Patterns of Den Use by San Joaquin Kit Foxes

Koopman, Marni E.; Scrivner, Jerry H.; Kato, T.T.

doi:10.2307/3802301

Cited by 68 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In addition, an increase in den use at Camp Roberts was correlated with an increase in the number of days that an animal was radio-collared (Reese et al 1992). Average number of dens used throughout the study for adult foxes was similar to den use reported in other studies, although monitoring periods varied (Hall 1983;Reese et al 1992;Koopman et al 1998); however, home-range size. number of days radio-collared, and season did not influence kit fox den use on Dugway Proving Ground.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

“…Koopman et al (1998) found that den use varied between seasons for San Joaquin kit fox on the Naval Petroleum Reserve (NPRC) in California, with more dens used during dispersal season. In addition, an increase in den use at Camp Roberts was correlated with an increase in the number of days that an animal was radio-collared (Reese et al 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…number of days radio-collared, and season did not influence kit fox den use on Dugway Proving Ground. Koopman et al (1998) hypothesized that there is a surplus of dens at NPRC, but it is likely that most of the dens are used over time. We did not see a seasonal change in den use for foxes, which may suggest a limited quantity of suitable dens.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the Naval Petroleum Reserves in California, Koopman et al (1998) demonstrated that surplus dens were available to the endangered San Joaquin kit fox (Rilpes macroti:, mutica), allowing for increased survival. In addition, Reese et al (1992) and O'Farrell et al (1987) found more kit fox dens located in grassland habitat in Camp Roberts where disturbance was minimal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characteristics of current and historical kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) dens in the Great Basin Desert

Arjo¹,

Bennett²,

Kozlowski³

2003

Can. J. Zool.

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Abstract:We examined the ecological and physical characteristics of den sites for 13 adult kit fox (Vulpes macmtis) in westem Utah from December 1998 to February 2001. We also compared current and historical den distribution among habitat types. The number of den sites used was not influenced by home-range size (P = 0.11) or season (P = 0.40), but was influenced by geographical area. Home-range size was smallest (P = 0.007) and the number of dens used was greatest (P = 0.009) in mountainous areas. Ecological and physical characteristics of single-use dens (n = 30) were compared with those of multiple-use (n = 53) and natal dens (n = 8). Characteristics that differed between den types included number of entrances (P = 0,0001). diameter of entrances (P = 0.003), and height of vegetation along transects ( P = 0.0001). Natal den entrance azimuths were weighted towards a northwesterly aspect ( P = 0.0022); however, single-and multipleuse den exits appeared to be randomly distributed. Historical changes in kit fox den site selection have occurred since 1959 (P < 0.0001). We characterized more dens in invasive grasslands and fewer in greasewood (Sarcobarus vermiculatus) habitats than previously described. The conversion of native habitat to grassland and the increase in coyote population may have altered kit fox distribution to include mountainous areas not previously described.Resume : Nous avons etudie les caracteristiques ecologiques et physiques des sites occupCs par les terriers de 13 renards nains (Vulpe.7 rnacrotis) adultes dans I'ouest de I'Utah, de decembre I998 a fevrier 2001. Nous avons tgalement compart la rtpartition actuelle des terriers en fonction des divers habitats 2 leur repartition dans le passe. Le nombre de sites occupes par des terriers n'est pas influence par la taille du domaine vital (P = 0.1 1). ni par la saison (P = 0.40). mais plutdt par la region geographique. C'est en zone montagneuse que nous avons trouve les domaines les plus restreints (P = 0,007) et le nombre de temers occupes le plus grand ( P = 0,009). Les caracteristiques ecologiques et physiques des terriers occupis une seule fois (n = 30) ont CtC comparies B celles des terriers utilists a plusieurs reprises (n = 53) et a celles des temers natals (n = 8). Les sites varient par le nombre (P = 0,0001) et le diametre (P = 0,003) des entrees et par la hauteur de la dgetation le long de transects ( P = 0,0001). Les azimuts de I'entree d'un terrier natal ont tendance 2 s'orienter vers le nord-ouest ( P = 0,0022); cependant, les sorties des temers a utilisation unique ou multiple semblent reparties aMatoirement. Depuis 1959, les renards on1 modifit leur choix d'habitat pour etablir leur terrier ( P < 0,0001). Nous awns trouve plus de nids dans les prairies herbeuses qui envahissent la region et moins dans les zones de sarcobates vermiculCs (Sarcobarus vermiculatus) qu'auparavant. Ce son1 probablement la conversion de I'habitat indigene en terrain herbeux et I'augmentation de la population de coyotes qui ont Ctendu la repartition des rena...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Characteristics of current and historical kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) dens in the Great Basin Desert

