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Who wants mice if there's seafood? Crayfish as a novel food resource for a generalist avian predator.
  • Jorge Sereno-Cadierno,
  • Diego Fuentes-Lamas
Jorge Sereno-Cadierno
Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Diego Fuentes-Lamas
Universidad de Salamanca
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Abstract

Generalist predators can exploit a wide range of food resources, making them more adaptable to many habitats and situations. Sometimes, the introduction or appearing of new species can lead to the exploitation of this resource, especially when it is abundant. In this sense, American crayfishes, being one of the most dangerous exotic species in the World are an important food resource to some species in their foreign distribution range. Here, we describe a new behaviour and food source for common buzzards (Buteo buteo) observed in Western Iberia. American crayfishes seem to be a recurrent food source for buzzards in late summer, showing a riverbank patrolling behaviour through riparian forests, overlapping the consumption of this crustacean with other carnivore species such as foxes (Vulpes vulpes), american mink (Neogale vison) and Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra).
11 Sep 2024Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
19 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
19 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
25 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
07 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor