Different selection criteria may relax competition for denning sites between expanding red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and endemic Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) on the low-Arctic tundra

Moizan, Audrey; Rodrigues, Chloé Warret; Roth, James D.

doi:10.1007/s00300-023-03116-w

Cited by 5 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 96 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, because it is virtually impossible to collar all neighbors from a given area (e.g., foxes transiting, leaving, or settling after we left), we captured small groups of neighbors scattered throughout the whole study area. Average distance between neighbors in April varies between 5.4 and 7.7 km [ 31 ], and we know the locations of all dens in the area where we trap [ 31 , 44 ]. We can, therefore, ensure that no other fox lives between the neighbors we caught.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We examined the potential for competition and segregation between red foxes and Arctic foxes in and near Wapusk National Park, in northern Manitoba, Canada, where red foxes recently became established on the coastal Arctic tundra between tree line and Hudson Bay and now reproduce in sympatry with Arctic foxes [ 31 , 32 ]. Both species use the same dens and share tundra prey [ 31 , 33 ]. Red foxes evolved as a boreal-forest species [ 34 ], and thus have poor adaptation to the harsh abiotic conditions of the tundra, where they usually occur in low density or discontinuously, and may resort to drastic behavioral adjustments to cope with environmental harshness [ 24 , 32 , 35 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We focused this study on the most critical period for the foxes, between the beginning of gestation and pup emergence (mid-March to mid-June). Foxes may compete for pre-existing dens when they start reproducing, as the ground is still frozen and they cannot excavate new ones [ 31 ]. Food resources slowly increase throughout this period, but geese only start arriving during the first week of May [ 36 ], and the median hatch date of Canada goose eggs occurs during the 4 th week of June [ 37 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Coexistence of two sympatric predators in a transitional ecosystem under constraining environmental conditions: a perspective from space and habitat use

Warret Rodrigues,

Roth

2023

Mov Ecol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Range expansion of species, a major consequence of climate changes, may alter communities substantially due to competition between expanding and native species. Methods We first quantified size differences between an expanding habitat generalist, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and a circumpolar habitat specialist, the Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus), at the edge of the Arctic, where climate-related changes occur rapidly, to predict the likelihood of the larger competitor escalating interference to intraguild killing. We then used satellite telemetry to evaluate competition in a heterogeneous landscape by examining space use early during the foxes' reproductive period, when resource scarcity, increased-food requirements and spatial constraints likely exacerbate the potential for interference. We used time-LoCoH to quantify space and habitat use, and Minta's index to quantify spatio-temporal interactions between neighbors. Results Our morphometric comparison involving 236 foxes found that the potential for escalated interference between these species was high due to intermediate size difference. However, our results from 17 collared foxes suggested that expanding and native competitors may coexist when expanding species occur at low densities. Low home-range overlap between neighbors suggested territoriality and substantial exploitation competition for space. No obvious differential use of areas shared by heterospecific neighbors suggested low interference. If anything, intraspecific competition between red foxes may be stronger than interspecific competition. Red and Arctic foxes used habitat differentially, with near-exclusive use of forest patches by red foxes and marine habitats by Arctic foxes. Conclusion Heterogeneous landscapes may relax interspecific competition between expanding and native species, allowing exclusive use of some resources. Furthermore, the scarcity of habitats favored by expanding species may emphasize intraspecific competition between newcomers over interspecific competition, thus creating the potential for self-limitation of expanding populations. Dominant expanding competitors may benefit from interference, but usually lack adaptations to abiotic conditions at their expansion front, favoring rear-edge subordinate species in exploitation competition. However, due to ongoing climate change, systems are usually not at equilibrium. A spread of habitats and resources favorable to expanding species may promote higher densities of antagonistically dominant newcomers, which may lead to extirpation of native species.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Coexistence of two sympatric predators in a transitional ecosystem under constraining environmental conditions: a perspective from space and habitat use

Warret Rodrigues,

Roth

2023

Mov Ecol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We examined movement tactics and space use by red and Arctic foxes on the low Arctic tundra in northern Manitoba, Canada, where red foxes recently expanded from the adjacent boreal forest and now reproduce in sympatry with Arctic foxes (Moizan et al ( 2023 ), submitted; Zhao et al, 2022 ). Seasonal variability of resources likely drives movement tactics in both red and Arctic foxes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Feast to famine: Sympatric predators respond differently to seasonal prey scarcity on the low Arctic tundra

