Home range, habitat selection and activity of the red fox in a Mediterranean coastal ecotone

Cavallini, Paolo; Lovari, Sandro

doi:10.4098/at.arch.94-31

Cited by 70 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In comparison, post-epizootic foxes selected habitats with very dense vegetative cover, in agreement with work carried out on rural fox populations (Cavallini andLovari 1994, Lucherini et al 1995). Post-epizootic foxes significantly preferred to rest within allotment/woodland, with back gardens and grassland/scrub ranking equally in second place.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

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

et al. 2003

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S. 2003. Changes in red fox habitat preference and rest site fidelity following a disease-induced population decline. Acta Theriologica 48: 79-91.The habitat preferences of red foxes Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) in Bristol, UK, were compared during periods of high and low population density following an outbreak of sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei). These periods are termed 'pre-epizootic' and 'post-epizootic', respectively. Habitat preferences were compared between periods during nocturnal activity and diurnal inactivity using compositional analysis. Back gardens were the most preferred habitat for pre-epizootic foxes during periods of activity; back gardens and allotment/woodland habitats were equally preferred by post-epizootic foxes, with a trend for allotment/woodland to be the most favoured. During periods of inactivity, pre-epizootic foxes selected back gardens for diurnal rest sites, compared with allotments/woodland in the post-epizootic period. Post-epizootic foxes also showed a significant decrease in rest site fidelity, such that they were very unlikely to re-use a rest site more than once. In comparison, pre-epizootic foxes were often very faithful to one or a small number of sites. Such changes in habitat preference and rest site fidelity could have been facilitated by: (1) changes in food availability, (2) a decrease in intra-specific competition, (3) the requirements of defending larger territories post-epizootic, or (4) an avoidance of habitats that might increase the likelihood of mange transmission. The management implications of these results are discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

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

et al. 2003

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“…The red fox is widespread in all our study area, using both wood and open habitats (Cavallini and Lovari 1994). Its diet includes mainly juniper berries and insects while large mammals are used mainly during the cold season (Cavallini and Lovari 1994). A recent study confirmed a small use of roe deer during their fawning season: roe deer hairs were present in only two scats out of 205 (Coneybeer 2003).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 82%

“…No study has been published on the local diet of the wolf, but preliminary observations suggest that the fallow deer appears to be the most used prey (Manghi et al 2006). The red fox is widespread in all our study area, using both wood and open habitats (Cavallini and Lovari 1994). Its diet includes mainly juniper berries and insects while large mammals are used mainly during the cold season (Cavallini and Lovari 1994).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 98%

Roe and fallow deer: are they compatible neighbours?

et al. 2011

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The analysis of the relationships between population density and habitat features is important to evaluate the ecological needs of a species, its potential impact on ecosystems and its interspecific interactions. We analysed the spatial variation of roe deer Capreolus capreolus and fallow deer Dama dama densities in a Mediterranean area in summer 2007 and winter 2007/2008. Previous research has shown that fallow deer can actively displace and exclude roe deer from natural feeding sites. Here we show that both species have the greatest densities in ecotone habitats between wood and open fields (abandoned olive groves and pastures), but with contrasting geographic patterns. The fallow deer showed the greatest densities in the central northern part of the study area near to local historical release sites. The densities of roe deer were great where fallow deer were rare and low where fallow deer were abundant. Spatial overlap was great at the habitat scale, indicating a high potential for competition, but was low at the plot scale, suggesting that partitioning of space occurred at a fine scale. Supporting great numbers of deer, the ecotone areas are crucial for the management of ecosystems. We suggest that roe deer avoid areas with great densities of fallow deer and that interspecific interference from the latter affects the density and distribution of the former both at a fine and at a large scale.

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“…But for foxes as a species, no clear conclusions regarding habitat preferences within the home range in autumn could be drawn due to insuffi cient data. In heterogeneous areas, where a number of resources are available at the same time in different habitats, foxes selected a diversity of habitats rather than any one in particular (Cavallini & Lovari 1994. This might be true also in our study area.…”

Section: Habitat Selection and Use Of Individual Speciesmentioning

confidence: 87%

Habitat use of Medium-Sized Carnivores in Southeast Finland — Key Habitats for Rabies Spread?

Holmala¹,

Kauhala²

2009

Annales Zoologici Fennici

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Home range, habitat selection and activity of the red fox in a Mediterranean coastal ecotone

Cited by 70 publications

References 34 publications

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

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

Roe and fallow deer: are they compatible neighbours?

Habitat use of Medium-Sized Carnivores in Southeast Finland — Key Habitats for Rabies Spread?

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