Niche relations among three sympatric Mediterranean carnivores

Previous studies carried out in the Donana National Park reported that red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were killed by Iberian lynxes (Lynx pardinus), wherea s similar-sized Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) were not. Therefore, we pred icted that fox would avoid lynx predation risk by niche segregation whereas we did not expect such a segregation between badger and lynx. As an approa ch for evaluating our predictions, we compared their diet, activity pattern s, and habitat use in an area of Donana where the three carnivores are symp atric. Lynxes preyed almost uniquely on European rabbits (Oryctolagus cunic ulus), and though badgers and foxes were omnivorous, rabbits also were a ma jor prey, resulting in high overlaps throughout the year. However, badgers preyed largely on small rabbits, whereas lynxes and foxes preyed mainly on medium-sized rabbits. There were also interspecific differences in activity patterns. Maximum levels of activity among lynxes were during sunrise and dusk (49-67%). Foxes were most active during dusk and night (34-67%), and b adgers were mainly nocturnal (53-87%). Though there were seasonal differenc es in the amount of activity of each species, specific activity patterns ch anged little throughout the year. There was a strong difference in annual h abitat use by the three species (P < 0.0001). Lynxes used mainly the Medite rranean scrubland during both the active (P-MAX) and the resting (P-MIN) pe riods. During P-MIN, foxes used the Mediterranean scrubland intensively (40 % of locations on average), but during P-MAX, they used the pastureland muc h more intensively despite this habitat being poorer in their main prey (ra bbits). As a consequence, foxes and lynxes exhibited segregation in their h abitat use during the active period. Badgers also used the Mediterranean sc rubland intensively, especially during P-MIN There were no seasonal differe nces in habitat use for lynx and fox, but there was for badgers (P < 0.015) . Within the study area, the three species selected habitat suggesting they were sensitive to factors such as vegetation and prey abundance. However, in general, carnivore habitat use did not correlate with rabbit abundance. We propose that foxes avoided lynxes by using, during activity, habitats no t frequented by lynxes, and that a low predation risk associated with the d istinctive foraging mode of badgers may facilitate its coexistence with oth er carnivores.