Woody Plant Species in the Diet of the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) in Trabzon, Türkiye

Abstract

Woody plant species whose fruits or seeds the golden jackals eats were investigated in Trabzon’s agricultural, forest, and suburban areas (Türkiye, ca 426 ha) between January 2023 and June 2024. The fruits or seeds of woody plants in the diet of the golden jackal were identified for the first time using camera trapping, and a total of 21 scat samples were subsequently collected and analyzed. Of the 25 woody plant species producing edible fruits or seeds recorded in the study area, 20 were consumed by golden jackals. These species include Corylus maxima, Cornus mas, Diospyros lotus, Arbutus unedo, Castanea sativa, Juglans regia, Morus alba, Morus rubra, Ficus carica, Ligustrum vulgare, Prunus domestica, Cerasus avium, Malus sylvestris, Eriobotrya japonica, Rosa canina, Rubus idaeus, Pyrus communis, Mespilus germanica, Crataegus rhipidophylla and Vitis labrusca. This study reveals that golden jackals feed on nearly all fruit- or seed-bearing plants in the area, highlighting the significant role these plants play in their diet.