Key Habitats for Egyptian Mongooses in Donana National Park, South-Western Spain

Abstract

1. The habitat use by Egyptian mongooses during nocturnal and diurnal resting, foraging and walking was studied by radio-tracking between September 1987 and September 1989 in south-western Spain. 2. Mongooses always avoided open areas, and preferred those with dense vegetation during both nocturnal and diurnal resting, and when active. Vegetation types with low density of understorey and ground cover were used less than expected on the basis of availability. No significant monthly variation was observed. 3. Mongooses moved at different speeds in each type of vegetation. Foraging activities predominated in areas with the thickest ground cover and density of vegetation, while more open areas were mainly traversed. 4. Mongooses selected the areas with high densities of their main prey (rabbits) and shelters (thickets and rabbit warrens) for foraging and resting, respectively. Both requirements were provided by the same vegetation types. 5. Possible applications for the conservation and management of this species in relation to key habitats are discussed.