DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Wolf Dietary Patterns in the Northern Alps and Jura Mountains

DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Wolf Dietary Patterns in the Northern Alps and Jura Mountains | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Wildlife Biology This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 26 March 2025 V1 Latest version Share on DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Wolf Dietary Patterns in the Northern Alps and Jura Mountains Authors : Florin Kunz 0000-0001-5071-0578 [email protected] , Eduard Mas-Carrio 0000-0002-5875-0424 , Philippine Surer , Fridolin Zimmermann 0000-0003-3861-246X , Philippe Christe , Luca Fumagalli 0000-0002-6648-2570 , and Nina Gerber 0000-0002-7142-1318 Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174300861.15720789/v1 Published Wildlife Biology Version of record Peer review timeline 586 views 302 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Understanding predator-prey interactions is crucial for wildlife management and human-wildlife coexistence, particularly in multi-use landscapes such as Western Europe. As wolves (Canis lupus) recolonize their former habitats, knowledge of their diet is essential for conservation planning and public acceptance. However, data of such regions is so far scarce, in particular for the Alpine region and the Jura Mountains. As opportunistic hunters, wolves adapt their diet to the local prey structure, suggesting that abundant wild ungulates are the main prey source. We also expect diet composition to be influenced by region, season and social status. DNA metabarcoding has emerged as a powerful tool in ecological research, offering high-resolution insights into dietary composition, yet its application in carnivores remains limited. Using a DNA metabarcoding approach, we analyzed 698 wolf scat samples collected in Switzerland from 2017 to 2024. We found red deer (Cervus elaphus) was the dominant prey in most areas, and together with roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), accounted for 80.8% of the retrieved sequences. We found similarities in prey selectivity between the Alps and the Jura Mountains, but found significant differences across seasons and between pack and non-pack wolves. This study provides the first detailed dietary analysis of wolves in the Northern Alps and Jura Mountains, offering critical insights for wildlife management. Our findings highlight the importance of wild ungulates in wolf diet and underscore the value of non-invasive DNA approaches as a reliable conservation and biomonitoring tool. Supplementary Material File (20250326_diet_paper_fk_main_document.docx) Download 1.15 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 26 March 2025 Peer review timeline Published Wildlife Biology Version of Record 6 Oct 2025 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Wildlife Biology Keywords canis lupus dna metabarcoding livestock predation prey selectivity red deer wolf diet Authors Affiliations Florin Kunz 0000-0001-5071-0578 [email protected] University of Lausanne View all articles by this author Eduard Mas-Carrio 0000-0002-5875-0424 University of Lausanne View all articles by this author Philippine Surer University of Lausanne View all articles by this author Fridolin Zimmermann 0000-0003-3861-246X Foundation KORA View all articles by this author Philippe Christe University of Lausanne View all articles by this author Luca Fumagalli 0000-0002-6648-2570 University of Lausanne View all articles by this author Nina Gerber 0000-0002-7142-1318 Foundation KORA View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 586 views 302 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Florin Kunz, Eduard Mas-Carrio, Philippine Surer, et al. DNA Metabarcoding Reveals Wolf Dietary Patterns in the Northern Alps and Jura Mountains. Authorea . 26 March 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.174300861.15720789/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.174300861.15720789/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9fea00a2cf9c06d3',t:'MTc3OTI2NjA2OA=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();