SEXUAL SEGREGATION OF HABITAT BY THE ALPINE IBEX IN THE FRENCH ALPS

We examined seasonal use of habitat by male and female alpine ibexes ( Capra ibex ibex) in the Bargy Massif, French Alps. No differences in u se of habitat between sexes were found during rut. In winter, both sex es were restricted to southern aspects at low elevations and showed af finity for cliffs and brushy habitat, but avoided bare rocks. Males we re found less on cliffs and at higher elevations in winter than female s; that difference persisted throughout the year. In spring, females u sed grassland habitat more than males, but the opposite occurred durin g the rest of the year. During the period of parturition, females gene rally used cliffs, probably as an anti-predator strategy or to reduce disturbances by humans. Habitat segregation between sexes was lower in summer than in spring. Except during rut and winter, females used are as with vegetation in earlier phenological stages more than males. Mal es used a greater diversity of habitat types than females throughout t he year. Our data show that sexual segregation in use of habitat in al pine ibexes depends on several ecological and reproductive factors and varies seasonally.