Commuting, shifting or remaining?: different spatial utilisation patterns of wild boar Sus scrofa L. in forest and field crops during summer.

摘要: Abstract In a radiotelemetry study in North-East Germany, we analysed spatial utilisation of 22 female wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) out 21 groups during summer (2003–2006). We compared season home ranges (16 May–15 August) with “field ranges”, i.e. periods between first and last appearance within cereal fields. Wild appeared inside fields beginning grain rapeseed flowering vanished usually harvest. Three types patterns were defined: sows”, who shifted their range entirely into fields; “commuters”, roamed forest “forest remained the forest. Yearlings predominantly commuters, whilst family did not roam but either to or stayed Field sows had smaller mean field than total ranges, whereas commuters showed no differences. All three differ significantly size measures but, however, different shifts from spring range. The sizes similar, as all resources permanently available all-over area. However, dislocations outstanding profitable nutritional habitats (e.g. agricultural summer) may enlarge annual sows.