Wolf diet and its impact on the ungulates community in a new recolonized area of Western Alps: Gran Paradiso National Park

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate how wolves affected the prey community in a newly recolonization area of the Western Alps, the Gran Paradiso National Park (GPNP). Since 1960's, this portion of the Alps hosts a multi-specific wild ungulate community. It lived in absence of large predators for more than a century. In 2006 a couple of wolves re-established in GPNP and in summer 2007 the first reproduction was documented. The present study was conducted during the following two years. In term of biomass consumed (Bio%), Alpine chamois was the main prey of wolves in all seasons (Bio%Summer 2007 = 70.13; Bio%Winter 2007/2008 = 56.99; Bio%Summer 2008 = 67.52; Bio%Winter 2008/2009 = 36.35), while roe deer were intensely consumed during the adverse season (Bio%W2007/2008 = 23.05 %; Bio%W2008/2009 = 42.47 %). Although cervids were much less abundant than bovids in the area, they represented one of the main food items of wolves, possibly because of the strong habitat overlap and altitude use between predator and preys. Moreover, the minor adaptation of cervids to the Alpine environment compared to bovids could affect their vulnerability and thus the respective consumption of the different species during the adverse season.