Recent Kit Fox Detections at Their Northern-Most Extent in Southeastern Oregon

Milburn, Philip J.; Hiller, Tim L.

doi:10.1898/12-27.1

Cited by 3 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Consistent with anecdotal evidence based on surveys and observations over the past several decades, we found genetic indicators that the population has declined (Milburn and Hiller ). The heterozygosity was similar to that of populations to the south, but we observed fewer alleles in the Oregon population than the core California population.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…). As part of companion radiotelemetry and camera studies (Milburn and Hiller , Veseley , Eckrich et al ), we obtained 43 samples from Oregon, including 13 tissue (ear punches or muscle from captures or mortalities, respectively; Eckrich et al ), 6 plucked hair (telemetry), and 24 scat samples collected opportunistically during both studies. Scat samples were collected and placed immediately in vials of >95% ethanol (Miles et al ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We focused our study during 2012–2016 in the Coyote Lake Basin of Malheur and Harney counties, ranging from 1,220 to 1,370 m in elevation, approximately 300 km 2 in southeastern Oregon, which comprised approximately 30% of the 1,000‐km 2 area where kit foxes were regularly detected during a survey of a 30,000‐km 2 area during 2012–2014 (Milburn and Hiller , Veseley ). The region was characterized primarily by sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.)…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The geographic range of the kit fox reaches its northernmost extent in southeastern Oregon (McGrew ). However, the species has been historically rare in this portion of its range (Milburn and Hiller , Veseley ). Consequently, the kit fox in Oregon is considered imperiled, assigned a Natural Heritage Rank of S1 (critically imperiled because of extreme rarity), and listed by the state of Oregon as a Threatened species and a Strategy Species listed in the Oregon Conservation Strategy ().…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Surveys for kit foxes have been few and infrequent, in part because of the intensity of effort required to detect them using conventional mesocarnivore survey techniques. A recent survey for kit foxes, 2012–2014, documented kit fox presence at 11 of 119 survey sites within the historical Oregon range (Milburn and Hiller , Veseley ). Prior to that survey, one conducted 18 years earlier turned up 21 detections (DeStefano ).…”

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confidence: 99%

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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: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Sacks

Milburn

2018

Wildl. Soc. Bull.

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Space Use and Cover Selection of Kit Foxes (Vulpes macrotis) at Their Distributional Periphery

Eckrich

Warren

Clark

et al. 2018

The American Midland Naturalist

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Conservation of Kit Foxes in the Great Basin Desert: Review and Recommendations

Lonsinger

Kluever

Hall

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management

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The kit fox Vulpes macrotis is a species of concern to land managers in the Great Basin Desert of North America. Once common, kit foxes have declined from historical levels. Research on kit foxes in western Utah has spanned nearly 70 y and has potential to inform management and conservation within the Central Basin and Range Ecoregion of the Great Basin Desert. We conducted a systematic literature review on the northern kit fox subspecies V. m. nevadensis. We focused on studies conducted in the Central Basin and Range Ecoregion, which represents the majority of the Great Basin Desert, and provided a comprehensive summary of their ecology and demographics for resource managers. To guide future monitoring, we also reviewed techniques used for kit fox monitoring and research, and evaluated the strengths, limitations, and advances of these techniques. We identified four key factors that deserve consideration when selecting monitoring techniques for kit foxes: estimable parameters, reliability, cost, and rate of data return. Finally, we identify four primary management recommendations. We recommend that managers (1) expand kit fox monitoring and population assessments more broadly across the Great Basin Desert. To ensure future monitoring meets the needs of resource managers, we recommend (2) the application of a structured decision-making process to identify key parameters and approaches. To better understand the factors limiting kit fox populations we recommend (3) population viability and parameter sensitivity analyses to identify drivers of population change. Finally, based on evidence that genetic diversity of kit fox populations has been maintained by undescribed patterns of gene flow, we recommend (4) a broad-scale assessment of population connectivity to identify corridors supporting metapopulation dynamics. These recommendations will facilitate proactive conservation of kit foxes and management practices to reduce future population declines.

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Recent Kit Fox Detections at Their Northern-Most Extent in Southeastern Oregon

Cited by 3 publications

References 8 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

Space Use and Cover Selection of Kit Foxes (Vulpes macrotis) at Their Distributional Periphery

Conservation of Kit Foxes in the Great Basin Desert: Review and Recommendations

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