| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣師範大學 === 生命科學系 === 106 === Meso-predators are typically diet generalists. Therefore, they may switch diets under anthropogenic influences. Diet flexibility is likely one of the reasons why meso-predators are replacing apex predators in terrestrial ecosystems, especially in urban and suburb areas. I studied diet variation of the carnivores (Melogale moschata, Paguma larvata, Viverricula indica, Herpestes urva) in northern Taiwan. My study sites included Yangmingshan National Park, Hapen trail and Fushan Botanical Garden. Yangmingshan National Park is likely under greater anthropogenic influences than Happen and Fushan. I visited each site 2-3 times every season from 2016 to 2017 to collect carnivore feces. I used a combination of feces morphology, guard hair morphology and fecal DNA (fecal DNA analysis belongs to a separate project) to help identify the species of the feces. I employed microscopic examination of fecal materials to quantify carnivore diets based on the frequencies of different food items in the feces. I expected substantial diet variation in the carnivores given that northern Taiwan is a region under strong anthropogenic influences (e.g. agriculture, recreation, settlements, feral dogs and cats), which should promote opportunistic foraging. As expected, carnivore diets were less diverse in Yangmingshan than in Hapen and Fushan, the former comprising mostly plants and invertebrates. Furthermore, the feces that were closer to major roads had a higher probability of containing human objects (e.g. plastic strings) whereas the feces that were farther away from major roads were more likely to contain vertebrate remains. My findings suggest that carnivores in areas under greater anthropogenic influences, such as Yangmingshan, are less likely to serve predatory functions.
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