Unexpected consequences of reintroductions: competition between reintroduced red deer and Apennine chamois

摘要: Reintroductions are commonly used to restore the local biological diversity and/or save threatened taxa. In human-altered landscapes, we may expect that reintroduced species affect taxa already present. Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park (central Apennines, Italy), a 30% decline in abundance of ‘vulnerable’ Apennine chamois (2005: c. 650 individuals, 2010: 450 individuals) has been recorded, whereas red deer (reintroduced 1972–1987: 81 have greatly increased (2010: > 2500 individuals). We investigated space diet overlaps between chamois, their effects on foraging behaviour latter. also compared composition grasslands with recorded when former were absent. 2010–2011, found out: (1) great (> 75%) 90%) overlap chamois; (2) significant increase unpalatable plant decreasing trend nutritious, most grazed by respect absent; (3) irrespective from vegetation type, significantly reduced bite rate adult female patches deer, areas without deer. Our results suggest negative effect availability nutritious summer–autumn, possibly because grazing physical damage grassland caused trampling. Environmental conditions access high-quality forage warm season influence winter survival offspring mountain ungulates. indicate interspecific resource use an increasing, population can threaten rare potentially competing should be avoided where populations exist.