Changes in red fox habitat preference and rest site fidelity following a disease-induced population decline

Newman, Tabetha J; Baker, Philip J.; Simcock, Emily; Saunders, Glen; White, Piran C. L.; Harris, Stephen

doi:10.1007/bf03194268

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 33 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Specifically, the results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that climatic variation at the onset of nutritional independence significantly affected the availability of easy-to-catch prey items, which, in turn, affected the growth and the subsequent full-grown size and mass of individual foxes. This effect was not due to habitat changes, since the key foraging habitat for foxes, back gardens (Saunders et al 1997;Newman et al 2003), has shown little pattern of change in cover or usage (Pauleit et al 2005;Smith et al 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental variation at the onset of independent foraging affects full-grown body mass in the red fox

2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The period following the withdrawal of parental care has been highlighted as a key developmental period for juveniles. One reason for this is that juveniles cannot forage as competently as adults, potentially placing them at greater risk from environmentally-induced changes in food availability. However, no study has examined this topic. Using a long-term dataset on red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), we examined (i) dietary changes that occurred in the one-month period following the attainment of nutritional independence, (ii) diet composition in relation to climatic variation, and (iii) the effect of climatic variation on subsequent full-grown mass. Diet at nutritional independence contained increased quantities of easy-to-catch food items (earthworms and insects) when compared with pre-independence. Interannual variation in the volume of rainfall at nutritional independence was positively correlated to the proportion of earthworms in cub diet. Pre-independence cub mass and rainfall immediately following nutritional independence explained a significant proportion of variance in full-grown mass, with environmental variation affecting full-grown mass of the entire cohorts. Thus, weather-mediated availability of easyto-catch food items at a key developmental stage has lifelong implications for the development of juvenile foxes by affecting full-grown mass, which in turn appears to be an important component of individual reproductive potential.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental variation at the onset of independent foraging affects full-grown body mass in the red fox

2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Given the close relationship between home-range size and resource quality and distribution for carnivores (Gittleman and Harvey 1982), we predicted relatively smaller home ranges and no avoidance of developed areas if coyotes thrive in urban landscapes. Other species considered to be synanthropic, such as kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis), red foxes (V. vulpes), and raccoons (Procyon lotor), have smaller home ranges in urban landscapes (Cavallini 1996;Cypher, in press;Prange et al 2004), and some fox species readily use developed parts of the landscape (Cypher, in press;Newman et al 2003). Likewise, we predicted no relationship between home-range size and the proportion of the home range comprising developed land.…”

mentioning

confidence: 86%

Home Range and Landscape Use of Coyotes in a Metropolitan Landscape: Conflict or Coexistence?

Gehrt¹,

Anchor²,

White³

2009

J Mammal

219

211

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…For example, the spread of mange in Russia was controlled by fumigating dens with acaricides (Gerasimoff, 1958). Adults within the same social group also utilize the same den sites for resting during the day (Baker et al ., 2000), although this may change with fox density (Newman et al ., 2003). The importance of indirect transmission in the urban environment is illustrated by the concordance between levels of mange in foxes and in domestic dogs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mites can persist in the environment for long periods of time, but survival off the host is dependent on ambient environmental conditions and substrate type (Arlian, Vyszenski‐Moher & Pole, 1989). Mange may also cause significant alteration of host behaviours, in some cases increasing the likelihood of transmission, but in others leading to a dramatic decline in activity (Overskaug, 1994; Skerrat, Middleton & Beveridge, 1999; Shelley & Gehring, 2002; Newman et al ., 2003; Skerrat et al ., 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of sarcoptic mangeSarcoptes scabieion the British foxVulpes vulpespopulation

Macdonald¹,

Tattersall²,

SERVICE³

et al. 2007

Mammal Review

132

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. Disease epizootics can significantly influence host population dynamics and the structure and functioning of ecological communities. Sarcoptic mange Sarcoptes scabiei has dramatically reduced red fox populations Vulpes vulpes in several countries, including Britain, although impacts on demographic processes are poorly understood. We review the literature on the impact of mange on red fox populations, assess its current distribution in Britain through a questionnaire survey and present new data on resultant demographic changes in foxes in Bristol, UK. 2.A mange epizootic in Sweden spread across the entire country in < 10 years resulting in a decline in fox density of up to 95%; density remained lowered for 15-20 years. In Spain, mange has been enzootic for > 75 years and is widely distributed; mange presence was negatively correlated with habitat quality. 3. Localized outbreaks have occurred sporadically in Britain during the last 100 years. The most recent large-scale outbreak arose in the 1990s, although mange has been present in south London and surrounding environs since the 1940s. The questionnaire survey indicated that mange was broadly distributed across Britain, but areas of perceived high prevalence (> 50% affected) were mainly in central and southern England. Habitat type did not significantly affect the presence/absence of mange or perceived prevalence rates. Subjective assessments suggested that populations take 15-20 years to recover. 4. Mange appeared in Bristol's foxes in 1994. During the epizootic phase , mange spread through the city at a rate of 0.6-0.9 km/month, with a rise in infection in domestic dogs Canis familiaris c. 1-2 months later. Juvenile and adult fox mortality increased and the proportion of females that reproduced declined but litter size was unaffected. Population density declined by > 95%. 5. In the enzootic phase (1996-present), mange was the most significant mortality factor. Juvenile mortality was significantly higher than in the pre-mange period, and the number of juveniles classified as dispersers declined. Mange infection reduced the reproductive potential of males and females: females with advanced mange did not breed; severely infected males failed to undergo spermatogenesis. In 2004, Bristol fox population density was only 15% of that in 1994.

show abstract

Changes in red fox habitat preference and rest site fidelity following a disease-induced population decline

Cited by 22 publications

References 33 publications

Environmental variation at the onset of independent foraging affects full-grown body mass in the red fox

Environmental variation at the onset of independent foraging affects full-grown body mass in the red fox

Home Range and Landscape Use of Coyotes in a Metropolitan Landscape: Conflict or Coexistence?

The impact of sarcoptic mangeSarcoptes scabieion the British foxVulpes vulpespopulation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About