Nightranger
Senior Moment
In a current thread Alf posited the idea of badgers being a limiting factor on the population of hedgehogs. All older research suggests this is density-dependent despite the apparent appearance of selective predation on certain species in certain habitats in more recent research. Is selective predation more widespred than we have been led to believe? If so, this would strengthen the idea of culling badgers currently in vogue by many rural MPs by giving a conservation twist to the subject.
However, on examining the following papers:
http://www.sekj.org/PDF/anzf32/anz32-037-045.pdf (This covers a different aim of research but references earlier work about the badger diet comprising earthworms).
http://www.badger.org.uk/_Attachments/Resources/283_S4.pdf (this is a general work that sets out the fact that the European badger (Meles meles) is an omnivore and an opportunistic feeder).
digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/43502/1/martin_oecologia_95.doc (This paper sets out the point that European badgers forage along density-dependence rules)
http://www.academia.edu/671427/The_Ecology_of_the_European_badger_Meles_meles_in_Ireland_-_a_review (this is an Irish study for comparison and there is a useful table at p.122)
http://www.researchgate.net/publica..._comparison_and_critique_of_different_methods (you may have to click on options to get the paper up but again, a useful graphic at p.26)
This will do for now but a note for Alf - the American mink v water vole situation is different, you know it, I know it and everyone else knows it. Care for a proper discussion instead of a shin-kicking exercise?
However, on examining the following papers:
http://www.sekj.org/PDF/anzf32/anz32-037-045.pdf (This covers a different aim of research but references earlier work about the badger diet comprising earthworms).
http://www.badger.org.uk/_Attachments/Resources/283_S4.pdf (this is a general work that sets out the fact that the European badger (Meles meles) is an omnivore and an opportunistic feeder).
digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/43502/1/martin_oecologia_95.doc (This paper sets out the point that European badgers forage along density-dependence rules)
http://www.academia.edu/671427/The_Ecology_of_the_European_badger_Meles_meles_in_Ireland_-_a_review (this is an Irish study for comparison and there is a useful table at p.122)
http://www.researchgate.net/publica..._comparison_and_critique_of_different_methods (you may have to click on options to get the paper up but again, a useful graphic at p.26)
This will do for now but a note for Alf - the American mink v water vole situation is different, you know it, I know it and everyone else knows it. Care for a proper discussion instead of a shin-kicking exercise?