Observations on the Reproduction and Age Structure of the Fox, Vulpes vulpes L., in New South Wales

Ryan, GE

doi:10.1071/wr9760011

Cited by 24 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The litter size, a parameter that is affected by habitat quality, found in the steppe habitat following rabbit haemorrhagic disease is one of the lowest reported anywhere (Kolb and Hewson 1980, Harris and Smith 1987, Goszczyñski 1989. The most similar results are those given for New South Wales (Ryan 1976), and two Mediterranean areas in Spain (Ruiz-Olmo et al 1990, Zapata et al 1998). Conversely, the litter size of the vegas foxes is similar to those reported in most European studies (eg Lloyd 1980 and references therein).…”

Section: Reproductionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Habitat related differences in age structure and reproductive parameters of red foxes

et al. 2003

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2003. Habitat related differences in age structure and reproductive parameters of red foxes. Acta Theriologica 48: 93-100.We studied the age-structure and the reproductive parameters in two samples of red foxes Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) from two contiguous areas in the Ebro valley (NE Spain) differing in the level of deliberate culling and in the habitat quality. Percent of juvenile foxes in the semiarid steppe (under higher persecution) was lower (53%) than in the irrigated highly productive "vegas" (67%). Conversely, foxes in the "vegas" (more favourable habitat) had a larger litter size (3.9 ± 0.23 cubs per female) and a higher amount of barren vixens (19.3%) than in the steppe (3.3 ± 0.12 cubs per female, and 1.7% of barren vixens). In this study, migration due to juvenile dispersal does not hide the effects of the habitat on fox population dynamics, despite the proximity between both areas. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies on red fox population dynamics.

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Section: Reproductionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Habitat related differences in age structure and reproductive parameters of red foxes

et al. 2003

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“…Foxes were easily observed and counted by spotlight surveys before the study and it was found that they typically did not take flight from spotlight beams or vehicles when >50 m from the observer. The red fox is seasonally monoestrous and vixens will produce a single litter each year (Ryan 1976). The timing of this study between October and November 2002 was chosen to coincide with the fox breeding season immediately before the emergence of cubs from breeding dens in Melbourne Marks and Bloomfield 1999) and before the dispersal of yearling animals (Robinson and Marks 2001).…”

Section: Study Populationmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA genotypes reveal red fox (Vulpes vulpes) abundance, response to lethal control and limitations of contemporary survey techniques

et al. 2009

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Context. Scat genotyping has not been routinely used to measure fox (Vulpes vulpes) abundance and our study sought to provide a benchmark for further technique development and assessment of field methods.Aims. This study sought to provide a comparative assessment of some common methods used to determine fox density and contrast their success with scat DNA genotyping.Methods. DNA recovered from fox scats was used to genotype individual red foxes and determine their abundance at four transects. Population indices were also developed from bait take, scat counts and sand plot tracks using index-manipulationindex (IMI) procedures on the same transects. Known samples of foxes were taken from two treatment transects using cyanide delivered in the M-44 ejector to manipulate the population and to recover foxes at the end of the trial.Key results. Replicated counts on a 41-km-spotlight transect at the field site before and after the population manipulation had low variance and good correlation (r 2 = 0.79, P < 0.01). Scat genotypes revealed 54 foxes in eight days and, when combined with biopsy DNA from recovered foxes, a minimum known to be alive (KTBA) density of between 1.6 and 5 foxes km -1 was calculated for the transects. Overall, 15/30 (50%) of all recovered foxes had not been detected by scat genotyping, 23/53 (49%) of KTBA genotypes were detected only once and 5/54 (9.5%) of foxes were found to have moved between two transects.Conclusions. At transects where population manipulation occurred, surviving individuals contributed significantly more scats than at the control transects and some individuals were detected at bait stations at a much greater frequency. This strongly suggested that they had contributed disproportionately to some IMI density estimates that were probably influenced by a change in the activity of some individuals rather than changes in population density alone. At one transect, eight foxes were confirmed to be present by spotlight surveys and were detected by scat and KTBA genotypes, yet were undetected by scat, bait station and sand plot indices.Implications. Scat and other DNA-based survey techniques provide a great deal of information about the identification and movement of individuals and if DNA sampling methods can be made more efficient they have the potential to provide accurate abundance estimates that are independent of the control technique.

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“…The red fox is annually monoestrous, and the vixen will produce a single litter each year after a gestation period of 52-53 days (Lloyd and Englund 1973;Ryan 1976;Coman 1983;McIlroy et al 2001). The birth of cubs occurs within an established natal den and cubs are dependent upon the shelter that dens provide for a number of weeks thereafter (Robertson et al 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Home-range size and selection of natal den and diurnal shelter sites by urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Melbourne

Marks¹,

Bloomfield²

2006

Wildl. Res.

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Selection of natal dens and diurnal shelters by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was investigated within the metropolitan area of Melbourne. Of 72 natal dens, 61% were in residential, public park, school or industrial lands. Most dens were beneath buildings (44.4%) or in earth banks (30.6%). The habitat categories in which dens were sited did not differ significantly from those described for London. Dens were more common beneath weatherboard buildings and were associated with properties that did not contain domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Diurnal shelter positions for 20 radio-collared foxes were obtained, and home-range data collected for 11 foxes. Estimated areas of adult home-range, for 100% minimum convex polygons (MCPs), varied between 11.5 and 45.8 ha, with from two to five diurnal shelter sites used in each home-range. Foxes showed a consistent preference for diurnal shelters associated with exotic weed infestations over ornamental and native vegetation or built habitats. Within these categories a diversity of substrates were used, including buildings, drains, graves, cypress trees, ornamental rockeries and garden beds. A preference for exotic weed infestations is an identifiable resource requirement for foxes in Melbourne and its removal may assist in reducing the abundance of urban foxes. Home-range size and selection of natal den and diurnal shelter sites by urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Melbourne

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Observations on the Reproduction and Age Structure of the Fox, Vulpes vulpes L., in New South Wales

Cited by 24 publications

References 12 publications

Habitat related differences in age structure and reproductive parameters of red foxes

Habitat related differences in age structure and reproductive parameters of red foxes

DNA genotypes reveal red fox (Vulpes vulpes) abundance, response to lethal control and limitations of contemporary survey techniques

Home-range size and selection of natal den and diurnal shelter sites by urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Melbourne

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