title: Patterns of spatial overlap in a monogamous large rodent, the crested porcupine.
abstract: The crested porcupine Hystrix cristata is a large rodent which pairs for life. We studied the space use of 17 female and 9 male radio-tracked porcupines in an evergreen coastal woodland ("macchia", EW) and in an agricultural estate (AE), with special reference to the use of cultivations. Home range sizes of male porcupines (4.72-323.40) ranged around 114ha (median) during the warm period (April-September) and 162ha during the cold one (October-March). Home ranges of females (2.48-323.40) were c. 91ha during the warm period and c. 143ha during the cold one. Habitat composition and selection changed from the cold to the warm months, with porcupines being present in agricultural areas especially in the latter. Home range overlap between members of the same pair varied from 57% to 97% (median, 75%). Habitat selection was analyzed at the second (within study area) and at the third (within home range) order of selection. Within study areas, porcupines avoided cultivations and selected habitats with dense vegetation, providing cover and food. Within home ranges, in the warm period, porcupines selected agricultural areas in EW, where this habitat represented a minor portion of the study site. In that season, the Mediterranean "macchia" is a poor source of food, forcing porcupines to travel long distances to reach feeding sites. No significant difference of habitat selection within home ranges was detected between members of the same pair. Cultivations may play a key-role for porcupine survival, especially in poor habitats, as they provide abundant food resources in the warm period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy. Electronic address: moriemiliano@tiscali.it.
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lovari
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy; Maremma Natural History Museum, Strada Corsini, 5-58100 Grosseto, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sforzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy; Provincial Council of Grosseto, Via Trieste, 5-58100 Grosseto, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Siena, Piazza S. Francesco, 8-53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli, 4-53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Siena, Piazza S. Francesco, 8-53100 Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fattorini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D006702:Homing Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010152:Pair Bond; D046328:Porcupines / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons
keywords: Cultivation usage; Hystrix cristata; Mediterranean “macchia”; Sign test