Niche Partitioning among the Red Fox Vulpes vulpes (L.), Stone Marten Martes foina (Erxleben) and Pine Marten Martes martes (L.). in Two Mountains in Bulgaria

The trophic, spatial and temporal characteristics of the ecological niches of the red fox Vulpes vulpes (L.), stone marten Martes foina (Erxleben) and pine marten Martes martes (L.) were analysed based on collected scat samples and camera trap data from Vitosha and Pirin Mts, South-western Bulgaria. The trophic niches overlapped to a great extent in spring (93-97%) while the least level of overlap was observed in autumn (38-53%). We did not find clear niche partitioning by forest type and visibility nor patterns in the spatial strategies of the three species. These results suggested that their habitat preferences were similar. When fruits were abundant (in summer and autumn) and the studied species fed mainly on plant matter, we found higher tolerance to each other in terms of habitat selection and preferred altitudes. The food and space competition was likely alleviated by temporal avoidance between the species, as there were clear hourly shifts in their activity patterns.