Evaluation of the italian apennine ecosystems with respect to anatomical and ethological characteristics of the roe deer

Present work aims to test the degree of suitability for the roe deer of the different Apennine habitats, relating to ecological and structural characteristics of the forest Apennine ecosystems (bioclimate, floristic structure and composition, food availability) with the specific anatomical characteristics of the digestive apparatus and alimentary habits of this ungulate. Although the roe deer is a ruminant, it must be considered a browsing animal that carefully selects what it ingests, choosing plants or plant parts rich in cellular sap of high protein content, and avoiding, as far as possible, plants with high content of raw fibre. Actual data seem to point out a range of suitability for the roe deer of the hilly and low-mountain wooded habitats, among which, nevertheless, remarkable differences in ecological and environmental level of suitability have been recorded. One of the principal limiting factors is the relationship between the availability of trophic resources present at the beginning of the autumn, and the length of the winter period. Also of notable importance are vegetation patches, types of forest management and the different floristic and structural characteristics of the ecotonal belts.