RT Journal
T1 DISTRIBUTION AND DIET COMPOSITION OF TWO SYMPATRIC MONGOOSE SPECIES IN MURREE KAHUTA KOTLI SATTIAN NATIONAL PARK, PAKISTAN.
A1 R. Khatoon
A1 A. Anwar
A1 S. Khalil
A1 U. Habiba
JF Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences
JO JAPS
SN 1018-7081
VO 32
IS 5
SP 1469
OP 1477
YR 2022
FD 2022/10/05
DO DOI https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2022.5.0553
AB <p>Understanding the distribution and diet of carnivore is important to consider ecological role of species. As food is a critical resource for carnivore predators and its partitioning among sympatric species is crucial for their coexistence. The current study aimed at exploring distribution, diet composition, and diet breadth, niche overlap among two sympatric mongoose species occurring in Murree Kahuta Kotli Sattian National Park (MKKNP). 82 fecal samples were collected from 23 sites and recognized to species inside field based on morphology, odor, and extra signs. Presence signs of both species recorded from 23 survey sites. However, field diagnosis of small Indian Mongoose and Indian grey mongoose indicated presence at 12 and 14 sites, respectively. Fourteen dietary items were recovered in diet of small Indian mongoose i.e rodents, plant matter, insects and reptiles. The diet of Indian grey mongoose also comprised of (15) dietary items. Among both sympatric carnivores overall dietary breadth of Indian grey mongoose is narrow (BA = 0.5). as compared to small Indian mongoose (BA = 0.6). Moderate overlap was found between both mongoose species (0.62)</p>
K1 Small Indian mongoose, Indian Grey mongoose, Seasonal variation, Dietary breadth, Niche overlap
PB Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum
LK https://thejaps.org.pk/AbstractView.aspx?mid=ZLG-20-0027