In:
Integrative Zoology, Wiley, Vol. 18, No. 1 ( 2023-01), p. 129-142
Abstract:
Understanding of resource requirements of vulnerable species is key for conservation planning. Here, we used stable carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen isotopes (δ 15 N) of hair from giant armadillos ( Priodontes maximus ) to understand individual resource use. We collected hair from 19 giant armadillos analyzing 34 samples from the Brazilian Pantanal and compared the resource use between sexes and age classes. We also assessed the relationship of isotopic values with individuals’ body mass and the habitat type used. We observed a wide variation in resource use by giant armadillos, showing that individuals consume prey that feeds on distinct resources and occupies different habitat types, indicating that there is individual variation in foraging behavior. Most giant armadillos presented a mixed diet (C 3 /C 4 resources, forests/open areas), but a quarter of individuals had strictly C 4 diets (open areas). Males are more prone to forage on C 4 resources, presenting an isotopic niche 2.6‐times larger than that of females. Subadults presented diets more associated with habitats with high arboreal cover (C 3 resources, forests), while adults foraged more in open areas (C 4 resources). This result is mirrored by the positive relationship between δ 13 C values and body mass, suggesting that larger giant armadillos tend to feed more in open areas. We observed that δ 13 C values decreased as individuals increased the use of habitats with high arboreal cover. We stress the importance of conserving the natural mosaic in the Pantanal landscape for the species persistence, given that giant armadillos require all habitat types to fulfill their dietary, spatial, and developmental needs.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1749-4877
,
1749-4877
DOI:
10.1111/1749-4877.12644
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2570656-1
SSG:
12
