FOOD-HABITS AND TROPHIC NICHE OVERLAP OF THE WOLF CANIS-LUPUS, L 1758AND THE RED FOX VULPES-VULPES (L 1758) IN A MEDITERRANEAN MOUNTAIN AREA

The food habits and dietary overlap of the Wolf and the Red fox were s tudied in an area of the Abruzzo National Park, Central Apennines (Ita ly), over a period of two years. The Wolf preyed mainly upon wild and domestic ungulates. The occurrence of Red deer in diet exceeded that o f the Roe deer, parallel to the relative local abundance of these spec ies. Although the consumption of reintroduced deer species increased d uring the study period, no corresponding decrease of predation on live stock could be assessed. The diet of the Wolf did not show seasonal va riations in the study area, whereas that of the Fox did. The use of di fferent trophic resources by these two Carnivores was likely to genera te such a difference, the former taking prey steadily available throug hout the year, while the latter makes use of seasonally fluctuating fo od resources (e.g. rodents and fruits). The dependence on anthropogeni c food resources was noticeable for the Wolf, but mainly restricted to domestic ungulates, and negligible for the Fox. Food competition betw een these two Carnivores is unlikely in well preserved habitats. where they can fill different trophic niches.