More Than Movement Routes: The Role of Biocorridors for Feeding, Shelter, and Niche Partitioning of Wild Ungulates

Although linear woody elements such as biocorridors are widely recognized for their role in facilitating wildlife movement across fragmented landscapes, to our knowledge, no published study has specifically examined interspecific interactions among sympatric ungulates within these linear habitats. Using camera trap data, we investigated the spatiotemporal use of biocorridors by three sympatric ungulate species – roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), fallow deer (Dama dama), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) – in relation to biocorridor structure, landscape context (adjacent pastures vs. fields), and season. We collected camera-traps images for a total of 56,461 active camera-days across biocorridors. We recorded 19,412 independent events of roe deer, 3,828 of fallow deer and 804 of wild boar.

All species showed clear diel activity patterns, with roe and fallow deer exhibiting bimodal (crepuscular) and wild boar predominantly nocturnal activity. These patterns were more pronounced during the summer season and became less distinct in winter. All studied ungulates showed the highest frequency of corridor use and preferred structurally complex corridors with dense canopy cover. Wild boar occurrence remained overall low, likely due to their reliance on open fields and crops. Notably, the temporal activity of roe deer shifted in the presence of fallow deer, suggesting temporal displacement consistent with competitive interactions. Our findings underscore the functional importance of biocorridors beyond connectivity, highlighting their role as foraging grounds, shelter, and sites of interspecific interactions. Maintaining and enhancing woody linear elements in agricultural landscapes can support ungulate biodiversity and should be considered in landscape and wildlife management strategies.