Plant‐eating carnivores: Multispecies analysis on factors influencing the frequency of plant occurrence in obligate carnivores

Yoshimura, Hiroto; Hirata, Satoshi; Kinoshita, Kodzue

doi:10.1002/ece3.7885

Cited by 11 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 109 publications

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“…Thus, we suggest that this species is not solely insectivorous, and individuals often supplement their diet with plant material. Many diet studies have reported plant material in carnivore and insectivore stomach content and scats (Yoshimura et al, 2021). Carnivorous mammals such as foxes, badgers civets, and insectivorous mammals such as aardvarks, and bats are reported to seasonally augment their diets with plant material such as berries, roots, nectar, and in some instances, foliage (Frick et al, 2014; Koike et al, 2008; Milton & Dean, 2001; Mudappa et al, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using eDNA metabarcoding to understand the effect of fire on the diet of small mammals in a woodland ecosystem

Wanniarachchi

Swan

Nevill

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Food acquisition is a fundamental process that drives animal distribution and abundance, influencing how species respond to changing environments. Disturbances such as fire create significant shifts in available dietary resources, yet, for many species, we lack basic information about what they eat, let alone how they respond to a changing resource base. In order to create effective management strategies, faunal conservation in flammable landscapes requires a greater understanding of what animals eat and how this change following a fire. What animals eat in postfire environments has received little attention due to the time-consuming methodologies and low-resolution identification of food taxa. Recently, molecular techniques have been developed to identify food DNA in scats, making it possible to identify animal diets with enhanced resolution. The primary aim of this study was to utilize eDNA metabarcoding to obtain an improved understanding of the diet of three native Australian small mammal species: yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), heath mouse (Pseudomys shortridgei), and bush rat (Rattus fuscipes). Specifically, we sought to understand the difference in the overall diet of the three species and how diet changed over time after fire. Yellow-footed antechinus diets mostly consisted of moths, and plants belonging to myrtles and legume families while bush rats consumed legumes, myrtles, rushes, and beetles. Heath mouse diet was dominated by rushes. All three species shifted their diets over time after fire, with most pronounced shifts in the bush rats and least for heath mice. Identifying critical food resources for native animals will allow conservation managers to consider the effect of fire management actions on these resources and help conserve the species that use them.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using eDNA metabarcoding to understand the effect of fire on the diet of small mammals in a woodland ecosystem

Wanniarachchi

Swan

Nevill

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…When constitutive defenses fail to prevent infections and illness, inducible (therapeutic) uses of plant substances could help bring infections under control, albeit with risk of poisoning. There is increasing evidence that invertebrates and vertebrates, including obligate carnivores, have evolved to co‐opt plant and fungal toxins to prevent or treat their own infections, a phenomenon termed self‐medication , zoopharmacognosy , or pharmacophagy (Boppré, 1984; de Roode et al, 2013; Huffman, 1997, 2017; Neco et al, 2019; Rodríguez & Wrangham, 1993; Villalba & Provenza, 2007; Wrangham & Nishida, 1983; Yoshimura et al, 2021). A systematic review of self‐medication in mammals found reports of self‐medication in 71 species from 7 mammalian orders, with the most reports in Primates (46 species), Carnivores (10 species), and Rodents (5 species).…”

Section: The Behavioral Immune System Includes Constitutive and Induc...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Homo medicus: The transition to meat eating increased pathogen pressure and the use of pharmacological plants in Homo

Hagen

Blackwell

Lightner

et al. 2023

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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The human lineage transitioned to a more carnivorous niche 2.6 mya and evolved a large body size and slower life history, which likely increased zoonotic pathogen pressure. Evidence for this increase includes increased zoonotic infections in modern hunter‐gatherers and bushmeat hunters, exceptionally low stomach pH compared to other primates, and divergence in immune‐related genes. These all point to change, and probably intensification, in the infectious disease environment of Homo compared to earlier hominins and other apes. At the same time, the brain, an organ in which immune responses are constrained, began to triple in size. We propose that the combination of increased zoonotic pathogen pressure and the challenges of defending a large brain and body from pathogens in a long‐lived mammal, selected for intensification of the plant‐based self‐medication strategies already in place in apes and other primates. In support, there is evidence of medicinal plant use by hominins in the middle Paleolithic, and all cultures today have sophisticated, plant‐based medical systems, add spices to food, and regularly consume psychoactive plant substances that are harmful to helminths and other pathogens. We propose that the computational challenges of discovering effective plant‐based treatments, the consequent ability to consume more energy‐rich animal foods, and the reduced reliance on energetically‐costly immune responses helped select for increased cognitive abilities and unique exchange relationships in Homo. In the story of human evolution, which has long emphasized hunting skills, medical skills had an equal role to play.

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“…For example, their dentition is well-suited to crushing, cutting, grinding, and slicing meat [ 9 ], while their incisors, canines, premolars, molars, and carnassials are designed to hold their prey or pieces of meat [ 7 ]. They are also characterized by shorter, less complex digestive tracts with a lower capacity [ 10 ], since, unlike herbivores, their digestive processes do not require them to ferment food [ 11 ]. While dogs can eat plant-based foods, their anatomy preserves carnivorous traits of tearing muscle, crunching bones, and digesting meat more readily than plants [ 9 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on trends in human nutrition, this may expand further to include others such as hemp, oat, and bean proteins [ 13 ]. In contrast to animal tissues, plant cells are rich in carbohydrates (e.g., cellulose) that carnivores have difficulty digesting [ 11 ]. Proteins from cereal grains or soy contain lower amounts of essential amino acids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of Vegan Diets on Indicators of Health in Dogs and Cats: A Systematic Review

Domínguez-Oliva

Mota-Rojas

Semendric

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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There has been an increase in vegetarianism and veganism in human populations. This trend also appears to be occurring in companion animals, with guardians preferring to feed their animals in accordance with their own dietary values and choices. However, there has been controversy amongst vets and online commentators about the safety of feeding vegan diets to carnivorous species, such as cats and dogs. In spite of this controversy, to date there has been no systematic evaluation of the evidence on this topic. A systematic search of Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed, identifying 16 studies on the impact of vegan diets on cat and dog health. Studies were appraised for quality using established critical appraisal tools or reporting guidelines. There was considerable heterogeneity in the outcomes measured, and study designs employed, with few studies evaluating key outcomes of interest. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was utilized for assessment of certainty in the evidence, with the evidence for most outcomes being assessed as low or very low. Whilst the quality and amount of evidence needs to be considered in formulating recommendations, there was no overwhelming evidence of adverse effects arising from use of these diets and there was some evidence of benefits. It is, however, recommended that future high-quality studies, with standardized outcome measures and large sample sizes, be conducted. At the current time, if guardians wish to feed their companion animals vegan diets, a cautious approach should be taken using commercially produced diets which have been formulated considering the nutritional needs of the target species.

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Plant‐eating carnivores: Multispecies analysis on factors influencing the frequency of plant occurrence in obligate carnivores

Cited by 11 publications

References 109 publications

Using eDNA metabarcoding to understand the effect of fire on the diet of small mammals in a woodland ecosystem

Using eDNA metabarcoding to understand the effect of fire on the diet of small mammals in a woodland ecosystem

Homo medicus: The transition to meat eating increased pathogen pressure and the use of pharmacological plants in Homo

The Impact of Vegan Diets on Indicators of Health in Dogs and Cats: A Systematic Review

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