S., 1989: Foraging behaviour of adult female Apennine chamois in relation to seasonal variation in food supply. Acta theriol., We tested the prediction that qualitative and quantitative seasonal variations of food resources influenced the foraging behaviour and efficiency of Apennine chamois, Rupicapra pyrenaica omata (Neuman, 1899). In summer, when the abundance and diversity of food resources were greater, we found a greater rate of food intake and a reduced search for food, as well as lower aggressiveness, than in the autumn. Furthermore in summer the median group size of grazing chamois was greater than in the autumn, in accordance with the availability of rich, but concentrated, food resources in the former season. No seasonal difference intime devoted to foraging was found. Apparently, the Apennine chamois maximize food intake during summer to compensate for later shortages in the colder season.

Fallow deer leks and single territories often persist in specific locations over many years. In our study area in Tuscany, one site (Lek 1) was used as a lek by fallow deer for at least 30 years. Females passed through the lek year-round while travelling between sheltering and foraging sites. In 1987-89, forestry operations affected areas near the lek that were used by females as travel routes, but the lek site itself was not affected. After the logging operations, very few females traversed the lek site. Over the next 2 years the lek decreased in size (both in terms of number of territories defended and number of territorial males) until it became a single territory, and after two more years it was abandoned. Another lek (Lek 2) whose access routes were unaffected by forest cuts, continued to exist. Territorial males abandoned Lek 1 and moved to Lek 2 when female visits to Lek 1 became rare. Our results suggest that female movement patterns can be affected by habitat manipulations, and that females will not return to traditional mating sites that become external to their home ranges. Male fallow deer may form leks along female movement routes, where they experience a high female encounter rate as predicted by the hotspot model.