Do snow-adapted prey facilitate coexistence of the Sierra Nevada red fox with sympatric carnivores?

The Sierra Nevada red fox (SNRF; Vulpes vulpes necator) is an endangered subspecies restricted to high-elevation habitats. Competition with larger-bodied coyotes (Canis latrans) limits red fox abundance throughout their sympatric ranges.  Because SNRF were isolated and have evolved solely within subalpine ecosystems, we hypothesized that specialized adaptations, including low foot loading to more efficiently hunt snow-adapted lagomorphs in deep snow conditions, facilitate coexistence with coyotes.  Because subalpine lagomorphs are themselves in decline, understanding the contribution of these and other prey to the SNRF diet and those of coyotes and other sympatric mesocarnivores is fundamental to SNRF conservation. We used metabarcoding to investigate the diets and niche relationships of these carnivores, along with martens (Martes caurina) and bobcats (Lynx rufus) using 789 scats collected from sites of two SNRF populations (Lassen, Sierra Nevada). As predicted, SNRFs exhibit..., , , # Do snow-adapted prey facilitate coexistence of the Sierra Nevada red fox with sympatric carnivores?

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.15dv41p7c](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.15dv41p7c)

## Description of the data and file structure

This accession includes all of the amplified sequence variants (ASVs) for samples and controls used in the study, along with ASV tables and ASV sequences, output from DADA2. The sample names referenced in the ASV table correspond to the names of the single samples or controls. Lastly, a metadata file is provided for the samples.
### Files and variables

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Do snow-adapted prey facilitate coexistence of the Sierra Nevada red fox with sympatric carnivores?
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This accession includes scripts for data processing and all of the sequences for samples and controls used in the study, including an ASV table (ASV_counts.txt) and ASV sequences (ASV.fa), output from DADA2.

## Description of the data and file structure

1) cutadapt script for trimming raw reads...,