scholarly journals North American montane red foxes: expansion, fragmentation, and the origin of the Sacramento Valley red fox

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1523-1539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin N. Sacks ◽  
Mark J. Statham ◽  
John D. Perrine ◽  
Samantha M. Wisely ◽  
Keith B. Aubry
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Sacramento Valley

scholarly journals Citizen Science and Its Contribution to the Conservation of Sacramento Valley Red Foxes in California

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Amy Brasch
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Habitat Model ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Total N ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sacramento Valley ◽  
Public Data

<p>Red foxes found in the Sacramento Valley of California, referred to as SV red foxes throughout this thesis, were assumed to be of non-native ancestry until recent genetic testing confirmed their historical link to the area. The development of an effective conservation strategy for SV red foxes is currently underway, but was initially hindered by the lack of details regarding habitat requirements, occupancy patterns, and population sizes. In 2007, the University of California, Davis launched a fox reporting website for the public to document any fox sightings. Researchers actively pursued the public fox sighting reports from 2007-2009 and found 51 active red fox dens, 48 of which were native SV red fox dens, throughout the Sacramento Valley based on the locations provided in the reports.  The objectives of my research are to answer the following questions: (1) What can the data provided in the previously obtained fox sighting reports reveal about the website trends and fox ecology? (2) What types of relationships occur between the public and the SV red fox research efforts, and how can the participants’ experience be improved to ensure long-term participation? (3) Can a recently developed presence-only SV habitat model be used as a filter for future incoming reports, and what are the relationships between the reports with a high probability of fox presence and its associate report components?  In chapter one, I assess how effective the public sighting reports (n= 248) were in: assisting researchers with locating SV red fox dens, providing information about habitat preferences of the SV red foxes, and supplying insights of the website. The results showed that the distance from Yolo County, where the highest amount of SV red fox dens is located and where the initial study was conducted, can explain 38% of the variation in the quantity of reports collected from the website.  In chapter two, I administered an online survey to the residents of the Sacramento Valley to gauge their outlook on SV red foxes and their opinions of the fox reporting website. The survey respondents included both previous website visitors and new website visitors. I summarized the responses (n= 310 total, n= 210 complete) and ran a series of statistical analyses to evaluate the social characteristics of the participants utilizing the website. Overall, the majority of participants responded positively to the website, declaring it interesting and helpful. However, there is a low rate of return visitors. The main users of the fox sighting website are older participants and/or participants with a higher level of education.  In the third chapter of this research, I overlaid the fox sighting report locations onto the SV habitat model using ERSI® ArcMap v 10.0 and coded them for habitat suitability values. Analysing previously obtained fox sighting reports provided the necessary insight to define the criteria for the data filter. By implementing a habitat model filter at moderate habitat suitability levels, researchers can reduce the time it takes them to validate the public data received. However, a coinciding filter recording distribution frequency for report locations should also be implemented to compensate for dens located in low habitat suitability levels.  Prior to this research, the data collected from the public had never been evaluated for purposes other than locating potential SV red foxes. By reviewing feedback from the participants, I was able to characterise the participants using the fox reporting website and assess their general SV red fox knowledge. The findings of my research also lead to insights about SV red fox ecology. However, the major finding in this research shows that the majority of local citizens participating in this study indicated awareness of SV red foxes nativity and endangerment. The methods used in my research can be applied to other citizen science projects, to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of collecting data.</p>

scholarly journals Citizen Science and Its Contribution to the Conservation of Sacramento Valley Red Foxes in California

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Amy Brasch
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Habitat Model ◽  
Conservation Strategy ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Total N ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sacramento Valley ◽  
Public Data

