Marco Granata
- 501305
- Phd: 38th cycle
- Dottorato in Scienze Biologiche e Biotecnologie applicate
- Matriculation number: 802621
- ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-9445-7137
Phd thesis
Effects of global changes on small and meso-predators
The main aim of this project is to study the ecology and conservation of the communities of small and meso-predators belonging to the family Mustelidae, particularly the two most common Mustela species occurring in Italy and Europe: stoats (Mustela erminea) and weasels (Mustela nivalis). This project will be carried out in the Maritime Alps Natural Park, in Piedmont (Italy), where the target species are supposed to co-occur.
Specific objectives of the project are: 1) Identifying the best method – or methods – to detect the presence of the target species; 2) Modelling their distribution, with a focus on the effects of global changes; 3) Studying their ecology, particularly habitat preferences, food habits and activity patterns. Secondary objectives, depending on data quality and quantity, are: 4) Testing the ‘umbrella effect’ of the previous methods for other species, e.g. small mammals and larger mustelids; 5) Disentangling the relationships, in terms of competition and coexistence, within the small and meso-predators guild.
In the first year, from May to October 2023, the study site will be monitored with Mostelas, external cameras, footprint tunnels, and scat sampling. In parallel, records will be downloaded from national and open-source databanks, requested to museum collections and monitoring projects, and collected as casual sightings, e.g. with a Citizen Science project. In the second and third years, during the same period, only the best method – or methods – will be employed in the entire extension of the Park, which will also be monitored for prey (small mammals, insects, and fruit) and predators (raptors, owls and other carnivores). Field data will be analyzed through occupancy models and species distribution models.