Spatio-temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting European landscapes
Abstract Relationships among carnivore species are complex, potentially switching from competition to facilitation on a context-dependent basis. Negative associations are predicted to increase with latitude, due to limited resources emphasising competition and/or intra-guild predation. Accordingly,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50447-z |
| _version_ | 1827388616256520192 |
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| author | Lorenzo Lazzeri F. Ferretti M. Churski T. A. Diserens R. Oliveira K. Schmidt D. P. J. Kuijper |
| author_facet | Lorenzo Lazzeri F. Ferretti M. Churski T. A. Diserens R. Oliveira K. Schmidt D. P. J. Kuijper |
| author_sort | Lorenzo Lazzeri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Relationships among carnivore species are complex, potentially switching from competition to facilitation on a context-dependent basis. Negative associations are predicted to increase with latitude, due to limited resources emphasising competition and/or intra-guild predation. Accordingly, a stronger negative correlation between large- and meso-carnivore abundances should be expected at higher latitudes, with a substantial spatio-temporal partitioning favouring interspecific coexistence. Human presence may influence spatio-temporal relationships between (meso)carnivore species, as it can be perceived as a risk factor, but anthropogenic food can also provide an important additional food resource. Using camera-trap data, we studied the spatio-temporal associations between two of the most widespread carnivores in Europe, i.e., the red fox and wolf. We compared their monthly/daily spatio-temporal partitioning between two different landscapes: Białowieża Primeval Forest (Poland) and the Mediterranean Maremma Regional Park (Italy). We predicted a stronger interspecific partitioning, as well as more attraction of red foxes to humans in the northern site (Poland). Temporal activity patterns of the two carnivores overlapped in both sites, and their detection rates were positively associated, even though in weaker way in Poland. We observed a positive spatial association of red foxes with human activity in Białowieża, but not in Maremma. This association occurred only at a monthly temporal scale and disappeared at a daily scale, suggesting some disturbance in the shorter term. Our results provided partial support to our predictions and suggest that, despite the ecological differences between our study areas, only weak differences in wolf-fox relations were observed, suggesting that red fox responses to wolves may be relatively comparable over large spatial scales. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:21:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6bfadef350ac493caf7fb32e93453fe1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:21:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6bfadef350ac493caf7fb32e93453fe12024-01-07T12:20:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-01-0114111310.1038/s41598-023-50447-zSpatio-temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting European landscapesLorenzo Lazzeri0F. Ferretti1M. Churski2T. A. Diserens3R. Oliveira4K. Schmidt5D. P. J. Kuijper6Research Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of SienaResearch Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of SienaMammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of SciencesMammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of SciencesResearch Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management, Department of Life Sciences, University of SienaMammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of SciencesMammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of SciencesAbstract Relationships among carnivore species are complex, potentially switching from competition to facilitation on a context-dependent basis. Negative associations are predicted to increase with latitude, due to limited resources emphasising competition and/or intra-guild predation. Accordingly, a stronger negative correlation between large- and meso-carnivore abundances should be expected at higher latitudes, with a substantial spatio-temporal partitioning favouring interspecific coexistence. Human presence may influence spatio-temporal relationships between (meso)carnivore species, as it can be perceived as a risk factor, but anthropogenic food can also provide an important additional food resource. Using camera-trap data, we studied the spatio-temporal associations between two of the most widespread carnivores in Europe, i.e., the red fox and wolf. We compared their monthly/daily spatio-temporal partitioning between two different landscapes: Białowieża Primeval Forest (Poland) and the Mediterranean Maremma Regional Park (Italy). We predicted a stronger interspecific partitioning, as well as more attraction of red foxes to humans in the northern site (Poland). Temporal activity patterns of the two carnivores overlapped in both sites, and their detection rates were positively associated, even though in weaker way in Poland. We observed a positive spatial association of red foxes with human activity in Białowieża, but not in Maremma. This association occurred only at a monthly temporal scale and disappeared at a daily scale, suggesting some disturbance in the shorter term. Our results provided partial support to our predictions and suggest that, despite the ecological differences between our study areas, only weak differences in wolf-fox relations were observed, suggesting that red fox responses to wolves may be relatively comparable over large spatial scales.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50447-z |
| spellingShingle | Lorenzo Lazzeri F. Ferretti M. Churski T. A. Diserens R. Oliveira K. Schmidt D. P. J. Kuijper Spatio-temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting European landscapes Scientific Reports |
| title | Spatio-temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting European landscapes |
| title_full | Spatio-temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting European landscapes |
| title_fullStr | Spatio-temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting European landscapes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spatio-temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting European landscapes |
| title_short | Spatio-temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting European landscapes |
| title_sort | spatio temporal interactions between the red fox and the wolf in two contrasting european landscapes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50447-z |
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