Isotopic Diet Analysis of the Japanese Water Shrew Chimarrogale platycephala to Estimate Their Feeding Habits and the Usefulness of Body Hair Samples

The water shrew Chimarrogale platycephala is an endangered species in Japan. Although immediate conservation actions are necessary, detailed information on this inadequate. We compared dietary trends obtained via C. digestive contents analysis with those through stable isotope (δ13C, δ15N, ‰) of non-invasive body hair and invasive muscles to elucidate their diet evaluate usefulness the analysis. captured 20 shrews from three streams Aomori Prefecture 2013 2016 barring snow accumulation seasons. showed that mainly fed aquatic insects, whereas freshwater crabs, fishes, terrestrial insects were also observed as diets. δ13C values not significantly different between indicated a primary invertebrates fishes. δ15N lower similar trophic position In mixing model, contribution was less than 0.35 except for two individuals highest invertebrate ratio (> 0.5) lowest ratio. This study demonstrated any part back sufficiently useful