Using camera traps to assess spatial and temporal interactions between cattle and red deer in a Mediterranean silvo-pastoral system

This study investigated spatial and temporal interactions between cattle (Bos taurus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) in a Mediterranean silvo-pastoral system using non-invasive camera trapping. The aim was to assess coexistence patterns and potential competition or complementarity in habitat use during the winter season (January), with implications for sustainable grazing management. The research was conducted in a 2330-ha farm in central Italy (Lazio region), comprising 565 ha of pasture and 1765 ha of woodland, hosting 430 Maremmana cattle and wild ungulates. Seventeen camera traps were systematically distributed across five silvo-pastoral sections (totalling 271 ha). Relative abundance was calculated as Trapping Rate (TR), and spatial use was analysed through spline analysis in ArcGIS Pro. Temporal activity and overlap were examined in R using the “activity” and “overlap” packages. Cattle showed irregular diurnal activity, while red deer were more fragmented but shared an evening peak. The temporal overlap coefficient was 0.74, suggesting moderate coexistence. Spatially, red deer were more frequent in areas with low cattle TR, although co-occurrence was significant (Z = 2.670, p = 0.007), especially near fences. These results highlight the usefulness of camera trapping in informing adaptive management in silvo-pastoral systems, promoting coexistence between livestock and wildlife.