<p>Red foxes found in the Sacramento Valley of California, referred to as SV red foxes throughout this thesis, were assumed to be of non-native ancestry until recent genetic testing confirmed their historical link to the area. The development of an effective conservation strategy for SV red foxes is currently underway, but was initially hindered by the lack of details regarding habitat requirements, occupancy patterns, and population sizes. In 2007, the University of California, Davis launched a fox reporting website for the public to document any fox sightings. Researchers actively pursued the public fox sighting reports from 2007-2009 and found 51 active red fox dens, 48 of which were native SV red fox dens, throughout the Sacramento Valley based on the locations provided in the reports.  The objectives of my research are to answer the following questions: (1) What can the data provided in the previously obtained fox sighting reports reveal about the website trends and fox ecology? (2) What types of relationships occur between the public and the SV red fox research efforts, and how can the participants’ experience be improved to ensure long-term participation? (3) Can a recently developed presence-only SV habitat model be used as a filter for future incoming reports, and what are the relationships between the reports with a high probability of fox presence and its associate report components?  In chapter one, I assess how effective the public sighting reports (n= 248) were in: assisting researchers with locating SV red fox dens, providing information about habitat preferences of the SV red foxes, and supplying insights of the website. The results showed that the distance from Yolo County, where the highest amount of SV red fox dens is located and where the initial study was conducted, can explain 38% of the variation in the quantity of reports collected from the website.  In chapter two, I administered an online survey to the residents of the Sacramento Valley to gauge their outlook on SV red foxes and their opinions of the fox reporting website. The survey respondents included both previous website visitors and new website visitors. I summarized the responses (n= 310 total, n= 210 complete) and ran a series of statistical analyses to evaluate the social characteristics of the participants utilizing the website. Overall, the majority of participants responded positively to the website, declaring it interesting and helpful. However, there is a low rate of return visitors. The main users of the fox sighting website are older participants and/or participants with a higher level of education.  In the third chapter of this research, I overlaid the fox sighting report locations onto the SV habitat model using ERSI® ArcMap v 10.0 and coded them for habitat suitability values. Analysing previously obtained fox sighting reports provided the necessary insight to define the criteria for the data filter. By implementing a habitat model filter at moderate habitat suitability levels, researchers can reduce the time it takes them to validate the public data received. However, a coinciding filter recording distribution frequency for report locations should also be implemented to compensate for dens located in low habitat suitability levels.  Prior to this research, the data collected from the public had never been evaluated for purposes other than locating potential SV red foxes. By reviewing feedback from the participants, I was able to characterise the participants using the fox reporting website and assess their general SV red fox knowledge. The findings of my research also lead to insights about SV red fox ecology. However, the major finding in this research shows that the majority of local citizens participating in this study indicated awareness of SV red foxes nativity and endangerment. The methods used in my research can be applied to other citizen science projects, to improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of collecting data.</p>

scholarly journals A preliminary range-wide distribution model for the sacramento valley red fox

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
BN Sacks ◽  
MJ Statham ◽  
Heiko Wittmer
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Sacramento Valley ◽  
Demographic Bottleneck

© 2017, Allen Press. All rights reserved. The Sacramento Valley red fox Vulpes vulpes patwin of California is a newly named subspecies recently found to be distinct both from other native red foxes and nearby introduced populations. The Sacramento Valley red fox experienced a historical demographic bottleneck resulting in a critically small genetic effective population size, causing concern over its current status and management requirements, yet little is known about its contemporary abundance, demographic trajectory, or habitat use. The hot, arid Sacramento Valley contrasts starkly in climate and physiography with the boreal habitats of other indigenous red foxes in western North America, indicating the need to obtain information specifically on the habitat requirements of this subspecies. A 3-y effort to locate reproductive den sites throughout the Sacramento Valley resulted in 42 independent dens, which we used to obtain preliminary information on habitat use and to develop a distribution model for this subspecies, and 28 Sacramento Valley red foxes killed by vehicles, which we used as independent data to test the models. Foxes were present significantly more than expected in grasslands and less than expected in wetlands and flooded agriculture and also tended to occur in proximity to human development, potentially as refuges from coyotes Canis latrans. We used Maxent to build predictive models. The best model, which incorporated vegetation/land-use classes and proximity to human development, identified 24% of the study area as predicted-presence habitat, which contained 76% of the den sites used to construct the model and 89% of independent locations used to test the model. Our model greatly narrowed the area over which foxes are predicted to occur and will facilitate future surveys to assess occupancy and ultimately abundance and population trends.

