Food niche separation between four sympatric Namib Desert carnivores

Abstract

The diet of four sympatric carnivore species was established by analyzing scats collected during 1978‐1980, a period of increasing drought in the Namib Desert. Termites were especially important in the diet of Aardwolves and Bat‐eared foxes and the food spectrum was not broadened in response to increased aridity. Black‐backed jackals utilized a wide range of prey items, especially rodents and lagomorphs, while the Cape fox largely depended on murid rodents, but also took lagomorphs and insects. Separation in use of space and times of activity between the four species also occurred.