Spatial distribution of the pine marten ( Martes martes ) and stone marten ( Martes foina ) in the Italian Alps

摘要: The pine marten (Martes martes) and stone foina) are considered similar carnivores in terms of morphology, habitat requirements, diet distribution. Despite their range overlap widely throughout Europe, few studies have analysed spatial distribution sympatry. With the aim investigating environmental factors which may enhance coexistence, we focused on Italian sector Alpine biogeographical region, an area offering homogeneous conditions resources. Recent, presence-only data were collected through a collaboration network ad hoc surveys for faecal DNA, yielding total 1658 329 records marten, respectively. Species models (SDM) run using MaxEnt with sampling bias correction. Three detailed fitted, each considering different landscape descriptors (land use, topography climate) and, finally, overall model was developed species. selected forested areas, particularly coniferous forests, at intermediate altitude, while lower-altitude belts, partially including cultivated urban more suitable marten. Both martens avoided open areas. Moreover, thermophilic preferred warmer drier areas than About 50% filed as species, 34.6% cells resulting both martens. Differential use space, probably associated segregation along other dimensions niches (e.g. temporal niche), lowers resource competition enhances coexistence these strictly-related