Differences in diet and trophic interactions of Patagonian carnivores between areas with mostly native or exotic prey

In heavily disturbed areas, the Andean fox adapts by increasing the consumption of livestock, carrion, or introduced species such as domestic rabbits and hares.

“In heavily disturbed areas, the Andean fox adapts by increasing the consumption of livestock, carrion, or introduced species such as domestic rabbits and hares (Novaro et al. 2000;Zapata et al. 2005;Palacios et al. 2012;Pia 2013;Rubio et al. 2013).”

L. culpaeus shares dietary items with smaller felids in Argentina and Chile, such as Leopardus guigna, L. geoffroyi, L. colocola, and L. jacobita.

“In addition to overlapping with the puma, L. culpaeus shares dietary items with smaller felids in Argentina and Chile, such as the guiña, Leopardus guigna (G.I. Molina, 1782), the Geoffroy's cat, L. geoffroyi (d'Orbigny & P. Gervais, 1844), the Pampas cat, L. colocola (G.I. Molina, 1782) and the Andean mountain cat L. jacobita (Cornalia, 1865) (Novaro et al. 2000;Correa & Roa 2005;Palacios et al.”

Birds and reptiles are frequent prey in the Andean fox's diet.

“Although birds and reptiles are frequent prey in the Andean fox's diet (Medel & Jaksic 1988;Palacios et al. 2012)”

In Patagonia and Córdoba, Argentina, both L. culpaeus and P. concolor exhibit significant trophic overlap, with pumas consuming more ungulates and introduced hares.

“However, in the Patagonia and Córdoba, Argentina, both species exhibit significant trophic overlap, with pumas consuming more ungulates and introduced hares (Palacios et al. 2012, Pía 2013).”