FOOD HABITS OF THE STONE MARTEN MARTES FOINA IN "LA MANDRIA" REGIONAL PARK (PIEDMONT REGION, NORTH-WESTERN ITALY)

Abstract

Diparfirizcrzto di Biologia Aniiizale, Uriiversifii di Toriuo, via Accadernia Albertiria 17, 10123 Toritio ABSTRACT - The diet of the stone marten (Murtesfoina) was studied by the analysis of 215 scats gathered during 1990 and 1991 in La Mandria Regional Park (north-western Italy). The results were expressed as percentage Prcquency of occurrence (F% = (number of occurrences of each food/number of scats) x 1001 and relative percentage of frequency (Fr% = (number of occurrences of each food/total number of prey items) x 1001. Mammals were the predominant food category in each season (annual mean in Fr% = 60.5) and were mainly represented by rodents (Fr% = 44.8) and lagomorphs (Fr% = 15.4). Myoxus glis was the most preyed species (Fr% = 15.7) and its use was higher in autumn than in other seasons. Vegetables, mainly Rosaceae and Vitis vinifera fruits, were an important food resource in summer (Fr% = 41.1) and in autumn (Fr% = 17.2). Birds integrated the stone marten's diet mainly in winter (Fr% = 22.6), while insects were scarcely consumed throughout the year (Fr% = 4.3).