When the Evidence Points to the Non-Invasive Nature of an Allegedly Invasive Alien Species: The Case of the Aoudad in Mainland Spain

Here we reveal a first comparative analysis of the use of food resources of wild populations of the aoudad <i>Ammotragus lervia</i> and the Iberian ibex <i>Capra pyrenaica</i>, both in sympatric and allopatric conditions. The study was carried out in the southeastern mountains of the Iberian Peninsula, in the Murcia region. Our results show that the aoudad preferentially behaves as a grazer herbivore, the herbaceous component being present in its diet by 57%. The ibex, on the contrary, shows a 63% preference for shrubs. When in sympatry, the ibex shows a comparatively higher incidence on the herbaceous stratum. In summer, the aoudad's consumption of woody species increases. The differences observed in the feeding behavior of ibexes and aoudads most probably make their joint presence in the study mountainous ecosystems compatible, provided sufficient resources are available. Ecological implications and management proposals are discussed in the context of alien species management.