scholarly journals A preliminary range-wide distribution model for the sacramento valley red fox

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
BN Sacks ◽  
MJ Statham ◽  
Heiko Wittmer
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Sacramento Valley ◽  
Demographic Bottleneck

© 2017, Allen Press. All rights reserved. The Sacramento Valley red fox Vulpes vulpes patwin of California is a newly named subspecies recently found to be distinct both from other native red foxes and nearby introduced populations. The Sacramento Valley red fox experienced a historical demographic bottleneck resulting in a critically small genetic effective population size, causing concern over its current status and management requirements, yet little is known about its contemporary abundance, demographic trajectory, or habitat use. The hot, arid Sacramento Valley contrasts starkly in climate and physiography with the boreal habitats of other indigenous red foxes in western North America, indicating the need to obtain information specifically on the habitat requirements of this subspecies. A 3-y effort to locate reproductive den sites throughout the Sacramento Valley resulted in 42 independent dens, which we used to obtain preliminary information on habitat use and to develop a distribution model for this subspecies, and 28 Sacramento Valley red foxes killed by vehicles, which we used as independent data to test the models. Foxes were present significantly more than expected in grasslands and less than expected in wetlands and flooded agriculture and also tended to occur in proximity to human development, potentially as refuges from coyotes Canis latrans. We used Maxent to build predictive models. The best model, which incorporated vegetation/land-use classes and proximity to human development, identified 24% of the study area as predicted-presence habitat, which contained 76% of the den sites used to construct the model and 89% of independent locations used to test the model. Our model greatly narrowed the area over which foxes are predicted to occur and will facilitate future surveys to assess occupancy and ultimately abundance and population trends.

scholarly journals A Preliminary Range-Wide Distribution Model for the Sacramento Valley Red Fox

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin N. Sacks ◽  
Mark J. Statham ◽  
Heiko U. Wittmer
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Human Development ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Sacramento Valley ◽  
Demographic Bottleneck

Abstract The Sacramento Valley red fox Vulpes vulpes patwin of California is a newly named subspecies recently found to be distinct both from other native red foxes and nearby introduced populations. The Sacramento Valley red fox experienced a historical demographic bottleneck resulting in a critically small genetic effective population size, causing concern over its current status and management requirements, yet little is known about its contemporary abundance, demographic trajectory, or habitat use. The hot, arid Sacramento Valley contrasts starkly in climate and physiography with the boreal habitats of other indigenous red foxes in western North America, indicating the need to obtain information specifically on the habitat requirements of this subspecies. A 3-y effort to locate reproductive den sites throughout the Sacramento Valley resulted in 42 independent dens, which we used to obtain preliminary information on habitat use and to develop a distribution model for this subspecies, and 28 Sacramento Valley red foxes killed by vehicles, which we used as independent data to test the models. Foxes were present significantly more than expected in grasslands and less than expected in wetlands and flooded agriculture and also tended to occur in proximity to human development, potentially as refuges from coyotes Canis latrans. We used Maxent to build predictive models. The best model, which incorporated vegetation/land-use classes and proximity to human development, identified 24% of the study area as predicted-presence habitat, which contained 76% of the den sites used to construct the model and 89% of independent locations used to test the model. Our model greatly narrowed the area over which foxes are predicted to occur and will facilitate future surveys to assess occupancy and ultimately abundance and population trends.

