scholarly journals Resource partitioning between coyotes and swift foxes: space, time, and diet

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 1645-1656 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann M Kitchen ◽  
Eric M Gese ◽  
Edward R Schauster
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Vulpes Velox ◽  
Swift Fox ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Possible Cause ◽  
Substantial Distance

In its current distribution and abundance, the swift fox (Vulpes velox) has been significantly reduced from its historic range. A possible cause is competition with, and predation by, coyotes (Canis latrans). We investigated the level of spatial, temporal, and dietary resource use overlap between swift foxes and coyotes at the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado. We captured and radio-tracked 73 foxes and 24 coyotes from April 1997 to August 1998. We collected 10 832 and 5350 locations of foxes and coyotes, respectively. Overall, home-range sizes of foxes and coyotes were 7.6 ± 0.5 (mean ± SE) and 19.8 ± 1.9 km2, respectively. A high degree of interspecies spatial overlap was apparent, with fox home ranges being overlapped by coyote home ranges by as much as 100% and coyote sign (tracks and scats) being evident in all swift fox home ranges. There was no evidence of temporal avoidance of coyotes in fox movement patterns. Coyotes traveled significantly farther than foxes during diurnal hours; foxes spent the majority of diurnal hours in or on top of dens. Coyotes and foxes showed a high index of overlap for dietary resources, although some dietary partitioning was apparent. Swift foxes specialized in small prey, such as insects and rodents, while coyotes used greater proportions of large prey, such as lagomorphs and ungulates. Interference competition was evident, with 48% (12/25) of fox mortalities identified as confirmed or probable coyote-caused deaths. In each case, death occurred outside either the fox's home range or the 85% isopleth of that range, indicating that coyotes are more likely to attack a fox successfully when it is a substantial distance from a den. We propose that swift foxes are able to coexist with coyotes, owing to year-round den use and a degree of dietary partitioning.

Swift fox (Vulpes velox) home-range dispersion patterns in southeastern Wyoming

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (11) ◽  
pp. 2024-2029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis L Olson ◽  
Frederick G Lindzey
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Geographic Range ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Vulpes Velox ◽  
Swift Fox ◽  
Dispersion Patterns ◽  
Range Overlap ◽  
Grassland Habitats

We monitored dispersion patterns of swift foxes (Vulpes velox) for 3 years in shrub-grassland habitats on the margin of the species' geographic range near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. Annual home-range size was 18.6 ± 1.6 km2 (mean ± SE, n = 13) and was similar to home-range estimates reported in other studies conducted within grassland habitats in other portions of the species' geographic range. Male home ranges were larger than those of their mates during pup-rearing periods (P < 0.04) but were similar in size during the dispersal period. The home ranges of both sexes were smallest during the pup-rearing period. The degree of home-range overlap for mates (biological periods combined) was high (range = 27.4–100%, mean ± SE = 70.8 ± 0.03%, n = 26 pairs) but was minimal between adjacent pairs (range = 0.2–36%, mean ± SE = 11.9 ± 2.4%, n = 10 pairs), suggesting territorial behavior. Occupied home ranges were distributed similarly each year despite one or both pair members often being new. Swift fox home-range size varied seasonally, and home-range dispersion patterns appeared to be influenced by the presence of other fox pairs and the recent use of an area by other swift foxes.

scholarly journals Multiple Scale Den Site Selection by Swift Foxes, Vulpes velox, in Southeastern Colorado

2006 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann M. Kitchen ◽  
Eric M. Gese ◽  
Sarah G. Lupis
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Site Selection ◽  
Multiple Scales ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Boundary Area ◽  
Vulpes Velox ◽  
Swift Fox ◽  
Den Site Selection ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Selection Factors

Predation by Coyotes (Canis latrans) is a major source of mortality in Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) populations. Year-round den use by Swift Foxes is likely to be a predator avoidance strategy. Due to the importance of denning to Swift Fox ecology, we recorded den site selection of Swift Foxes in southeastern Colorado. Den site selection was recorded at two scales: microhabitat characteristics at the den and den placement within the home range. The number of den entrances, height and width of each entrance, aspect, hill position, slope, percent rock in soil, vegetative cover, and horizontal foliar density of 42 Swift Fox dens were examined during December 1999 – April 2000. This was compared to the same microhabitat characteristics at 42 random sites within Swift Fox home ranges to determine if Swift Foxes were using site characteristics according to their availability. Our results indicated that Swift Foxes were not highly selective of den sites based on the microhabitat characteristics evaluated in this study, although Swift Foxes selected areas of intermediate rock percentages. In addition, Swift Foxes were radio-tracked throughout the sample period and the location and frequency of use of known dens were recorded. Within the core area of home ranges, Swift Foxes used more dens (mean = 3.51 ± 1.70 (SD)), and had a higher frequency of use of dens (mean = 8.20 ± 6.01) than in the mid-range area (number of dens, mean = 0.90 ± 0.94; frequency, mean = 1.27 ± 2.12) and the boundary area (number of dens, mean = 0.34 ± 0.53; frequency, mean = 0.45 ± 0.93) of the home range. We discuss our results in terms of the importance of dens in facilitating escape from Coyotes. These results illustrate the need for examining den site selection at multiple scales to determine all selection factors, and to provide information useful for recovery and management efforts for this species.

