat is generally considered a high-quality resource. However, it is unknown if there is any general association between latitude and carnivorous behavior in omnivorous mammals. We examined the relative importance of meat and other dietary components, including anthropogenic food items, in the diet of brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Estonia using conventional scat- and stomach-content analyses as well as stable-isotope (δ15N, δ13C) analyses. When food habits of brown bears in Estonia were compared with those of other populations in central and northern Europe, the proportion of animal prey in the diet was positively correlated with latitude. Further comparison with the data on the diet of two other omnivorous mammals, the European badger (Meles meles) and the European pine marten (Martes martes), provides evidence that increased carnivory towards northern latitudes may be a general adaptation in omnivorous mammals.
ISSN:0003-455X
1797-2450
DOI:10.5735/086.046.0601