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Ferretti F, Oliveira R, Rossa M, Belardi I, Pacini G, Mugnai S, Fattorini N, Lazzeri L. Interactions between carnivore species: limited spatiotemporal partitioning between apex predator and smaller carnivores in a Mediterranean protected area. Front Zool 2023; 20:20. [PMID: 37231517 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-023-00489-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is need of information on ecological interactions that keystone species such as apex predators establish in ecosystems recently recolonised. Interactions among carnivore species have the potential to influence community-level processes, with consequences for ecosystem dynamics. Although avoidance of apex predators by smaller carnivores has been reported, there is increasing evidence that the potential for competitive-to-facilitative interactions is context-dependent. In a protected area recently recolonised by the wolf Canis lupus and hosting abundant wild prey (3 ungulate species, 20-30 individuals/km2, together), we used 5-year food habit analyses and 3-year camera trapping to (i) investigate the role of mesocarnivores (4 species) in the wolf diet; (ii) test for temporal, spatial, and fine-scale spatiotemporal association between mesocarnivores and the wolf. RESULTS Wolf diet was dominated by large herbivores (86% occurrences, N = 2201 scats), with mesocarnivores occurring in 2% scats. We collected 12,808 carnivore detections over > 19,000 camera trapping days. We found substantial (i.e., generally ≥ 0.75, 0-1 scale) temporal overlap between mesocarnivores-in particular red fox-and the wolf, with no support for negative temporal or spatial associations between mesocarnivore and wolf detection rates. All the species were nocturnal/crepuscular and results suggested a minor role of human activity in modifying interspecific spatiotemporal partitioning. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that the local great availability of large prey to wolves limited negative interactions towards smaller carnivores, thus reducing the potential for spatiotemporal avoidance. Our study emphasises that avoidance patterns leading to substantial spatiotemporal partitioning are not ubiquitous in carnivore guilds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Ferretti
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy.
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Raquel Oliveira
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Mariana Rossa
- CESAM, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Irene Belardi
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giada Pacini
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Sara Mugnai
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Niccolò Fattorini
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Lazzeri
- Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
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Wereszczuk A, Zalewski A. An anthropogenic landscape reduces the influence of climate conditions and moonlight on carnivore activity. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2023; 77:55. [PMID: 37200556 PMCID: PMC10172063 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-023-03331-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Abstract Abiotic factors are limitations that can affect animal activity and distribution, whether directly or indirectly. The objective of this study was to evaluate how abiotic factors influence the activity of two mustelid species inhabiting the same region but different habitats in NE Poland-pine marten inhabits forests and stone marten occupy built-up areas. From 1991 to 2016, we obtained 23,639 year-round observations of 15 pine martens and 8524 observations of 47 stone martens. We explore the influence of ambient temperature, snow cover depth and moonlight reaching the ground and interactions between these variables on the probability of martens' activity. The activity of pine martens living in natural habitats is more affected by climate conditions and moonlight than that of stone martens living in anthropogenic areas. Pine martens inhabiting forests increased activity when the ambient temperature was above 0 °C and snow cover was absent, as well as when the ambient temperature dropped to - 15 °C and snow cover depth was about 10 cm. Stone marten occupying anthropogenic areas did not reduce their activity if the temperature dropped. Variation of activity in relation to ambient conditions is probably related to pine martens' behavioural thermoregulation. The pine marten was active more frequently on bright nights, while moonlight intensity did not affect the activity of the stone marten. Our study concludes that complex interactions among abiotic factors concerning different habitats play a synergetic role in shaping carnivore activity and suggest that climate warming may affect the behaviour of both martens. Significance statement The survival and reproduction of animals depends on their activity, which is subject to various constraints. We studied the influence of climate conditions and moonlight intensity on the ground on the activity of pine and stone marten. We found that pine martens in natural habitat were greatly impacted by ambient conditions, whereas stone martens in built-up areas were less so. Natural habitats involve limitations related to harsh winters but may mitigate the effects of high temperatures. In contrast, animals living in built-up areas are exposed to higher temperatures in summer, which is of particular importance in the face of climate change. Our results show that the combination of several environmental factors affects animal behaviour and these factors have varying effects in various habitats. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00265-023-03331-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wereszczuk
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
| | - Andrzej Zalewski
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230 Białowieża, Poland
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Milana G, Viviano A, Mori E. Porcupines in Italian islands: update on the distribution of Hystrix cristata in Sardinia. MAMMALIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2022-0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In the last few decades, the crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata L., 1758) showed a remarkable range expansion in Italy, due to legal protection, climatic change and antropochorous releases. Particularly, porcupines have been released also in Sardinia, with first records of this large rodent in the wild dating back to 2005. Historical and social factors related to the progressive urbanization and the consequent abandonment of the traditional land use in mountain landscapes probably helped the re-expansion of forest, uncultivated fields and of animal’s species associated with these habitats. In Sardinia, a population establishment and a subsequent expansion of the area of distribution can be predicted as large portions of the island are highly suitable for the crested porcupine. Therefore, this recently introduced population should be removed to limit potential ecological and social conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuliano Milana
- Associazione Italiana Wilderness (AIW) , Via A. Bonetti 83, 17013 Murialdo (SV) , Italy
| | - Andrea Viviano
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri , Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 , Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) , Italy
| | - Emiliano Mori
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri , Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 , Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) , Italy
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Fedele E, Mori E, Giampaoli Rustichelli M, Del Sala F, Giannini F, Meriggi M, Santini G, Zaccaroni M. Alien versus alien: spatiotemporal overlaps among introduced ungulates in a Mediterranean island ecosystem. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00313-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAssessing the spatiotemporal behaviour of alien species is pivotal to designing effective management plans. Interspecific niche partitioning among ungulates is reported as a strategy to avoid direct interactions. The Mediterranean mouflon and wild boar are two ungulates introduced to Elba island for hunting and aesthetic purposes. We used intensive camera trapping to test whether species occupancy and temporal activity rhythms would vary in response to the presence or absence of the co-occurring species through multi-species occupancy modelling. Our findings report a lack of spatial and temporal segregation between the two species for the late spring–summer and late summer–autumn seasons. In contrast, results for the winter–early spring period suggest that spatial partitioning between wild boar and mouflon is present in areas with high artificial cover (e.g., paved roads). Animals may indeed exploit roads to move more rapidly in search of food; however, their occurrence in these areas seems to be influenced by the presence of the other species.
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Manzo E, Bartolommei P, Dell’Agnello F, Cozzolino R. Anomalous coloration in European pine marten
Martes martes
in Elba Island, Central Italy. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8980. [PMID: 35784087 PMCID: PMC9170521 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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