Potential remedy against Echinococcus multilocularis in wild red foxes using baits with anthelmintic distributed around fox breeding dens in Hokkaido, Japan

Parasitology ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. TSUKADA ◽  
K. HAMAZAKI ◽  
S. GANZORIG ◽  
T. IWAKI ◽  
K. KONNO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Echinococcus Multilocularis ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Clethrionomys Rufocanus ◽  
Efficient Control ◽  
Positive Rate ◽  
Potential Remedy ◽  
Patent Infection

The effect of bait-delivered anthelmintic to reduce the prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in wild red foxes was evaluated in Koshimizu, in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. The study area (200 km2) was divided into baited and non-baited sections. The anthelmintic baits were distributed around fox den sites in the baited section every month for 13 months. After 1 year of the anthelmintic bait distribution, the prevalence of E. multilocularis in foxes, evaluated either by the parasite egg examination (from 27.1 to 5.6%) or coproantigen ELISA (from 59.6 to 29.7%), decreased in the baited section contrasting to that in the non-baited section (parasite egg: from 18.8 to 24.2%; ELISA: from 41.9 to 45.8%). The prevalence of E. multilocularis in grey red-backed vole Clethrionomys rufocanus, caught around fox dens, born after bait distribution also decreased and was significantly lower than that in non-baited section. However, within the study periods, the coproantigen-positive rate in fox faeces sporadically increased, while egg-positive rate constantly decreased. Since coproantigen ELISA can detect pre-patent infection, this observation indicates that reinfection pressure in the baited section was still high even after the 13 months of anthelmintic bait distribution. Therefore, the bait distribution longer than our study period is required for the efficient control of E. multilocularis in wild red fox population.

Variation in fur farm and wild populations of the red fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora: Canidae) — Part I: Morphometry

2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Zatoń-Dobrowolska ◽  
Magdalena Moska ◽  
Anna Mucha ◽  
Heliodor Wierzbicki ◽  
Piotr Przysiecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Selective Breeding ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Tail Length ◽  
Morphometric Traits ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Ear Height ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
The Right ◽  
Almost All

This paper demonstrates the influence of artificial selection on morphometric traits in the red fox [Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)]. Measurements and two proportion coefficients were analysed in 132 wild and 199 farm red foxes. The two groups differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) on all but one of the measurements. Eight out of 11 measurements were significantly greater in the farm fox population, while only tail length, ear height, and length of the right hind limb were greater in the population of wild foxes. The opposite trend was observed when analysing variation in the measurements — the farm foxes were characterized by a greater variability only in the case of body weight, body length, and breadth of chest. When analysing the sexual dimorphism index in different sex and population groups, in almost all analysed traits, the greatest differences occurred between farm males and wild females. All of the traits examined in this study are important for survival of wild foxes. However, because importance of some traits was reduced during domestication and selective breeding (farm foxes do not have to fight for survival), the genetic relationship between them may have weakened. Other possible causes of morphological differences between the studied groups of red foxes are discussed as well.

scholarly journals Adaptations of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) to urban environments in Sydney, Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Gil-Fernández ◽  
Robert Harcourt ◽  
Thomas Newsome ◽  
Alison Towerton ◽  
Alexandra Carthey
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Sydney Australia ◽  
Site Types

Abstract With urban encroachment on wild landscapes accelerating globally, there is an urgent need to understand how wildlife is adapting to anthropogenic change. We compared the behaviour of the invasive red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at eight urban and eight peri-urban areas of Sydney, Australia. We observed fox behaviour around a lure and compared fox activity patterns to those of potential prey and to two domestic predators (dogs—Canis lupus familiaris and cats—Felis catus). We assessed the influence of site type, vegetation cover, and distance from habitation on fox behaviour, and compared the temporal activity patterns of urban and peri-urban red foxes. Urban red foxes were marginally more nocturnal than those in peri-urban areas (88% activity overlap). There was greater overlap of red fox activity patterns with introduced mammalian prey in urban areas compared with peri-urban areas (90% urban vs 84% peri-urban). Red fox temporal activity overlapped 78% with cats, but only 20% with dogs, across both site types. The high degree of overlap with cats and introduced mammalian prey is most likely explained by the nocturnal behaviour of these species, while pet dogs are generally kept in yards or indoors at night. The behavioural differences we documented by urban red foxes suggest they may adapt to human modifications and presence, by being more nocturnal and/or more confident in urban areas.

