Conclusion
Land cover variables were stronger predictors of mesocarnivore activity
than large carnivores in Norway. This might be caused by a combination
of low density of large carnivores in an unproductive ecosystem with
strong seasonality. Positive intraguild interactions were predominant in
our system, which might indicate a tendency of multiple species to use
the same areas and resources (probably facilitated by mechanisms of
niche separation such as temporal partitioning and relatively low
degrees of interference). Alternatively, these positive interactions
might indicate some kind of facilitative relationship between species.
Further studies with a more experimental aproach and finer scales might
help determine the mechanisms behind these positive relationships.
Human disturbance had contrasting effects on different species,
benefiting the dominant mesocarnivores probably through food
subsidization, but negatively affecting large carnivores and smaller
mesocarnivores. Given that ecological interactions are now happening in
a human-dominated world, there is a clear need to include anthropogenic
influences when studying species interactions.