Dietary flexibility promotes range expansion: The case of golden jackals in Eurasia

Aim Ongoing global changes can lead to the expansion of species' geographical range. Exploring drivers successful ongoing golden jackal across Europe is essential understand trophic ecology. We analysed which climatic and environmental factors affected dietary composition jackals compared these in historic recently colonized distribution ranges. Location Eurasia. Taxon Golden (Canis aureus). Methods Using 40 published datasets, we modelled diet using 13 food categories based on relative frequency occurrence items niche breadth (BA) against from throughout jackals' (22 studies) range (18 general additive models. Results The proportion small mammals decreased with annual mean temperature, whereas consumption wild ungulates increased productivity. Increasing temperature productivity positively influenced breadth, while increasing precipitation negatively it. had a lower but higher In range, consumed and/or (mostly scavenging) more frequently, fewer plants domestic animals (again, mostly scavenging). Main Conclusions an opportunistic, omnivorous carnivore high flexibility biogeographical variation. Climatic shape composition, which, changing environment, greatly enhances opportunities for colonize new areas successfully. will likely continue expand their foreseeable future. expected broaden predictions overall temperatures reduced precipitation.