CLIMATIC INFLUENCE ON THE BREEDING BIOLOGY IN A WILD BOAR (Sus scrofa) POPULATION IN "PARCO NATURALE DELLE CAPANNE DI MARCAROLO" (AL)

Recently, in the Piedmont region an increasing in number of wild boar has been demonstrated, due to their environment and reproduction adaptability. Aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between climate and reproductive changes in wild boar population of the natural park Capanne di Marcarolo (AL). In compliance with an animal containment programme 148 wild boars (Sus scrofa) (76 males and 72 females) were collected in the period 2007-2010. Gender, age and biometric measures were recorded and the entire genital apparatus (macroscopical evaluation and biometric analysis) and faecal samples (Testosterone [T] and progesterone [P4]) have been collected and correlated to climatic parameters (temperature, humidity, brightness, rainfall, snowfall) Significative difference between [P4] and winter and spring and summer has been recorded (p<0.01). A positive correlation between [P4] and climatic parameters was found. In the male a positive correlation between biometric measure and [T].have been demonstrated. From the obtained data the male showed during the year a constant gametogenic activity, while the females are seasonal poliestral animals, with a negative photoperiod, just as expected for the species. The data obtained showed a significative correlation between reproductive and climatic parameters but the climatic changes currently, don’t have conditioned reproductive seasonality for the high adaptability of this species.