HABITAT SELECTION OF GENET GENETTA-GENETTA IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CENTRAL SPAIN

Genet Genetta genetta Linnaeus, 1758 habitat selection was studied thr ough midden locations in a mountain area of central Spain both at macr ohabitat (habitat types, land use, roughness, distance to villages, et c) and microhabitat scale (tree, scrub, rock and pasture covers). Amon g the available habitats, genet preferred dehesas, due to their good t rophic resources and shelter availability. Genet was scarce over 1200 metres, probably because of thermic restrictions. The most important m icrohabitat variables selected as faecal sites were rock-cover (refuge s) and shrub-cover (feeding places and refuges). Other parameters of f unctional significance related to midden location were social communic ation and territoriality. There was no selection both sites with a hig h degree of tree cover (microhabitat) and for sites near to watercours es.