ABSTRACT Faecal isotopic analysis may complement other non-invasive wildlife survey tools for monitoring landscape use by carnivores, such as motion-detecting cameras and non-invasive genetic sampling. We analysed carbon, nitrogen, and strontium isotopes in faecal matter produced by jaguars (Panthera onca) as well as bones from consumed prey at the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve (MPR) in Belize, Central America. The MPR is ideally suited for a spatial isotope study as vegetation and geology both vary considerably. The isotopic composition of faecal matter should reflect the habitat and geology where consumed prey lived. We used bone from consumed prey recovered from jaguar scats as a proxy for diet. Faecal matter and bone showed comparable spatial isotopic trends, suggesting that the isotopic composition of jaguar faeces can be used to detect foraging in different habitats (pine forest versus broadleaf forest) or on different geologies (Mesozoic carbonates; Palaeozoic granite, contact metamorphics, and metasediments). This result is reassuring as bones are not always present in carnivore scats. Studying landscape use by cryptic and wide-ranging carnivore species like jaguars remains challenging. Isotopic analysis of faecal matter complements the existing array of non-invasive spatial monitoring tools.

中文翻译：

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粪便能反映位置吗？对野生美洲虎食用的猎物残骸和粪便物质之间同位素变异性的初步评估

摘要 粪便同位素分析可以补充其他用于监测食肉动物景观使用的非侵入性野生动物调查工具，例如运动检测相机和非侵入性基因采样。我们分析了美洲虎 (Panthera onca) 排泄物中的碳、氮和锶同位素，以及中美洲伯利兹山松岭森林保护区 (MPR) 食用的猎物骨骼中的碳、氮和锶同位素。MPR 非常适合空间同位素研究，因为植被和地质情况都相差很大。粪便物质的同位素组成应反映被食用的猎物生活的栖息地和地质。我们使用从美洲虎粪便中回收的食用猎物的骨头作为饮食的代理。粪便物质和骨骼显示出类似的空间同位素趋势，表明美洲虎粪便的同位素组成可用于检测不同栖息地（松林与阔叶林）或不同地质（中生代碳酸盐岩、古生代花岗岩、接触变质岩和变质沉积物）的觅食情况。这一结果令人欣慰，因为食肉动物的粪便中并不总是存在骨头。研究美洲豹等神秘而广泛的食肉动物物种对景观的利用仍然具有挑战性。粪便的同位素分析补充了现有的一系列非侵入性空间监测工具。研究美洲豹等神秘而广泛的食肉动物物种对景观的利用仍然具有挑战性。粪便的同位素分析补充了现有的一系列非侵入性空间监测工具。研究美洲豹等神秘而广泛的食肉动物物种对景观的利用仍然具有挑战性。粪便的同位素分析补充了现有的一系列非侵入性空间监测工具。