Hello Tomás Martins

please check the resources

http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-94-011-2868-1_85

Hello Thomas

Collecting and analysing scats (carnivore poop!) is the traditional way

Improving the Feeding of Captive Felines Through Application of Field Data

D.G. Lindburg Zoo Biology 7:211-218 (1988)  http://www.2ndchance.info/rawdiet-Lindburg1988.pdf.

Hola Tomàs,

It depends very much whether you can find a sufficient number of scats of that carnivore (which, to play it safe, should be DNA tested to be sure that they come really from that carnivore species). For example, scats of wild cats (Felis spp and similars) are usually quite hard to find, as they tend to bury them. On the other hand, if your carnivore is big enough to kill "substantial" prey and if you can fit a radiotag on it, you may understand from its movements when it has made a kill and check on it directly. Collect at least some 10 scats/month, if you can help it, to have a representative sample for that month. Store each scat in a small plastic bag (the kind you use for food, in the refrigerator), with date and place (possibly GPS georeferenced) written on the bag with an alcohol felt pen, and put these bags in a freezer, after drying them in a stove or in the open - NOT in the sun, to prevent molds on them. Analyse scats as early as possible (freezers can break down...).

There are many more "tips" to know, especially at the stage of analyses, but you may find these details in publications. Or you may ask again precise questions.

Scats should be collected along fixed itineraries walked e.g. monthly, to identify the time when the scat was defecated.

And, of course, you need a great deal of GOOD LUCK!

Hasta luego,

SANDRO

Hi Tomàs,

There are various different analysis methods you can use to examine diet. Do you have access to a genetics laboratory or lab space which has microscopes?

Here are a few additional resources which may be useful

https://d-commons.d.umn.edu/bitstream/10792/1850/1/TR-2008-13.pdf

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00183.x/full

Cheers,

Claudia

Thank you all for your contribution to my study, I really need this knowledge exchange! 

Nutritional speaking I know that the scats are the best way to study an animal. If I can quantify the feed intake and quantify the nutrients scats, I know what was absorbed by the animal.

My study will be in a breeding center, so, I will have scats "ad libitum", I hope so! 

Thanks for the tip Sandro, on How to preserve the scats.

Claudia, I do have access to microscopes but a genetics laboratory is more difficult, unfortunately. I may have to send my samples to another university to be analysed.

Please, if you have something else or a sugestion, do not hesitate to contact me.

Once again,

Thank you all

Best

Tomás

In addition to all answers, DNA barcoding is a great option for you, but you need a gen lab as told by Claudia. Good luck with your study.