Frequencies and roles of plants in the diet of three mesocarnivores (Canis lupaster, Genetta genetta, and Herpestes ichneumon): implications for forest regeneration in a North African hot spot (Algeria)

The Djurdjura National Park (PND, Algeria) is part of one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hot spots, recognised by the United Nations as a national biosphere reserve. It contains the Darna primary forest, a key habitat for several mesocarnivore mammals, including the golden wolf (Canis lupaster), the common genet (Genetta genetta) and the ichneumon mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon). Although their diets are primarily based on animal prey, these carnivores exhibit both qualitative and quantitative reliance on plants, a pattern that merits thorough documentation. We analysed 30 scats per species per month over four years (1440 scats per species). More than 35% of the identified food items’ frequencies of occurrence were of plant origin, confirming the importance of plant resources in their trophic ecology. Frugivory represents a major component of the plant diet (80% of the plant taxa consumed). Over half of these are cultivated species, reflecting a close interaction between wildlife and agroforestry areas. The remaining plant taxa consist mainly of wild grasses, which are likely used for zoopharmacognostic purposes. The analysis of seasonal variations, validated by the chi-square (χ2) test, highlights a feeding opportunism modulated by the seasonal availability of resources. In addition to their trophic role, the latrines appear to be genuine islands of plant regeneration, encouraging seed dispersal and thus contributing to the preservation of forest biodiversity and resilience. Integrating these results into the conservation and management strategies for the mountain forests of the PND (and others) could strengthen the sustainable management of these Mediterranean ecosystems by enhancing ecological interactions between mesocarnivore mammals and plant communities.