Arjo¹,

Bennett²,

Kozlowski³

2003

Can. J. Zool.

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“…For example, the ideal habitat of the San Joaquin Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) is a grassy plain that has not been plowed or cultivated and tends to avoid riparian areas. Conventional wisdom suggests that they would avoid urban areas as they would end up as road kill [1][2][3][4][5]. However, the kit fox has recently been found in sizable numbers living in urban areas [6], including the town of Bakersfield, CA-burrowing under portable school buildings, hunting on school grounds and even eating the leftovers from McDonald's and other fast food restaurants [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing Habitat Elements and Their Distribution over Several Spatial Scales: The Case of the Fisher

Niblett

Church

Sweeney

et al. 2017

Forests

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Abstract:In past studies of the fisher (Pekania pennanti) most researchers have concluded that fisher habitat must consist of mostly mature to late-seral forest with few, if any, openings. Without doubt, certain elements found in mature to late-seral forests are required by females to successfully rear their young, but some recent work casts doubt on the extent that a continuous canopy of tree coverage and a preponderance of older stands are necessary as long as certain components exist. This paper explores this issue with an attempt to better characterize essential elements of habitat for the female fisher. This characterization is based upon fine-scale inventory plot data that is analyzed across several spatial scales that represent a small neighborhood about den sites, the forest of the 75% kernel density estimate for female home ranges, and the forested region as a whole. We present results of a test of significance in comparing habitat elements across these three scales. Our findings suggest that certain habitat elements typically found in mature to late seral forests must be present at a certain fraction of the landscape for the fisher. The approach described here may be of considerable value in developing guidelines for conservation agreements.

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Ectoparasite burden influences the denning behavior of a small desert carnivore

2019

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Quantifying the impacts of parasitism on a host can be arduous and is generally understudied for ectoparasites, with known works being either laboratory‐focused, correlational‐based, or only focusing on a few species and spatial extents. Many mammalian species have evolved the modality of denning behavior, a lifestyle that can lead to higher ectoparasite burden, and it has been posited that animals may alter their denning behavior in an attempt to reduce exposure to ectoparasites. We conducted a test of the ectoparasite release hypothesis for kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) and fleas in the Great Basin Desert of the western United States, a hypothesis that has remained relatively untested for over half a century. We experimentally administered a flea reduction treatment to a subset of kit foxes. We then measured and compared the number of unique den usages and residency time across treatment and control foxes (no flea reduction treatment) while accounting for other factors known to influence denning behavior. Foxes treated with the flea medication reduced the number of unique dens and increased their residency times at dens. All kit foxes continued to use multiple dens on the landscape, suggesting several factors in addition to flea burden influence denning behavior. Our results confirm the long‐dormant ectoparasite release hypothesis and suggest ectoparasites may shape the behavior of burrowing vertebrates to a greater extent than previously recognized.

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Patterns of Den Use by San Joaquin Kit Foxes

Cited by 68 publications

References 3 publications

Characteristics of current and historical kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) dens in the Great Basin Desert

Characteristics of current and historical kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) dens in the Great Basin Desert

Characterizing Habitat Elements and Their Distribution over Several Spatial Scales: The Case of the Fisher

Ectoparasite burden influences the denning behavior of a small desert carnivore

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