Role of fruits in the diet of small mustelids (Mustela sp.) from the western Italian Alps

摘要: The food habits of both weasels and stoats (Mustela nivalis M. erminea) the occurrence fruit in their diet were studied by scat analysis Gran Paradiso National Park (western Italian Alps). Being impossible to distinguish between scats, they grouped together as genus Mustela. Despite high consumption small rodents, which represented main item mustelids (41.5% mean volume), wild fruits (mainly Rosaceae Ericaceae) also relatively common (23.3% volume). Fruits exploited throughout year, with an intensive use seasons availability. Their did not significantly differ habitat types, despite a significant decrease availability from deciduous mixed forest alpine prairie. This evidence suggests that this trophic behaviour could represent consolidated feeding strategy stoats, seem adopt opportunistic shown larger size mustelids. We argue fruits, owing good profitability, play important role habitats, slackening well-documented dependence on rodents.