Alien war: ectoparasite load, diet and temporal niche partitioning in a multi-species assembly of small rodents

Fattorini

et al. 2021

Animals

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Analysis of spatiotemporal partitioning is pivotal to shed light on interspecific coexistence. Most research effort has involved large-sized carnivores and their prey, whereas little attention has been devoted to lagomorphs. We assessed spatiotemporal overlap among the European brown hare Lepus europaeus and its potential competitors and predators through camera-trapping in an area in Central Italy. We estimated the interspecific patterns of the spatiotemporal activity rhythms of brown hares, its potential predators (the red fox Vulpes vulpes, the pine marten Martes martes, the domestic cat Felis catus, and the domestic dog Canis familiaris), and a competitor, the roe deer Capreolus capreolus. Brown hare activity was studied in natural conditions as well as in a fenced area that excluded terrestrial predators and competitors. Free-ranging hares developed a more nocturnal behavior to avoid diurnal predators (i.e., domestic carnivores and martens). Although high temporal overlap was observed between free-ranging brown hares and both red foxes (82%) and roe deer (81%), hares avoided fox by being more active on darkest nights, as well as avoided roe deer through spatial partitioning. We suggest that hares may adapt their spatiotemporal behavior to avoid potential predators and competitors.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporal Overlap between the European Brown Hare and Its Potential Predators and Competitors

Viviano

Fattorini

et al. 2021

Animals

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“…Each individual rodent was captured in only one transect. Rooting intensity ranged from 0 (i.e., a fenced area of 5.1 ha excluding wild boar since 2013 through a 2.5 m high fence, mesh size: 5 × 5 cm: Mori et al, 2019) to 80% (mean ± SE : 32.16 ± 7.64).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rodent‐captures were conducted in a hilly area of Central Italy (Special Area of Conservation “Poggi di Prata”, 1,100 ha; 43.08°N, 11.00°E, 508–727 m a.s.l., Grosseto province), in 12 trap‐transects (100 m each) separated one‐another ≥250 m in a straight line from the end of each transect, between May and October 2019, that is, when rodents are most active in this area (cf. Mori et al, 2014, 2019). We carried out a single‐season capture‐session, as the distribution of wild mammals in the study area is thoroughly known and we assumed that all the rodent species within each wood patch have been trapped (see Mori et al, 2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Impact of wild boar rooting on small forest‐dwelling rodents

Ferretti

Lagrotteria

et al. 2020

Ecological Research

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Assessing impacts of wild boar on ecosystems is a research priority worldwide, with applied implications for environmental management. We evaluated whether rooting intensity by wild boar affected a rodent community in Central Italy. Rooting intensity was measured within trap transects and all around them, following standard procedures. We live‐trapped rodents in coppiced forests with a gradient of rooting intensity (including a fenced, boar‐proof, area) and evaluated relationships between abundance and rooting for two arboreal and five ground‐dwelling species. Among those, the most abundant ones were the bank vole Myodes glareolus and the yellow‐necked wood mouse Apodemus flavicollis. Rooting within and outside transects correlated to each other, as well as with the local passage rate of the wild boar, assessed through camera‐trapping. We found a negative relationship between rooting intensity and abundance of bank voles, that is, the main food resources of some predators of conservation concern. Rooting activity may trigger effects on ground‐dwelling rodents at the population level.

“…Large-sized or gregarious species may outcompete small-sized or solitary ones for feeding sites [12,13]. Interspecific aggressive behavior is common for carnivores [14,15], whereas it is less documented for herbivores [16,17]. Amongst herbivore species, most interspecific aggressive interactions in temperate areas occur when at least one of the interacting species is alien [16][17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Interspecific aggressive behavior is common for carnivores [14,15], whereas it is less documented for herbivores [16,17]. Amongst herbivore species, most interspecific aggressive interactions in temperate areas occur when at least one of the interacting species is alien [16][17][18]. Therefore, redefinition of species-distribution range due to human-mediated introductions and climatic change may provoke new interspecific encounters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interspecific Aggressions between Crested Porcupines and Roe Deer

Lazzeri

Senini

2020

Animals

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Despite being common amongst carnivore mammals, behavioral interference between wild herbivore species is poorly documented. Particularly, in temperate areas, where the ungulate guild is composed of a few species, and large-sized rodents are scarce, most cases of interspecific interactions involve at least one alien species. In this work, we report the first data on behavioral interactions between roe deer, Capreolus capreolus, and crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata. Aggressions by crested porcupines toward roe deer were observed in 34 out of 202 observations of both species feeding at the same site. In the other 168 observations, roe deer and porcupines shared the same feeding area, without any interaction. In 58% cases of interaction, porcupines chased and pushed roe deer away from feeding areas, and in several other cases, roe deer were bitten, or injured with quills. Aggressions by porcupines occurred mostly during warm months, when roe deer are mostly solitary and when competition for food between these species is suggested to be the highest, and against single female individuals.