scholarly journals The field efficiency of oral rabies vaccination in the Lithuanian red fox population from 2006 to 2013

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 299-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Zienius ◽  
G. Pridotkas ◽  
I. Jaceviciene ◽  
M. Ruzauskas
Keyword(s):  
Red Fox ◽  
Biological Marker ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Elisa Test ◽  
Entire Period ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Field Efficiency ◽  
Rabies Vaccination ◽  
Sera Samples

The objective of the present study was to assess the efficacy of an oral rabies vaccination (ORV) program in the period from 2006 to 2013 based on epidemiological data (Incidence of confirmed rabies in red foxes), biological marker evaluation (presence of tetracycline [TTC] indicating bait uptake), and the assessment of seroconversion (based on ELISA for rabies antibodies) in red foxes in Lithuania. Results were compared between juvenile and adult red foxes, and between the spring (March to May) and autumn (October to December) campaigns. On average, 20 baits/km<sup>2 </sup>were distributed over the entire territory of Lithuania. During the entire period of 2006&ndash;2013 1179 red foxes (10% of 11 829) were rabies-positive. While in 2006, 23.8% of tested foxes were rabies-positive, the incidence decreased to 2.4% in 2009, and 0.7% in 2011. Based on jaw bone investigation 78.1% of the foxes had ingested TTC from baits, 52.2% had seroconverted. The percentage of ELISA-positive red fox sera samples remained stable at 44.7&ndash;53.2% during both most recent ORV periods. The majority were adults (83%), 81.1 &plusmn; 8.54% of which were TCC-positive, and 73.8 &plusmn; 6.33% were TTC-positive juveniles. 52.5 &plusmn; 5.81% of adult red foxes had seroconversed, while 48.2 &plusmn; 4.51% of the young animals had a positive ELISA test in the years 2006 to 2013. This is in contrast to 2006 where only 29.5% of the young foxes were ELISA-positive. There were no significant differences between TTC- and ELISA-positive populations in different geographical regions of Lithuania. &nbsp;

scholarly journals Of microbes and mange: consistent changes in the skin microbiome of three canid species infected with Sarcoptes scabiei mites

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra L. DeCandia ◽  
Kennedy N. Leverett ◽  
Bridgett M. vonHoldt
Keyword(s):  
North American ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Skin Barrier ◽  
Sarcoptes Scabiei ◽  
Sarcoptic Mange ◽  
Interspecies Transmission ◽  
Skin Microbiome ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Alpha And Beta Diversity

Abstract Background Sarcoptic mange is a highly contagious skin disease caused by the ectoparasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei. Although it afflicts over 100 mammal species worldwide, sarcoptic mange remains a disease obscured by variability at the individual, population and species levels. Amid this variability, it is critical to identify consistent drivers of morbidity, particularly at the skin barrier. Methods Using culture-independent next generation sequencing, we characterized the skin microbiome of three species of North American canids: coyotes (Canis latrans), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). We compared alpha and beta diversity between mange-infected and uninfected canids using the Kruskal–Wallis test and multivariate analysis of variance with permutation. We used analysis of composition of microbes and gneiss balances to perform differential abundance testing between infection groups. Results We found remarkably consistent signatures of microbial dysbiosis associated with mange infection. Across genera, mange-infected canids exhibited reduced microbial diversity, altered community composition and increased abundance of opportunistic pathogens. The primary bacteria comprising secondary infections were Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, previously associated with canid ear and skin infections, and Corynebacterium spp., previously found among the gut flora of S. scabiei mites and hematophagous arthropods. Conclusions This evidence suggests that sarcoptic mange infection consistently alters the canid skin microbiome and facilitates secondary bacterial infection, as seen in humans and other mammals infected with S. scabiei mites. These results provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of mange at the skin barrier of North American canids and can inspire novel treatment strategies. By adopting a “One Health” framework that considers mites, microbes and the potential for interspecies transmission, we can better elucidate the patterns and processes underlying this ubiquitous and enigmatic disease.

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