A comparative study of the diets of two sympatric carnivores – the golden jackal (Canis aureus) and the common genet (Genetta genetta) – in Kabylia, Algeria / Etude comparative des régimes alimentaires de deux carnivores sympatriques – le chacal doré (Canis aureus) et la genette commune (Genetta genetta) – en Kabylie, Algérie

Abstract

Increased human activity and the disappearance of large predators may affect competition among species, thus threatening the survival of those animals that are more vulnerable to environmental change. In Kabylia (Algeria), competition may occur between the golden jackal (Canis aureus), which is a habitat-opportunistic species, and the common genet (Genetta genetta), which favours woodland environments. We tested the hypothesis of interspecific competition in disturbed habitats by comparing the diets of the jackal and genet in different environmental settings. Index values of interspecific food overlap were constantly high, Opportunistic behaviour prevailed in both species and was reflected by the alternation between two dominant prey items (mammals and insects) and other resources, such as poultry and highenergy plants. It is thought that greater availability of resources in the latter categories particularly benefits the jackal because of its broad niche spectrum.