TERRITORIAL BEHAVIOR OF TALPA-ROMANA IN AN OLIVE-GROVE HABITAT IN CENTRAL ITALY

The territorial behaviour of a population of Talpa romana in an oliveg rove habitat of central Italy was investigated through radiotelemetric techniques. Data collected on nine moles tracked from April 1992 to M ay 1993 were compared with a previous study in a pasture habitat. Resu lts indicate a higher concentration of animals per unit area in the ol ivegrove with respect to the pasture, and a higher degree of spatial o verlap of home ranges. This evidence suggests a higher tolerance of an imals toward their conspecifics, likely due to a higher concentration of food resources in the olivegrove. Overlap was not observed in core areas, which appear more parceled out with respect to the pasture habi tat. Location of home ranges and core areas shift throughout the year, as moles likely move from food exploited areas to new unexploited one s.