Factors Affecting the Spatial Distribution of San Joaquin Kit Foxes

Warrick, Gregory D.; Cypher, Brian L.

doi:10.2307/3802347

Cited by 57 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Although kit foxes have been observed to spatially and temporally avoid coyotes, results from our scent station experiment did not reveal avoidance [17], [33], [34]. Similar to our observations, other studies have documented kit foxes coexisting with coyotes without avoidance [35], [36].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Water Developments and Canids in Two North American Deserts: A Test of the Indirect Effect of Water Hypothesis

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Anthropogenic modifications to landscapes intended to benefit wildlife may negatively influence wildlife communities. Anthropogenic provisioning of free water (water developments) to enhance abundance and distribution of wildlife is a common management practice in arid regions where water is limiting. Despite the long-term and widespread use of water developments, little is known about how they influence native species. Water developments may negatively influence arid-adapted species (e.g., kit fox, Vulpes macrotis) by enabling water-dependent competitors (e.g., coyote, Canis latrans) to expand distribution in arid landscapes (i.e., indirect effect of water hypothesis). We tested the two predictions of the indirect effect of water hypothesis (i.e., coyotes will visit areas with free water more frequently and kit foxes will spatially and temporally avoid coyotes) and evaluated relative use of free water by canids in the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts from 2010 to 2012. We established scent stations in areas with (wet) and without (dry) free water and monitored visitation by canids to these sites and visitation to water sources using infrared-triggered cameras. There was no difference in the proportions of visits to scent stations in wet or dry areas by coyotes or kit foxes at either study area. We did not detect spatial (no negative correlation between visits to scent stations) or temporal (no difference between times when stations were visited) segregation between coyotes and kit foxes. Visitation to water sources was not different for coyotes between study areas, but kit foxes visited water sources more in Mojave than Great Basin. Our results did not support the indirect effect of water hypothesis in the Great Basin or Mojave Deserts for these two canids.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Water Developments and Canids in Two North American Deserts: A Test of the Indirect Effect of Water Hypothesis

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Slope and ruggedness were also considered relatively weak predictors in our model. However, the negative association between these topographic measures and kit fox space use is similar to findings by Warrick and Cypher () who reported that kit fox capture rates were always negatively associated with ruggedness and Dempsey et al () who found a negative relationship between kit fox space use and slope. We also identified a relatively weak but positive association with distance to development.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Off‐highway vehicle road networks and kit fox space use

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

“…The amount of time spent in a habitat type or the amount of it used (such as moving through or used while resting) do not necessarily indicate that it is key to the animals (Cavallini & Lovari, 1994). In fact, because of constraints or perceived risks, foxes might hardly use the most productive patches as found in other small canids (Geffen et al , 1992; Warrick & Cypher, 1998; List & Macdonald, 2003). However, this may not be the case with Darwin's foxes, which have few natural enemies on the island, but instead could be the response to the occasional presence of people or stray dogs in open areas and beaches.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology of a coastal population of the critically endangered Darwin's fox (Pseudalopex fulvipes) on Chiloé Island, southern Chile

Jiménez

2006

Journal of Zoology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The behavioral ecology of the critically endangered Darwin's fox Pseudalopex fulvipes was examined during the reproductive season of 2001/2002 on a coastal population, on Chiloe´Island in southern Chile. Foxes were radio-tracked and their diet and feeding behavior, activity patterns, home range sizes and spatial organization, habitat use and selection, social organization and abundance were studied. Foxes were solitary hunters and showed a generalist and opportunistic feeding behavior. Insects were the most abundant prey, followed by crustaceans, rodents, birds, amphibians, ungulates, reptiles, and marsupials. As marine organisms were frequently eaten, the ocean subsidy was important. Plant seeds were dispersed up to +650 m from their sources. Prey were hunted in all habitat types recognized, throughout the daily cycle, and were consumed as they were available along the season. All foxes were active throughout the day, but more so at night. Morphologically, aside from males having broader muzzles, they did not show external sexual dimorphism or differences in weight. The tail and feet of Darwin's foxes were relatively shorter than in other congeneric species. Individual home ranges and core areas ranged from 103 to 488 ha and from 30 to 130 ha, respectively, were similar between males and females, and larger than expected for foxes of that size. All home ranges were elongated (2930 m on average) following the shoreline. Foxes overlapped their home ranges extensively -and core areas less so -with individuals of the same or different gender, showing no apparent territorial behavior. They appear to be monogamous, allowing subordinates in their home ranges. The ecological density was 0.92 foxes km À2 , which may be higher than in inland populations. Old-growth forest was consistently avoided by all individuals, second-growth forest and shrubland were used as available, and the use of dunes and other lands (mainly shores) was mixed.

show abstract

Factors Affecting the Spatial Distribution of San Joaquin Kit Foxes

Cited by 57 publications

References 0 publications

Water Developments and Canids in Two North American Deserts: A Test of the Indirect Effect of Water Hypothesis

Water Developments and Canids in Two North American Deserts: A Test of the Indirect Effect of Water Hypothesis

Off‐highway vehicle road networks and kit fox space use

Ecology of a coastal population of the critically endangered Darwin's fox (Pseudalopex fulvipes) on Chiloé Island, southern Chile

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About