Choice of resting sites by female foxes Vulpes vulpes in a mountainous habitat

in a Mediterranean habitat of northeastern Spain: differences between sexes and seasons. Acta Theriologica 49: 491-502.The seasonal home range size and spatial relationships of 16 adult genets Genetta genetta Linnaeus, 1758 (6 males and 10 females) were estimated in a Mediterranean habitat of northeastern Spain. Genets minimum density was estimated as 0.98/km 2 . Mean annual home range was 113.1 ha in males and of 72.0 ha in females. Males had larger home ranges than females in all seasons, but differences were only significant in winter. Home range size changed seasonally and showed a similar pattern in both sexes, with lower values in summer (males -41.2 ha, females -29.0 ha) and maximum ones in spring (males -78.8 ha, females -56.1 ha). Animals displayed spatial fidelity throughout the year. Core areas (MCP50) represented 27% and 19% of total home range size for males and females, respectively. Resting home ranges (based on locations of inactive animals) were 9 times lower than overall home range size. Individuals of the same sex overlapped less than individuals of different sexes, especially with regard to core areas, which showed almost no overlap. The results obtained suggest that (1) different factors are likely to affect the space use of genets, such as body mass, food abundance and reproductive cycle; (2) genets use space in a heterogeneous way, with areas of greater activity than others within their home range; (3) there was intrasexual segregation with regard to space use.The present paper provides results on the spatial behaviour of genets obtained by means of radiotracking in a Mediterranean habitat, situated in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula. Interest has been focused on finding out how genets were using the space, especially with regard to the spatial relationships among different individuals. Also, particular attention was given to sexual and seasonal differences, and to examining what factors might affect the spatial behaviour of genets. Study areaThe study was carried out in Collserola Park (41°25'N, 2°7'E), situated 7 km from the coast in northeastern Spain and the adjoining city of Barcelona. This is a Mediterranean area of some 8000 ha, of which 6000 ha are dominated Aleppo pine Pinus halepensis woodlands mixed with holm oak Quercus ilex and gall oak Quercus cerrioides. There is a well developed underbrush, composed of species such as tree heath Erica arborea, laurustinus Viburnum tinus, the strawberry tree Arbutus unedo and Mediterranean buckthorn Rhamnus alaternus. Vegetation is denser in torrents along valley bottoms, with an abundance of English ivy Hedera helix, traveller's joy Clematis vitalba and common smilax Smilax aspera. The remainder of the area is made up of Mediterranean anthropogenic environments, which form a complex mosaic of fields, scrub, maquis vegetation, crops, abandoned crops and suburban areas. Collserola Park is a periurban park adjacent to the large conurbation of Barcelona city, with almost 3 million people where woodland habitats receive a large num...

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“…comm. ), as has also been seen in other carnivores such as the badger Meles meles (Meia and Weber 1993) and the red fox (Lucherini et al 1995).…”

Section: Home Range Usementioning

confidence: 84%

Space use of common genetsGenetta genetta in a Mediterranean habitat of northeastern Spain: differences between sexes and seasons

Munuera

Llobet

2004

Acta Theriol

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“…As noted in previous studies (Doncaster & Macdonald 1991), the flexible spatial organization of the red fox allows individuals to adapt their home range in light of variation in resource availability. When faced with declining resources in the southern parts of KS and KH, foxes as central place foragers would have two alternatives if they were to maintain their den ⁄ day-time shelter while upholding needed energy requirements: forage more in the natural and agricultural landscapes, thus dictating larger dispersion and heterogeneity of patch resources, or forage at longer distances from the den ⁄ day-time shelter by venturing into the northern part of the villages (Meia & Weber 1993;Lucherini, Lovari & Crema 1995). In both cases home range is expected to increase and ⁄ or shift, as supported herein.…”

Section: S P a T I A L R E S P O N S E Smentioning

confidence: 99%

Abrupt spatial and numerical responses of overabundant foxes to a reduction in anthropogenic resources

