Data from: An uncomfortable neighborhood: presence evolution of two competing carnivores in north-eastern Italy

Within ecological communities, larger predators typically limit
mesocarnivore populations. On a continental scale, this may be the case
for the grey wolf (Canis lupus) over the golden jackal (Canis aureus) in
Europe. North-eastern Italy represents one of the first areas in Western
Europe to experience golden jackal colonization, followed by wolf
recolonization. Since few studies have investigated the spatial
relationship between these two wild canids, this work aimed to analyze
their distribution dynamics and investigate whether the wolf and
environmental factors may have influenced golden jackal distribution at a
local scale. We used systematic and opportunistic data collected over 11
years (2013-2023) to assess the presence of both species on a 10x10 km
square grid system. A multinomial logistic mixed model (MLMM) was applied
to test whether the study period and landscape metrics (terrain ruggedness
and habitat fragmentation indices) influenced both species’ presence at a
broad scale (i.e., square grid units). Generalized linear mixed models
(GLMMs) were used to test whether the wolf and landscape metrics
influenced jackal presence at a finer scale (i.e., jackal howling calling
stations). Both species showed an increase in their former distribution,
with a small growth in sympatric areas. Models revealed that jackals
preferred less rugged and more fragmented areas typical of the lowland,
whereas wolves preferred rugged terrain with extensive forested patches in
the Alpine range. Furthermore, our results showed that, at a local scale,
golden jackal presence was negatively related to wolf presence. This study
provides further insights into the coexistence of these two competing wild
canids, suggesting a potential top-down effect of the wolf on golden
jackal colonization dynamics. However, the wolf influence may vary in
intensity depending on environmental context, with a weaker effect in
areas of higher human pressure, such as the lowlands.