One of the main objectives of community ecology is to understand the conditions allowing species to coexist. However, few studies have investigated the role of fine-scale habitat use segregation in the functioning of guild communities in relatively homogeneous landscapes where opportunities for coexistence are likely to be the most restrictive. We investigate how the process of habitat use differentiation at the home range level according to the degree of specialism/generalism of species can lead to coexistence between guild species. We examine differences in fine-scale habitat use and niche separation as potential mechanisms explaining the coexistence of five sympatric carnivore species that differ in life history traits (Iberian lynx, Eurasian badger, Egyptian mongoose, common genet and red fox) by collecting data from systematic track censuses in a relatively homogeneous Mediterranean landscape. We found that a higher degree of specialism determines the segregation of species among the fine-scale ecological niche dimensions defined using quantitative elements associated with vegetation, landscape, prey availability and human disturbance. The species with the lowest total performance over the set of variables did not exhibit segregation in the use of habitat at this level. Our study indicates that in relatively homogeneous landscapes, there exist subtle patterns of habitat partitioning over small-scale gradients of habitat determinants as a function of the degree of specialism of carnivore species within a guild. Our results also suggest that coexistence between generalist species may be permitted by fine-scale spatial-temporal segregation of activity patterns or trophic resource consumption, but not fine-scale habitat use differentiation.

Abstract:The wildcat is a protected species in Europe but the lack of information on its status in many areas of its distribution range is an obstacle to conservation initiatives. To assess the status of the species over a 54,300 ha Mediterranean protected area in southwestern Spain (Do ñ ana National Park, DNP), we carried out track censuses during the wet season of 2007 -2008 and 2008 -2009 in 2 × 2 km 2 quadrants and set camera traps from June 2008 to October 2010 in quadrants or nearby quadrants where cat tracks were detected. We detected a total of 52 cat tracks for both study years and identified six different individuals from 28 photographs taken at 12 out of 166 trapping stations. We hypothesized that the causes of the a priori surprising low abundance of the species in the area might be multifold and might be explained by the historic competitive exclusion of the species by the Iberian lynx, the decrease of rabbit population in the DNP during the past decades, the isolation of DNP from the nearest natural areas that could have slowed the recovery of wildcat populations after a species declining and a potential increased mortality rate over time due to disease transmission from domestic cats.

12The presence of domestic species such as dogs Canis familiaris in protected areas represents a 13 conservation problem due to competition, predation and/or disease transmission to native species. This 14 introduced species may increase their ranging activity towards protected areas by the planning of new 21We studied the presence or absence of dogs at 69 2x2 km grids and analysed the associated environmental 22 and/or human constraints by logistic regression models. We failed to detect dogs in areas away from 23 anthropogenic edges (track census effort above 470 km) so according to our results, dogs at DNP may be 24 domestic dogs incurring occasionally into the protected area from the surrounding matrix. The detection 25 of dog tracks was dependent on the presence of people and consequently on the resources they provide. 26The direct threats of dogs to wildlife may therefore not spread throughout the entire reserve or along the

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Soft tissue defects of the sacroiliac area, usually can be covered by local flaps. However, for more complex defects, free flap transfers became necessary. We report a case of reconstruction with a free anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap for coverage of a sacroiliac bone exposure in a child. A six-years-old boy, suffered a car accident, resulting in pelvic and sacral fractures, as well as degloving injuries of the left thigh, buttocks, and trunk. The patient evolved with an unstable scar over the sacroiliac region with bone exposure. ALT free flap was performed. Left superior gluteal vessels were used as the recipient vessels. A stable coverage was achieved without complications. This is the first case reported of a free ALT perforator flap for sacroiliac coverage in the pediatric population. In cases of complex reconstruction in children, free perforator flap is a safe choice and should be considered in the algorithm of treatment. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)