Rodrigues

Roth

2023

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Resource fluctuation is a major driver of animal movement, influencing strategic choices such as residency vs nomadism, or social dynamics. The Arctic tundra is characterized by strong seasonality: Resources are abundant during the short summers but scarce in winters. Therefore, expansion of boreal-forest species onto the tundra raises questions on how they cope with winter-resource scarcity. We examined a recent incursion by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) onto the coastal tundra of northern Manitoba, an area historically occupied by Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) that lacks access to anthropogenic foods, and compared seasonal shifts in space use of the two species. We used 4 years of telemetry data following 8 red foxes and 11 Arctic foxes to test the hypothesis that the movement tactics of both species are primarily driven by temporal variability of resources. We also predicted that the harsh tundra conditions in winter would drive red foxes to disperse more often and maintain larger home ranges year-round than Arctic foxes, which are adapted to this environment. Dispersal was the most frequent winter movement tactic in both fox species, despite its association with high mortality (winter mortality was 9.4 times higher in dispersers than residents). Red foxes consistently dispersed toward the boreal forest, whereas Arctic foxes primarily used sea ice to disperse. Home range size of red and Arctic foxes did not differ in summer, but resident red foxes substantially increased their home range size in winter, whereas home range size of resident Arctic foxes did not change seasonally. As climate changes, abiotic constraints on some species may relax, but associated declines in prey communities may lead to local extirpation of many predators, notably by favoring dispersal during resource scarcity.

show abstract

Coexistence of two sympatric predators in a transitional ecosystem under constraining environmental conditions: a perspective from space and habitat use

Rodrigues

Roth

2023

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Range expansion of species, a major consequence of climate changes, may alter communities substantially due to competition between expanding and native species.Methods We first quantified size differences between an expanding habitat generalist, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and a circumpolar habitat specialist, the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), at the edge of the Arctic, where climate-related changes occur rapidly, to predict the likelihood of the larger competitor escalating interference to intraguild killing. We then used satellite telemetry to evaluate competition in a heterogeneous landscape by examining space use early during the foxes' reproductive period, when resource scarcity, increased-food requirements and spatial constraints likely exacerbate the potential for interference. We used time-LoCoH to quantify space and habitat use, and Minta's index to quantify spatio-temporal interactions between neighbors.Results Our morphometric comparison involving 236 foxes found that the potential for escalated interference between these species was high due to intermediate size difference. Our results from 17 collared foxes suggested that expanding and native competitors may coexist when expanding species occur at low densities. Low home-range overlap between neighbors suggested territoriality and substantial exploitation competition for space. No obvious differential use of areas shared by heterospecific neighbors suggested low interference. If anything, intraspecific competition between red foxes may be stronger than interspecific competition. Red and Arctic foxes used habitat differentially, with near-exclusive use of forest patches by red foxes and marine habitats by Arctic foxes.Conclusion Heterogeneous landscapes may relax interspecific competition between expanding and native species, allowing exclusive use of some resources. Furthermore, the scarcity of habitats favored by expanding species may emphasize intraspecific competition between newcomers over interspecific competition, thus creating the potential for self-limitation of expanding populations. Dominant expanding competitors may benefit from interference, but usually lack adaptations to abiotic conditions at their expansion front, favoring rear-edge subordinate species in exploitation competition. However, due to ongoing climate change, systems are usually not at equilibrium. A spread of habitats and resources favorable to expanding species may promote higher densities of antagonistically dominant newcomers, which may lead to extirpation of native species.

show abstract

Different selection criteria may relax competition for denning sites between expanding red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and endemic Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) on the low-Arctic tundra

Cited by 5 publications

References 96 publications

Coexistence of two sympatric predators in a transitional ecosystem under constraining environmental conditions: a perspective from space and habitat use

Coexistence of two sympatric predators in a transitional ecosystem under constraining environmental conditions: a perspective from space and habitat use

Feast to famine: Sympatric predators respond differently to seasonal prey scarcity on the low Arctic tundra

Coexistence of two sympatric predators in a transitional ecosystem under constraining environmental conditions: a perspective from space and habitat use

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About