Effects of Roads on Endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes

Cypher, Brian L.; Bjurlin, Curtis; Nelson, Julia L.

doi:10.2193/2007-576

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…We avoided collecting scat in February and March, when reproductive behavior can cause nonrandom scat‐deposition patterns (Ralls et al ). Buccal swab sampling (CA) and ear‐punch and hair sampling (OR) of live‐caught kit foxes followed standard kit fox protocols and guidelines set out by the American Society of Mammalogists for capture and handing of wild mammals (Cypher et al , Sikes et al ). California buccal swab samples were obtained during live‐trapping and contributed by D. L. Clifford of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic characterization of kit foxes at their northern range extent and monitoring recommendations

Sacks

Milburn

2018

Wildl. Soc. Bull.

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The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) appears to be in decline in the northernmost and other peripheral portions of its range, yet its abundance, genetic diversity, and connectivity to core populations are unknown. We used 16 microsatellites and a sex marker to characterize population size and genetic diversity of the northernmost population in southeastern Oregon, USA, which we compared with a core population to the south. We identified 20 individuals from southeastern Oregon, sampled an average of 1.7 times each, resulting in a population size estimate of 28 (95% CI ¼ 20-39) individuals on the study area. We estimated the genetic effective population size of the Oregon population at 14.7 (95% CI ¼ 10.2-22.4) breeding individuals, which was <50% that estimated for the California, USA, core population. Relative to the core population, Oregon kit foxes exhibited similar heterozygosity but a deficiency in the number of alleles, which was consistent with a recent population decline. The use of 16 loci and a sex marker in this study enabled us to construct pedigrees, which provided insights about spatial organization of family groups and long distance dispersal. Continued monitoring of this peripheral Oregon population is essential to an effective conservation plan and noninvasive genetic methods are likely to provide the most effective means of doing so. Use of large numbers of markers will enable pedigree reconstruction to be integrated into such a program to obtain estimates of demographic parameters, habitat quality, and expansion-contraction dynamics in addition to abundance. Ó 2018 The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic characterization of kit foxes at their northern range extent and monitoring recommendations

Sacks

Milburn

2018

Wildl. Soc. Bull.

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“…Roads may not have allowed for random sampling of kit foxes or coyotes, as animals may have altered behaviour/movements when near roads. San Joaquin kit foxes, a species closely related to kit foxes, did not avoid roads (Cypher et al 2009), and predicted kit fox distributions at DPG based on road-based faeces deposition surveys were similar to those based on radio-telemetry data (Dempsey 2013). In concert, these findings suggest that faeces deposition surveys may be appropriate for determining the distribution of kit foxes at DPG.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

The influence of road characteristics and species on detection probabilities of carnivore faeces

2015

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Context. Determining reliable estimates of carnivore population size and distributions are paramount for developing informed conservation and management plans. Traditionally, invasive sampling has been employed to monitor carnivores, but non-invasive sampling has the advantage of not needing to capture the animal and is generally less expensive. Faeces sampling is a common non-invasive sampling technique and future use is forecasted to increase due to the low costs and logistical ease of sampling, and more advanced techniques in landscape and conservation genetics. For many species, faeces sampling often occurs on or alongside roads. Despite the commonality of road-based faeces sampling, detectability issues are often not addressed.Aim. We sought to test whether faeces detection probabilities varied by speciescoyote (Canis latrans) versus kit fox (Vulpes macrotis)and to test whether road characteristics influenced faeces detection probabilities.Methods. We placed coyote and kit fox faeces along roads, quantified road characteristics, and then subsequently conducted 'blind' road-based faeces detection surveys in Utah during 2012 and 2013. Technicians that surveyed the faeces deposition transects had no knowledge of the locations of the placed faeces.Key results. Faeces detection probabilities for kit foxes and coyotes were 45% and 74%, respectively; larger faeces originated from coyotes and were more readily detected. Misidentification of placed faeces was rare and did not differ by species. The width of survey roads and the composition of a road's surface influenced detection probabilities.Conclusion. We identified factors that can influence faeces detection probabilities. Not accounting for variable detection probabilities of different species or not accounting for or reducing road-based variables influencing faeces detection probabilities could hamper reliable counts of mammalian faeces, and could potentially reduce precision of population estimates derived from road-based faeces deposition surveys.Implications. We recommend that wildlife researchers acknowledge and account for imperfect faeces detection probabilities during faecal sampling. Steps can be taken during study design to improve detection probabilities, and during the analysis phase to account for variable detection probabilities.

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“…For example, kit foxes rely on dens for security from predators and may use many dens in their home ranges. They have been observed to use 7–13 different dens during the non‐pupping season (Cypher et al ). However, during the pup‐rearing season, kit foxes may use fewer dens and switch dens less often (Morrell , Koopman et al ) and dens may be especially important during this season when pups are most vulnerable (Rodrick and Mathews ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Off‐highway vehicle road networks and kit fox space use

et al. 2016

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Off‐highway vehicle (OHV) use is popular for outdoor recreation across the United States, with especially high levels of participation in Arizona and the American Southwest. Road networks related to OHV recreation have the potential to influence kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) space use intensity. To evaluate the potential impacts of OHV road networks to kit fox space use, we conducted a study during 2010–2013 in 2 areas of the Sonoran Desert in central Arizona. We used an observational approach to determine the importance of road density to kit fox space use, relative to other measured environmental variables. We monitored 22 collared individuals and used linear mixed models and an information‐theoretic approach to develop models of intensity of space use for seasons of relatively low (e.g., 33% of yearly OHV use observed) and high (e.g., 67% of yearly OHV use observed) OHV use. We found road density to be the most important predictor of space use for kit foxes, relative to other measured environmental variables. Space use was negatively associated with road density during winter (Oct–Mar), which coincided with kit fox breeding, denning, and pupping activities and was the season of relatively higher OHV use. Road density in OHV use areas is an important seasonal predictor of, and can negatively influence, kit fox space use. OHV road networks may lead to effective habitat loss for kit foxes and managers must consider how OHV recreational opportunities should be balanced with habitat conservation for species like kit fox. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.

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Effects of Roads on Endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes

Cited by 30 publications

References 16 publications

Genetic characterization of kit foxes at their northern range extent and monitoring recommendations

Genetic characterization of kit foxes at their northern range extent and monitoring recommendations

The influence of road characteristics and species on detection probabilities of carnivore faeces

Off‐highway vehicle road networks and kit fox space use

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