The good, the bad, and the ugly: space use and intraguild interactions among three opportunistic predators—cat (Felis catus), dog (Canis lupus familiaris), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes)—under human pressure

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (12) ◽  
pp. 1402-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Krauze-Gryz ◽  
J.B. Gryz ◽  
J. Goszczyński ◽  
P. Chylarecki ◽  
M. ̇Zmihorski

Examples of interspecific interactions have been described for mammalian predators, but less is known regarding disturbances of native predator guilds by domestic predators. We investigated intraguild interactions among three opportunistic predators (dog ( Canis lupus familiaris L., 1758), cat ( Felis catus L., 1758), and red fox ( Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)) co-occurring in the extensive farmlands of central Poland. Their space use was monitored using tracking stations distributed in field and forest plots along a distance gradient from buildings and analyzed using the occupancy-modeling framework. For all three species occupancy decreased with increased distance from buildings, although for the fox the pattern was relatively weak. The occurrence of cats at the stations was higher in the forest than in the field; for fox and dog, there was a strong variation between study plots. For all three predators, the probability of detection was higher during the night than during the day and varied between the seasons; however, the exact patterns were species-specific. The presence of one predator was also linked to the presence of the other two species—generally, a given species was detected more frequently in the absence of the other two species. We recorded spatiotemporal niche segregation among the three species. We conclude that interspecific antagonistic interactions and differences in foraging ecology are the main drivers shaping co-occurrence of the three species in the agriculture landscape.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margarita Gil-Fernández ◽  
Robert Harcourt ◽  
Thomas Newsome ◽  
Alison Towerton ◽  
Alexandra Carthey

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.


Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Halie M. Rando ◽  
William H. Wadlington ◽  
Jennifer L. Johnson ◽  
Jeremy T. Stutchman ◽  
Lyudmila N. Trut ◽  
...  

While the number of mammalian genome assemblies has proliferated, Y-chromosome assemblies have lagged behind. This discrepancy is caused by biological features of the Y-chromosome, such as its high repeat content, that present challenges to assembly with short-read, next-generation sequencing technologies. Partial Y-chromosome assemblies have been developed for the cat (Felis catus), dog (Canis lupus familiaris), and grey wolf (Canis lupus lupus), providing the opportunity to examine the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) Y-chromosome in the context of closely related species. Here we present a data-driven approach to identifying Y-chromosome sequence among the scaffolds that comprise the short-read assembled red fox genome. First, scaffolds containing genes found on the Y-chromosomes of cats, dogs, and wolves were identified. Next, analysis of the resequenced genomes of 15 male and 15 female foxes revealed scaffolds containing male-specific k-mers and patterns of inter-sex copy number variation consistent with the heterogametic chromosome. Analyzing variation across these two metrics revealed 171 scaffolds containing 3.37 Mbp of putative Y-chromosome sequence. The gene content of these scaffolds is consistent overall with that of the Y-chromosome in other carnivore species, though the red fox Y-chromosome carries more copies of BCORY2 and UBE1Y than has been reported in related species and fewer copies of SRY than in other canids. The assignment of these scaffolds to the Y-chromosome serves to further characterize the content of the red fox draft genome while providing resources for future analyses of canid Y-chromosome evolution.


2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fiocchi ◽  
A. Gustinelli ◽  
L. Gelmini ◽  
G. Rugna ◽  
M. Renzi ◽  
...  

1973 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Mobedi ◽  
R. A. Bray ◽  
F. Arfaa ◽  
K. Movafag

A study of the intestines of 208 carnivores (red fox, wolf and cat) from three different regions of Azerbaijan, Iran, revealed 10 species of cestodes: Taenia polyacantha, Taenia endothoracica, Echinococcus tnultilocularis, Joyeuxiella echinorhynchoides and Mesocestoides lineatus were found in Vulpes vulpes; Taenia multiceps, Taenia hydatigena, Echinococcus granulosus and Dipylidium caninum in Canis lupus; Taenia taeniaeformis in Felis sp.


2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duško Ćirović ◽  
Aleksandra Penezić ◽  
Ivan Pavlović ◽  
Zoran Kulišić ◽  
Nada Ćosić ◽  
...  

