Habitat selection by two predators in an urban area: The stone marten and red fox in Wrocław (SW Poland)

Duduś, Leszek; Zalewski, Andrzej; Kozioł, Olga; Jakubiec, Z.; Król, Nina

doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2013.08.001

Cited by 47 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Following Domínguez-Cebrían and de Miguel [ 33 ], another important factor that likely affects latrine-based communication networks in rabbits is predation risk [ 33 , 51 ]. Common predators of European rabbits in Germany can also reach high densities in cities (foxes [ 20 ]; mustelids like Martes foina and Mustela erminea [ 30 ]; domestic cats [ 52 ]; crows, Corvus corone and magpies, Pica pica that prey on juvenile rabbits [ 53 ]). However, the fact that those species can reach high densities in cities does not necessarily mean that they exert strong predation on urban rabbit populations (“the predation paradox” [ 54 ], reviewed in [ 22 ]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Typical behavioral changes in some urban populations include a reduction in time spent foraging [ 27 ] and reduced territorial behavior [ 24 – 26 ], along with smaller territory dimensions (e.g., in raccoons, Procyon lotor [ 27 ]; European badgers [ 26 ]; or red foxes, Vulpes vulpes [ 28 ]; reviewed in [ 29 ]). While the aforementioned species are crepuscular and avoid human disturbance [ 5 , 30 ], other species, like European rabbits, show extended activity rhythms and reduced anti-predator behavior in urban regions [ 31 , 32 ], and so they are also unlikely to reduce territorial behavior.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Importance of latrine communication in European rabbits shifts along a rural–to–urban gradient

et al. 2016

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BackgroundInformation transfer in mammalian communication networks is often based on the deposition of excreta in latrines. Depending on the intended receiver(s), latrines are either formed at territorial boundaries (between-group communication) or in core areas of home ranges (within-group communication). The relative importance of both types of marking behavior should depend, amongst other factors, on population densities and social group sizes, which tend to differ between urban and rural wildlife populations. Our study is the first to assess (direct and indirect) anthropogenic influences on mammalian latrine-based communication networks along a rural-to-urban gradient in European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) living in urban, suburban and rural areas in and around Frankfurt am Main (Germany).ResultsThe proportion of latrines located in close proximity to the burrow was higher at rural study sites compared to urban and suburban ones. At rural sites, we found the largest latrines and highest latrine densities close to the burrow, suggesting that core marking prevailed. By contrast, latrine dimensions and densities increased with increasing distance from the burrow in urban and suburban populations, suggesting a higher importance of peripheral marking.ConclusionsIncreased population densities, but smaller social group sizes in urban rabbit populations may lead to an increased importance of between-group communication and thus, favor peripheral over core marking. Our study provides novel insights into the manifold ways by which man-made habitat alterations along a rural-to-urban gradient directly and indirectly affect wildlife populations, including latrine-based communication networks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of latrine communication in European rabbits shifts along a rural–to–urban gradient

et al. 2016

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“…However, since people may be most active in the central parts of the cities both during the day and at night, it is possible that this reflects reporting bias. Other studies have shown that foxes prefer less disturbed residential districts and suburbs for diurnal shelter and natal dens and make short visits to city centres to access food resources [18] , [32] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Urbanization of Red Foxes in Estonia: Distribution, Behaviour, Attacks on Domestic Animals, and Health-Risks Related to Zoonotic Diseases

2014

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Urban areas are becoming increasingly important for wildlife as diminishing natural habitats no longer represent a suitable environment for many species. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are nowadays common in many cities worldwide, and in recent years they have colonized urban areas in Estonia. We used a public web-based questionnaire approach to evaluate the distribution and behaviour of Estonian urban foxes, to detect related problems and to assess health risks to humans and domestic animals. In total, 1205 responses were collected throughout the country. Foxes have colonized the majority of Estonian towns (33 out of 47) in a relatively short period of time, and have already established breeding dens in several towns. Despite their recent arrival, the behaviour of Estonian urban foxes is similar to that reported in longer-established urban fox populations: they are mostly active during night-time, often visit city centres and some also have dens in such locations. Certain characteristics of urban foxes serve as a basis for conflict with humans: foxes have entered houses and attacked domestic animals, killing cats and poultry. About 8% of reported foxes exhibited symptoms of sarcoptic mange, a disease that also infects domestic animals, especially dogs. The proportion of mange-infected foxes was higher in large urban areas. In addition to mange, a substantial fraction of red foxes in Estonia are known to be infected with the life-threatening tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis. Therefore, urban foxes may represent a source of serious infectious disease for pets and humans.

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“…The presence of territorial behavior in urban foxes suggests that resources are relatively aggregated and that some or all are limiting [23]. For successful reproduction, foxes require food, mating opportunities, and secure dens and diurnal resting sites over the course of a typical temporal cycle [7,16,26]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Aspects of Gardens Drive Ranging in Urban Foxes (Vulpes vulpes): The Resource Dispersion Hypothesis Revisited

Tolhurst

Baker

Cagnacci

et al. 2020

Animals

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Red foxes are a well-established species of urban ecosystems in the UK and worldwide. Understanding the spatial ecology of foxes in urban landscapes is important for enhancement of urban biodiversity and effective disease management. The Resource Dispersion Hypothesis (RDH) holds that territory (home range) size is linked to distribution and richness of habitat patches such that aggregation of rich resources should be negatively associated with range size. Here, we tested the RDH on a sample of 20 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the city of Brighton and Hove. We focused on residential garden areas, as foxes were associated with these in previous studies. We equipped 12 male and 8 female foxes with GPS collars recording at 15 min intervals during discrete seasons over four years. We regressed fox core area size against garden size, number of garden patches, and edge density within and between patches as extracted from GIS in a series of bivariate linear mixed models. We found that foxes used smaller core areas where gardens were large and well-connected and larger core areas where numerous, smaller gardens were fragmented by internal barriers (e.g., fences, walls) or bisected by other habitats such as managed grassland or built-up areas. Our findings confirm the RDH and help to inform future urban planning for wildlife.

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Habitat selection by two predators in an urban area: The stone marten and red fox in Wrocław (SW Poland)

Cited by 47 publications

References 26 publications

Importance of latrine communication in European rabbits shifts along a rural–to–urban gradient

Importance of latrine communication in European rabbits shifts along a rural–to–urban gradient

Rapid Urbanization of Red Foxes in Estonia: Distribution, Behaviour, Attacks on Domestic Animals, and Health-Risks Related to Zoonotic Diseases

Spatial Aspects of Gardens Drive Ranging in Urban Foxes (Vulpes vulpes): The Resource Dispersion Hypothesis Revisited

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