Bino

Dolev

Yosha³

et al. 2010

Journal of Applied Ecology

136

114

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Summary1. Carnivore overabundance that results from exploitation of human derived resources can have numerous detrimental effects on local human populations and ecological communities. Experimental studies on the responses of overabundant carnivores to reductions of such resources are necessary to understand the effectiveness and impacts of resource reduction. 2. We conducted controlled experiments in two villages in which we drastically reduced the availability of anthropogenic food sources in half of each village. Spatial and numerical responses of radio-collared red foxes Vulpes vulpes were recorded and contrasted with those of radio-collared foxes in three similar untreated villages and pristine areas in the region. In total, we looked at survival rates of 134 foxes. 3. Prior to the resource manipulation, home range sizes (0AE47 and 0AE56 km 2 ) and population densities (30 and 36 foxes km )2 ) in the two villages were comparable to documented low and high-end values, respectively. 4. Fast and distinct spatial responses were observed in response to the resource manipulation, and were manifested in either increased home range size or home range shifts. In one village, foxes exposed to reduced resource availability more than doubled their home range size. 5. Survival rates of individuals in the treated areas were drastically reduced. Actual fox mortality in the two treated areas reached 100% and 64% within 12 months of the onset of resource manipulation. Estimated monthly survival in the two treated areas declined from 0AE96-0AE98 and 0AE98-0AE99 (0AE69 and 0AE78 derived annual survival) before treatment to 0AE80-0AE83 and 0AE92-0AE94 (<0AE01 and 0AE42 derived annual survival) after treatment, respectively. By contrast, average monthly survivorship in pristine areas was nearly 0AE97 (0AE69 annual survival) and in the untreated areas and other non-treated villages was 0AE95-0AE99 (0AE54-0AE89 annual survival). 6. Synthesis and applications. This study demonstrates that sound waste disposal measures are very effective in controlling populations of overabundant carnivores. Contrary to common notion, the response of foxes to reduced resources was fast, manifested more by reduced survival than by successful dispersal into adjacent pristine areas. The results offer support to the Resource Dispersion Hypothesis regarding both home range size and density (suggested by the sharp decrease in survival) as a function of the spatial and temporal dispersion of resource.

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“…We thus predicted that hyaenas would preferentially rest in the vicinity of waterholes, especially during the dry season. Additionally, rest sites may be selected based on the capacity of the vegetation to provide shade and safety (see Meia & Weber, for foxes, Vulpes vulpes , Neal & Cheeseman, for badgers, Jerosch et al ., for wildcats, Felis silvestris silvestris ). Unlike the Eurasian badgers or foxes, which use burrows for thermal benefits (Meia & Weber, ; Kowalczyk et al ., ), hyaenas’ use of burrows is centred on communal dens whose shelter is solely for cub nurturing and protection and hyaena day rest sites are above‐ground rest sites (Kruuk, ; Hofer & East, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of diurnal rest site selection by spotted hyaenas

et al. 2017

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Rest sites are key locations to many animals but their selection has been poorly studied in large carnivores. We investigated seasonal diurnal rest site selection by spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. We assessed the effects on hyaena diurnal rest site selection of (1) distance to the nearest waterhole, as waterholes can be considered prey hotspots in the study ecosystem, (2) habitat type and vegetation characteristics, in particular visibility as it influences detection risk and shade for thermoregulation, (3) location within the core territory of their main competitor/predator, the African lion (Panthera leo), where encounter risk would be higher, (4) distance to the closest lion and (5) distance to the nearest road as they can facilitate travelling by carnivores. We defined rest sites as midday locations of hyaenas equipped with GPS collars. Hyaenas preferred to rest in woodland areas with low visibility, close to roads and far from a lion. Distance to the nearest waterhole and location within lion core territory did not affect hyaena rest site selection. Overall, our study points to the combined importance of the structure of the vegetation (providing safety and shade), the availability of roads (to move through and exploit this bushed environment) and the avoidance of proximity to lions.

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Choice of resting sites by female foxes Vulpes vulpes in a mountainous habitat

Cited by 25 publications

References 6 publications

Space use of common genetsGenetta genetta in a Mediterranean habitat of northeastern Spain: differences between sexes and seasons

Space use of common genetsGenetta genetta in a Mediterranean habitat of northeastern Spain: differences between sexes and seasons

Abrupt spatial and numerical responses of overabundant foxes to a reduction in anthropogenic resources

Drivers of diurnal rest site selection by spotted hyaenas

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