Woody Plant Species in the Diet of the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus Linnaeus, 1758) in Trabzon, Türkiye
SUMARSKI LIST, vol.150, no.7-8, pp.353-360, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 150 Issue: 7-8
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.31298/sl.150.7-8.6
- Journal Name: SUMARSKI LIST
- Journal Indexes: Scopus, Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Compendex, Geobase, CAB Abstracts
- Page Numbers: pp.353-360
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes
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 Arbutus unedo, Castanea sativa, Cornus mas, Corylus maxima, Crataegus rhipidophylla, Diospyros lotus, Eriobotrya japonica, Ficus carica, Juglans regia, Ligustrum vulgare, Malus sylvestris, Mespilus germanica, Morus alba, Morus rubra, Prunus avium, Prunus domestica, Pyrus communis, Rosa canina, Rubus idaeus 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.
Keywords: scats, camera traps, plants, fruits, seeds, diet, seasonality, opportunistic, golden jackal, Türkiye