Spatiotemporal dynamics of pine marten (Martes martes), mountain hare (Lepus timidus), and red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) trail activity in the European southern taiga

Abstract

Observations of the trail activity of martens, mountain hares, and red squirrels in winter along fixed routes in the Central Forest Reserve showed high variability and synchronism in time and space. A polynomial dependence of the trail activity and a correlation in the spatial distribution of the marten, mountain hare, and squirrel were detected. The influence of weather on trail activity is smaller but statistically significant. It was found that the spatiotemporal dynamics of the trail activity is governed by the Moran effect, which is amplified by the relations between predator and prey.