A comparative analysis of wolf (Canis lupus) diet in three different Italian ecosystems

摘要: Summary To verify food habit flexibility of wolf populations under different ecological conditions, scats collected year round were analysed in three study areas and diet composition resident packs was compared. The areas, representing Alpine (SV), Apennine (PM) Mediterranean (CV) ecosystems, are rich wild ungulates, which differ number species relative abundance; livestock is also present. Wild ungulates the main source food, accounting for 89.4%–95.1% diet. Livestock, instead, scarsely reached 8% annual mean percent volume any one area, only Alps did they play a major role autumn. Other items constituted less than 5% volume. Variations proportions use ungulate categories observed among although some patterns intraspecific selection emerged each area. Finally, differences both relationships between utilisation availability preys, trophic niche breadth discussed relation to environmental features colonization patterns.