大型食肉动物对于维持生态系统功能和保护生物多样性具有重要意义。世界范围内大型食肉动物的分布和数量都呈现下降趋势。我国四川西部高原是全球大型食肉动物物种最为丰富的地区之一，也是我国生物多样性保护优先区域，对该地区多食肉动物共存机制的研究具有重要的科学价值和保护意义。食物网关系和食性特征是理解物种相互作用、种群动态和生态系统功能的重要前提。本项目拟采用新兴的分子食性分析方法，利用非损伤性取样获得粪便DNA，通过高通量测序和宏条形码（metabarcoding）技术分析川西高原多种大中型食肉动物的食性构成及其影响因素；不同食肉动物之间的食性差异及重叠情况；以及野生动物和家养动物之间的相互捕食。根据这些结果探讨该生态系统的食物网关系、物种多样性维持机制以及人类活动与野生动物的相互影响。本研究结果将为保护野生生物多样性、维护自然生态系统稳定、制定有效管理策略、缓解人兽冲突等问题提供科学指导。

Large mammalian carnivores have profound impacts on ecosystem function and biodiversity, yet their ranges and populations are declining worldwide. Western Sichuan plateau is one of the most carnivore-rich areas of the world, and a conservation priority region of China. However, no study has been undertaken on the mechanism of carnivore coexistence in this area. Food-web structure and diet habit are critical for understanding interspecific relations, population dynamics and ecosystem function. We propose to use molecular diet analysis based on fecal DNA and next generation sequencing/metabarcoding approach to investigate the following questions: (1) the diet composition of different carnivore species and influencing factors of diets; (2) dietary partition and overlap among different carnivore species; and (3) predation between wild and domestic animals. We will discuss food-web interactions, mechanism for biodiversity maintenance, and human-wildlife relationship based on our results. This study will provide important information for wildlife conservation, ecosystem stabilization, strategic management and mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts.