Population Ecology of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes L., 1758) in the G.D.R.

Stubbe, Michael

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-5592-4_7

Cited by 17 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The natal den appears to be a major factor affecting the successful annual breeding of foxes. The availability of habitats suitable for the establishment of natal dens for the birth of cubs is proposed as a key resource that may influence the abundance of foxes in different habitats (Stubbe 1980). In rural Australia foxes have been reported as opportunistic in their use of existing structures for natal dens.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Home-range size and selection of natal den and diurnal shelter sites by urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Melbourne

Marks¹,

Bloomfield²

2006

Wildl. Res.

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Selection of natal dens and diurnal shelters by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) was investigated within the metropolitan area of Melbourne. Of 72 natal dens, 61% were in residential, public park, school or industrial lands. Most dens were beneath buildings (44.4%) or in earth banks (30.6%). The habitat categories in which dens were sited did not differ significantly from those described for London. Dens were more common beneath weatherboard buildings and were associated with properties that did not contain domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Diurnal shelter positions for 20 radio-collared foxes were obtained, and home-range data collected for 11 foxes. Estimated areas of adult home-range, for 100% minimum convex polygons (MCPs), varied between 11.5 and 45.8 ha, with from two to five diurnal shelter sites used in each home-range. Foxes showed a consistent preference for diurnal shelters associated with exotic weed infestations over ornamental and native vegetation or built habitats. Within these categories a diversity of substrates were used, including buildings, drains, graves, cypress trees, ornamental rockeries and garden beds. A preference for exotic weed infestations is an identifiable resource requirement for foxes in Melbourne and its removal may assist in reducing the abundance of urban foxes. Home-range size and selection of natal den and diurnal shelter sites by urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Melbourne

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These dens were dug in soils that permitted stable burrow systems to be excavated. Of the 146 natal dens located, no new dens were excavated within a 15-year period (Stubbe 1980). Natal dens of red foxes in western China were established in burrows originally dug by the Himalayan marmot (Marmota himalayana) (Wenyan et al 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Home-range size and selection of natal den and diurnal shelter sites by urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Melbourne

Marks¹,

Bloomfield²

2006

Wildl. Res.

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“…To a certain extent, it also confirms their sensitivity to changes in forest ecosystems caused by human activity (avoidance of young and speciespoor coniferous monocultures in favour of species-rich habitats). Soil diggability is one of the most important variables for badgers and foxes in sett/den site selection, with the preference for easily dug soils (Stubbe 1980;Neal & Roper 1991;Virgόs & Casanovas 1999;Good et al 2001) with good drainage (Dunwell & Killingley 1969). High soil diggability is a result of the presence of a dust fraction (heavy soils like clay are avoided).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sandy ground, even with no slopes, is usually well drained, so that a burrow is also likely to be warm and dry. In that case it seems unnecessary to locate setts on dune slopes, although many authors have reported on strong correlation between the location of burrows and slopes (Sumiński 1975;Stubbe 1980;Zejda & Nesvadbová 1983;Neal & Roper 1991;Good et al 2001;Prigioni & Deflorian 2005;Remonti et al 2006). As regards location of fox dens, no preferences for any analysed characteristics were found.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such results are obvious because of the fox's different feeding ecology in comparison to the badger. It was found that foxes do not consistently select any particular habitat, but include heterogeneous areas in their ranges (Cavallini & Lovari 1994;Stubbe 1980;Lucherini & Lovari 1996). As a result of a very wide habitat dwelling range of foxes it is very difficult to make any conclusions concerning their den site selection (Mickevičius 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial distribution of badger (Meles meles) setts and fox (Vulpes vulpes) dens in relation to human impact and environmental availability

Kurek

2011

Acta Zoologica Lituanica

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The aim of this paper was to examine spatial distribution of badger setts (N = 20) and fox dens (N = 42) in relation to habitat availability (estimated on the basis of 100 random points) and human impact on their environment (settlements, sylviculture practice). Badgers displayed a tendency to locate their setts close to habitats of moderate fertility, but avoided poor and young Scotch pine monocultures created by humans (<50 years old). Generally, foxes did not show any preference as to location of their dens, but they settled significantly closer (within 31-1486 m, median 497 m) to human settlements than badgers did (403-1841 m, median 675 m). Also, distances to open areas were different for both species, but not significantly. In comparison to foxes (2%), badgers more frequently (30%) settled in Strictly Protected Areas where human activity in sylviculture had not been as intensive as in surrounding areas for many years. It allows confirming that disturbances in forest ecosystems caused by human sylviculture (especially cultivation of young coniferous monoculture) influence the spatial distribution of badger setts to some degree. It can also be concluded that foxes are less anthropophobic than badgers in the Kampinos Forest.

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Demographic analyses of a fox population suffering from sarcoptic mange

et al. 2014

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We reconstructed a red fox population through a cohort analysis based on age-specific numbers of culled individuals between 1987 and 2008, a timeframe that covers the pre-mange and mange periods, and analyzed the impact of sarcoptic mange on the fox population in Nemuro, Japan. In the process of the reconstruction, we estimated annual mortality (caused by natural factors and culling) and birth rates by referring to the annual change in an index of population abundance and the recovery of tagged individuals. The estimated total population size decreased greatly from 303.2 to 70.8 between 1996 and 2000 in the study area (136.5 km 2 ); the first mange-infected individual was found in 1997. The natural mortality estimate (0.613) in 1998 was high, and it was also high in 1997 and 1999 (0.504 and 0.507, respectively), whereas mortality caused by culling did not show any particular change in these years. The birth rate (number of cubs per adult) was high in 1998 and 1999 despite the mange prevalence. Although the infection rate (number of infected individuals per inspected fox) decreased after the peak in 1999, foxes were found infected with mange in every study year between 1997 and 2013, except for 2002. Natural mortality was higher during the mange period (1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008) than during the pre-mange period (1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996), whereas we did not detect a significant difference in birth rates between the periods. A generalized linear model analysis showed significant effects of adult density and birth rate on natural mortality together with the effects of mange. We interpreted higher natural mortality in years with higher birth rates as simply a result of the population in those years including more cubs with higher mortality. The positive effect of adult density during the pre-mange period on natural mortality can be explained by competition for territory, whereas high adult density may also have contributed to the spread of mange for the mange period, causing higher mortality. This study shows that the use of cohort analysis can be extended to estimating demographic parameters by referring to external data. Ó 2014 The Wildlife Society.

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Population Ecology of the Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes L., 1758) in the G.D.R.

Cited by 17 publications

References 7 publications

Home-range size and selection of natal den and diurnal shelter sites by urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Melbourne

Home-range size and selection of natal den and diurnal shelter sites by urban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Melbourne

Spatial distribution of badger (Meles meles) setts and fox (Vulpes vulpes) dens in relation to human impact and environmental availability

Demographic analyses of a fox population suffering from sarcoptic mange

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