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Author (up) Zlatanova, D.; Ahmed, A.; Valasseva, A.; Genov, P. openurl 
  Title Adaptive Diet Strategy of the Wolf (Canis lupus L.) in Europe: a Review Type Journal Article
  Year 2014 Publication ACTA ZOOLOGICA BULGARICA Abbreviated Journal Acta zool. bulg.  
  Volume 66 Issue 4 Pages 439-452  
  Keywords Wolf, Canis lupus, prey, adaptive strategy  
  Abstract The diet strategy of the wolf in Europe is reviewed on the basis of 74 basic and 14 additional literature

sources. The comparative analysis reveals clear dependence on the latitude (and, therefore, on the changing

environmental conditions) correlated with the wild ungulate abundance and diversity. Following a

geographic pattern, the wolf is specialised on different species of ungulates: moose and reindeer in Scandinavia,

red deer in Central and Eastern Europe and wild boar in Southern Europe. Where this large prey

is taken, the roe deer is hunted with almost the same frequency in every region. The wolf diet in Europe

shows two ecological adaptations formed by a complex of variables: 1. Wolves living in natural habitats

with abundance of wild ungulates feed mainly on wild prey. 2. In highly anthropogenic habitats, with low

abundance of wild prey, wolves feed on livestock (where husbandry of domestic animals is available) and

take also a lot of plant food, smaller prey (hares and rodents) and garbage food. The frequency of occurrence

of wild ungulates in the diet of wolves in North Europe varies from 54.0% in Belarus to 132.7% in

Poland, while that of livestock is in the range from 0.4% in Norway to 74.9% in Belarus. In South Europe,

the frequency of occurrence of wild prey varies from 0% in Italy and Spain to 136.0% in Italy, while of domestic

ungulates ranges between 0% and 100% in Spain. The low density or lack of wild prey triggers the

switch of the wolf diet to livestock, plant food (32.2-85% in Italy) or even garbage (up to 41.5% in Italy).
 
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  Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 6388  
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