Prey selection and dietary response by wolves in a high-density multi-species ungulate community

摘要: Studies on predation by the wolf (Canis lupus) have often reported contradictory results about role of prey density and vulnerability use. We investigated dietary response selection wolves in a high-density multi-species ungulate community, analysing scats collected over period 11 years Casentinesi Forests, Italy. The second most abundant species, wild boar (Sus scrofa), was found to be main prey, we did not observe any variations either primary or secondary species. Selection patterns were uniform throughout study period. Wolves strongly selected for piglets, while roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) fawns adults, red (Cervus elaphus) adults fallow (Dama dama) avoided. Wolf preference inversely dependent. Within each juveniles preferred adults. Medium-sized, young individuals both optimal although with different related anti-predator strategies adopted this suggest that productive ecosystems high renewal rates are determined vulnerability, which is connected age body size. versus cervids use across Europe seems their relative abundances, strong Italian Apennines respect more frequent avoidance central-eastern better explained higher piglet productivity smaller size Mediterranean temperate forests.