Dirofilaria repens causes an emerging zoonotic disease in Europe, particularly in its southern part, the Mediterranean region. Many reports on human dirofilariosis have been published recently, but little is known about the wildlife hosts and reservoirs of this parasite in nature. This paper presents the first records of adult D. repens specimens from free-ranging carnivores in Central Balkan countries (Serbia and Macedonia). During the period 2009–2013, a total of 145 regularly shot canids were examined for the presence of D. repens adults. In order to investigate their role as hosts and potential wild reservoirs of this zoonosis, 71 wolves (Canis lupus), 48 foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 26 jackals (Canis aureus) were examined. Under the skin of two wolves (one from Serbia and one from Macedonia) and of a red fox from Serbia D. repens adults were found. In all three cases only one parasite was present. Further research on wild canids is needed, particularly on species widening their range (such as jackals) and those living near human settlements (foxes and jackals), which facilitates the transmission of the parasites to dogs and humans.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 204 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
Sally L. South ◽  
Paul Drummond ◽  
Gregory R. Johnston ◽  
Alex Nankivell

Introduced predators have had, and continue to have, severe impacts on Australian biodiversity. At a recently established conservation reserve, Witchelina, in arid South Australia, we assessed the diet of feral cats (Felis catus) (404 samples), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) (51 samples) and dog (Canis familiaris) (11 samples) over a 3-year period. There was marked overlap (98.5%) in dietary composition between cats and foxes. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) comprised a major dietary item for all three predators. Invertebrates contributed the largest number of prey items for foxes and cats, but mammals comprised the bulk, by weight, for all three predators. Birds and reptiles had a higher frequency of occurrence in the diet of cats than of foxes or dogs. The size of mammal prey taken was least for cats and greatest for dogs. The diets of cats and foxes showed significant seasonal variation, with reptiles and invertebrates being least common in the diet in winter. The threatened thick-billed grasswren (Amytornis modestus) was found for the first time in the diet of feral cats. Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) occurred in about one-third of cat and fox samples. This study contributes further to the evidence of biodiversity impacts of introduced predators, and the need for their strategic management.


Author(s):  
О. В. Кручиненко

У статті наведено дані відносно найбільш поширених збудників ектопаразитарних захворюваньсобак і котів (Canis lupus familiaris & Felis catus Linnaeus, 1758), що представляють інтерес для лі-карів ветеринарної медицини. Перелічено хіміотерапевтичні препарати, наявні на світовому фарма-цевтичному ринку, які застосовуються з метою лікувально-профілактичних обробок у домашніх со-бак та котів. Розглянуто основні збудники ектопаразитарних захворювань собак і котів, зважаючина сучасне систематичне положення паразитів. Коротко наведено особливості поширення ектопа-разитів на території України й світу згідно з даними відомих учених у галузі ветеринарної парази-тології. Узагальнено інформацію щодо особливостей використання інсектоакарицидних препаратіву разі ураження тварин кліщами та комахами. У роботі наведено відомості найпоширеніших препа-ратів та хімічних поєднань, що є діючими речовинами цих препаратів (їхні хімічні назви, існуючі врізних країнах світу, синоніми, основні фармакологічні властивості). Наведено інформацію щододозування та особливостей використання інсектоакарицидних засобів у разі ектопаразитарних за-хворювань собак і котів згідно з даними сучасної наукової літератури та відповідними рекомендаці-ями щодо їх виробничого застосування. У процесі огляду встановлено, що коти найчастіше уражу-ються O. cynotis. До отодектозу найбільш сприйнятливі молоді тварини. Пік інвазії на територіїУкраїни припадає на зимовий період. З’ясовано, що собаки більш сприйнятливі до ктеноцефальозута демодекозу. На собак також частіше нападають іксодові кліщі. Метою цієї роботи було пока-зати сучасний стан щодо ектопаразитарних захворювань собак і котів як на території України,так і у світі загалом, виділити існуючі інсектоакарицидні препарати, узагальнити інформацію щодоїхнього використання. Встановлено, що для лікування й профілактики ектопаразитів у собак і котівнайчастіше використовують препарати на основі фіпронілу й перметрину або селамектину. У разіакарозів ефективним препаратом залишається івермектин. Проведений аналіз літературних дже-рел дасть змогу розширити вже наявні дані стосовно поширення, профілактики та лікування екто-паразитів у собак і котів. Наведені у статті дані допоможуть фахівцям ветеринарного профілюпідібрати ефективний інсектоакарицид. Так само наведена інформація допоможе забезпечити ве-теринарне благополуччя собак та котів України.


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