Contents -- Preface -- Adaptation of Mesocarnivores (Mammalia: Carnivora) to Agricultural Landscapes in Mediterranean Europe and Southeastern Brazil: A Trophic Perspective -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Study Areas -- 2.1. Mediterranean Region -- 2.2. Southeastern Brazil -- 3. Methods -- 4. Results -- 4. Discussion -- 4.1. Mesopredator Release -- 4.1. Increase in Carrying Capacity -- 4.3. Conservation Value of Agricultural Landscapes -- 4.4. Adaptive Processes of Mesopredators to Agricultural Landscapes -- 4.5. Possible Ecological Imbalances and the Domestication of Nature -- References -- Factors Affecting Small and Middle-Sized Carnivore Occurrence and Abundance in Mediterranean Agricultural Landscapes: Case Studies in Southern Portugal -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Case Studies -- Forest Plantation Effects on Middle-Sized Carnivore Assemblages in an Open Arable Landscape: A Preliminary Approach -- Factors Influencing Carnivores' Distribution on a Montado Landscape -- Human, Ecological and Livestock Influences on Genet (Genetta Genetta) Distribution on Mediterranean Farmland -- Conclusion -- References -- Fruits and Mesocarnivores in -- Mediterranean Europe -- Abstract -- 1. Introduction -- 2. What Are Fruits? -- 3. Fruits in Mediterranean Europe: -- Native and Introduced by Man -- 4. Fruits in the Diet of Mesocarnivores -- 5. Carnivores as Effective Fruit Dispersers in Portugal -- 6. Fruits, Mesocarnivores and Conservation -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Ecology of European Badgers (Meles meles) in Rural Areas of Western Switzerland -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Ecology and Behavior of Badgers in Pristine Forests -- Ecology and Behavior of Badgers in Forest-Pasture Mosaics -- Ecology and Behavior of Badgers in Rural Switzerland -- 1. Main Aims of the Projects -- 2. Study Areas -- La Broye (BR).

Saint-Blaise, Cressier, Thielle (BCT) -- Val-de-Ruz (VR) -- La Chaux d'Abel (CA) -- 3. Materials and Methods -- Sett and Latrine Survey -- Faecal Analyses -- Den Watching and Night-lighting -- Trapping and Radiotracking -- 4. Results -- Socio-spatial Organization and Population Density -- Diet -- Activity Patterns -- Habitat Use -- Main Sett Density and Sett Location -- 5. Synthesis -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Middle-Sized Carnivores in Mosaic Landscapes: The Case of Biscay (SW Europe) -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Biscay and Its Present Lansdcape -- Trends in Biscay's Landscape -- Carnivores' Knowledge in Biscay -- Populations' Trends -- Data Gathering -- Species Status, Distribution and Trends -- Weasel (Mustela Nivalis) -- Stoat (Mustela Erminea) -- Stone Marten (Martes Foina) -- Pine Marten (Martes Martes) -- Eurasian Badger (Meles Meles) -- Western Polecat (Mustela Putorius) -- European Mink (Mustela Lutreola) -- American Mink (Neovison Vison) -- Eurasian Otter (Lutra Lutra) -- Common Genet (Genetta Genetta) -- Red Fox (Vulpes Vulpes) -- Wildcat (Felis Silvestris) -- Northern Racoon (Procyon Lotor) -- Changes in Biscay's Landscape and Their Consequences for Middle-Sized Carnivores -- Generalists -- Trophic Specialists -- Semiaquatic Carnivores -- The Pine Marten, a Particular Case -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Predicting the Spatial Distribution of Four Sympatric Species of Mid-Sized Carnivores in an Amazonian Deforestation Frontier -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Methods -- Study Area -- Mid-Sized Carnivore Survey -- Land-Cover, Topographic and Environmental Variables -- Data Analysis -- Distribution Modelling -- Evaluation of Model Fit -- Results -- Field Data on Species Occupancy and Distribution Models -- Environmental Correlates of Mid-Sized Carnivores Distributions.

Model Validation by Random Test Percentage -- Discussion -- Environmental Factors Related to Mid-Sized Carnivores Spatial Ecology and Conservation -- Conservation Implications -- Acknowledgments -- References -- A First Approach to the Comparative Ecology of the Hoary Fox and the Crab-Eating Fox in a Fragmented Human Altered Landscape in the Cerrado Biome at -- Central Brazil -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Studied Species -- Study Area -- Ecological Aspects -- Forage Group Size -- Food Habits -- Comparisons between the Diets of the Two Species -- Habitat Use -- Interspecific Relationships -- The Litter -- Human Threats to Foxes -- Poisoning -- Road Killing -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Western Mediterranean Landscapes: Opportunities and Challenges for Carnivore Conservation -- Abstract -- Introduction -- Past and Present of European Mediterranean Landscapes -- Mammalian Carnivores in Western Mediterranean Landscapes -- Opportunities and Challenges of Multi-Use Landscapes for Carnivores -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- References -- Index.