Sexual and seasonal differences of space use in Alpine chamois

Abstract

In spite of its wide distribution, little information has been published on factors affecting space use of northern chamois Rupicapra rupicapra. We radio-tracked 12 (≥ 4 years old) adult male and nine adult female chamois, for 2 years (from April to December), in an area of the south-western Italian Alps. Eight males occupied stable and small home ranges (“resident” males), while four moved between seasonal areas (“migrant” males). Residents showed smaller, stable home ranges, at lower altitudes than those of adult females, and selected forest, scrub, bush and meadow, avoiding rocks and scree. Females increased home range size in July-August, when they moved to rocky areas at the higher altitudes, and decreased it in November-December, at rut time. In spring and autumn, females selected both meadows and larch forest/scrub. Sexual and seasonal differences in space use, which reflected a marked sexual segregation, may have been linked to energetic and mating requirements, with females selecting high-quality feeding areas because of their energy demands during gestation and lactation. From spring to autumn, males remained at lower altitudes, in lower-quality habitats, only visited by females in the mating season.