25 26Limiting similarity theory predicts that competing species must segregate along one or more 27 dimensions of their ecological niche in order to coexist. However, balancing the costs and 28 benefits of moving the position along specific niche axes becomes harder with decreasing 29 breadth of tolerance, and increasing community complexity. In predator communities, 30 interspecific interactions are influenced by a diversity of factors; therefore the behavioural 31 patterns of composing species will differ due to locally adapted interactions. 32We deployed 32 -41 camera-traps in five study areas distributed across the Iberian Peninsula to 33 investigate the temporal relations within mesocarnivore communities in SW Europe. The 34 selection for a period of the diel cycle and plasticity in activity patterns was evaluated, using the 35 Jacobs selection index (JSI) and the coefficient of activity overlap (∆ 1 ). Furthermore, we 36 investigated whether temporal shifts can facilitate coexistence by reducing activity overlap. 37Overall, seven species of mesocarnivores were detected and were assigned into one of three 38 behaviourally distinct groups: diurnal (JSI day ≥ 0.8), strictly nocturnal (JSI night ≥ 0.8) and 39 facultative nocturnal species (0.4 ≥ JSI night > 0.8). Most species included in the two latter groups, 40 while strongly bound to nighttime, exhibited substantial flexibility within their preferred activity 41 periods allowing them to locally adapt their foraging strategies (intraspecific ∆ 1 = 0.70 -0.77). 42The mean Δ 1 values obtained from all pairwise comparisons in each sampling campaign was 43 negatively correlated with the number of carnivore species with ≥ 10 detections (r = -0.76, p = 44 0.02). Our results suggest that temporal segregation is likely to play an important role in 45 facilitating mesocarnivore coexistence, especially with increasing community complexity. 46Moreover, while some overlap in activity patterns is inevitable, most species activity peaks were 47 asynchronous. These results contribute for understanding the dynamics and behavioural 48 3 strategies of coexisting mesocarnivores, crucial for forecasting the possible outcomes of 49 conservation or management actions. 50 4

Lagoviruses belong to the Caliciviridae family. They were first recognized as highly pathogenic viruses of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) that emerged in the 1970-1980s, namely, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and European brown hare syndrome virus (EBHSV), according to the host species from which they had been first detected. However, the diversity of lagoviruses has recently expanded to include new related viruses with varying pathogenicity, geographic distribution and host ranges. Together with the frequent recombination observed amongst circulating viruses, there is a clear need to establish precise guidelines for classifying and naming lagovirus strains. Therefore, here we propose a new nomenclature based on phylogenetic relationships. In this new nomenclature, a single species of lagovirus would be recognized and called Lagovirus europaeus. The species would be divided into two genogroups that correspond to RHDV- and EBHSV-related viruses, respectively. Genogroups could be subdivided into genotypes, which could themselves be subdivided into phylogenetically well-supported variants. Based on available sequences, pairwise distance cutoffs have been defined, but with the accumulation of new sequences these cutoffs may need to be revised. We propose that an international working group could coordinate the nomenclature of lagoviruses and any proposals for revision.

The activity patterns exhibited by animals are shaped by evolution, but additionally fine‐tuned by flexible responses to the environment. Predation risk and resource availability are environmental cues which influence the behavioural decisions that make both predators and prey engage in activity bursts, and depending on their local importance, can be strong enough to override the endogenous regulation of an animals’ circadian clock. In Southern Europe, wherever the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is abundant, it is the main prey of most mammalian mesopredators, and rodents are generally the alternative prey. We evaluated the bidirectional relation between the diel activity strategies of these mammalian mesopredators and prey coexisting in south‐western Europe. Results revealed that even though predation risk enforced by mammalian mesocarnivores during night‐time was approximately twice and five times higher than during twilight and daytime, respectively, murids consistently displayed unimodal nocturnal behaviour. Conversely, the European rabbits exhibited a bimodal pattern that peaked around sunrise and sunset. Despite the existence of some overlap between the diel rhythms of mesocarnivores and rabbits, their patterns were not synchronized. We suggest that the environmental stressors in our study areas are not severe enough to override the endogenous regulation of the circadian cycle in murids. European rabbits, however, are able to suppress their biological tendency for nocturnality by selecting a predominantly crepuscular pattern. In spite of the higher energetic input, mesocarnivores do not completely track rabbits’ activity pattern. They rather track rodents’ activity. We propose that these systems have probably evolved towards a situation where some degree of activity during high‐risk periods benefits the overall prey population survival, while the accessibility to sufficient prey prevents predators to completely track them.