Diet composition of the Javan mongoose (Urva javanica) within two forests across a karst landscape, on Java, Indonesia

Abstract

We investigated the diet composition and possible ecological role played by the Javan mongoose in Java. During the 2018 dry season, fecal samples were collected from an old-growth forest (Wonosadi; n = 49) and a restored forest (Wanagama; n = 41), located in southern Yogyakarta, which were analyzed to identify food items at the family level. The frequency of occurrence of diet items was used for data comparison. Overall, the Javan mongoose fed more frequently on vertebrates of family Muridae, Phasianidae, and Colubridae as compared to invertebrate and other taxa. No significant difference was discovered in the diet composition between Wonosadi and Wanagama regions (Mantel–Haenszel test: χ2 = 1.17; P > 0.05). In line with other studies, the findings here indicate the predation of pests (Muridae species) and birds by the Javan mongoose. The findings also suggest that the Javan mongoose potentially controls the rat population in these regions, however, they might have an impact on the local biodiversity as they raid poultries and predate some ecologically significant vertebrates and invertebrates.