Safety or satiety? Spatiotemporal behaviour of a threatened herbivore

摘要: Movements, habitat use, and activity of herbivorous species are mainly influenced by trade-offs between food availability daily/seasonal variation in predation risk. Nevertheless, studies conducted across several seasons evaluating both spatial temporal responses meso-small herbivores still scanty. Additionally, information on spatiotemporal behaviour is often lacking for cryptic, localised species, which may limit conservation actions. We evaluated how sex, time day, seasonality, type—reflecting risk access to resources—influenced the locomotor an mammal, Apennine hare, a threatened endemic central-southern Italy. In 4-year study, we intensively radio-tracked 12 individuals, providing first insights ecology this lagomorph. Sex affected neither home range size nor selection. Home was larger during night warm months, when hares moved most energetically rewarding type feeding activities, i.e., cultivations. At study area scales, selection did not vary cold months. scale, avoided deciduous woodland human settlements, whereas selected Mediterranean scrubwood Within ranges, at night, risky patches, cultivations as grounds, daylight, safer used cover resting. Throughout year, were mostly nocturnal more active open than concealed habitats, with no differences sexes. Bright nights, full moon clear sky, inhibited areas but cover, likely reduce Our findings emphasised role feeding/antipredatory requirements shaping mammals, potential consequences species.