scholarly journals Home range size and resource use by swift foxes in northeastern Montana

2020 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 684-696 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R Butler ◽  
Kristy L S Bly ◽  
Heather Harris ◽  
Robert M Inman ◽  
Axel Moehrenschlager ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Resource Use ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Swift Fox

Abstract Swift foxes (Vulpes velox) are endemic to the Great Plains of North America, but were extirpated from the northern portion of their range by the mid-1900s. Despite several reintroductions to the Northern Great Plains, there remains a ~350 km range gap between the swift fox population along the Montana and Canada border and that in northeastern Wyoming and northwestern South Dakota. A better understanding of what resources swift foxes use along the Montana and Canada border region will assist managers to facilitate connectivity among populations. From 2016 to 2018, we estimated the home range size and evaluated resource use within the home ranges of 22 swift foxes equipped with Global Positioning System tracking collars in northeastern Montana. Swift fox home ranges in our study were some of the largest ever recorded, averaging (± SE) 42.0 km2 ± 4.7. Our results indicate that both environmental and anthropogenic factors influenced resource use. At the population level, resource use increased by 3.3% for every 5.0% increase in percent grasslands. Relative probability of use decreased by 7.9% and 7.4% for every kilometer away from unpaved roads and gas well sites, respectively, and decreased by 3.0% and 11.3% for every one-unit increase in topographic roughness and every 0.05 increase in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), respectively. Our study suggests that, to reestablish connectivity among swift fox populations in Montana, managers should aim to maintain large corridors of contiguous grasslands at a landscape scale, a process that likely will require having to work with multiple property owners.

Space use and territoriality in swift foxes (Vulpes velox) in northeastern Colorado

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. 337-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amariah A. Lebsock ◽  
Christopher L. Burdett ◽  
Safi K. Darden ◽  
Torben Dabelsteen ◽  
Michael F. Antolin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Spatial Ecology ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Spatial Overlap ◽  
Vulpes Velox ◽  
Shortgrass Prairie ◽  
Core Areas

Space use is a fundamental characteristic that informs our knowledge of social relationships and the degree to which individuals are territorial. Until recently, relatively little was known about the spatial ecology and social organization of swift foxes ( Vulpes velox (Say, 1823)). We investigated space use of swift foxes on shortgrass prairie in northeastern Colorado. Our first objective was to evaluate sizes of seasonal and annual home ranges and core areas of 13 radio-collared swift foxes monitored continuously for 2 years. Our second objective was to compare home-range and core-area overlap of breeding pairs to that of neighboring foxes, including male–male, female–female, and nonbreeding female–male dyads. Home-range size in our study population was among the smallest previously reported for swift foxes. Males tended to have slightly larger home ranges and core areas than females, and home-range size was significantly larger in the breeding season than in both the pup-rearing and the dispersal seasons; sizes of core areas did not differ seasonally. Spatial overlap between breeding pairs was substantial, whereas spatial overlap between neighbors, particularly males, was low, suggesting territoriality.

Spatial resource partitioning by sympatric grey fox (Dusicyon griseus) and culpeo fox (Dusicyon culpaeus) in southern Chile

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1788-1793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren E. Johnson ◽  
William L. Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Daily Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Interference Competition ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
South American ◽  
Home Range Use ◽  
Spatial Resource Partitioning ◽  
Cover Density ◽  
Torres Del Paine

The activity patterns, home-range use, and habitat utilization of sympatric South American grey fox (Dusicyon griseus) and culpeo fox (Dusicyon culpaeus) in eastern Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, were studied to determine how the two species were distributed. Both species were primarily nocturnal. Mean percent daily activity did not differ between species or among seasons, but the grey fox had a greater daily activity rate in summer and fall and the culpeo fox in winter and spring. Seasonal and annual home ranges of culpeo foxes were larger than those of grey foxes, but did not differ between sexes or among seasons. Home ranges of grey and culpeo foxes were interspersed in a mosaic-like arrangement and did not overlap. Grey foxes were located more often in upland shrub transition habitat and in areas of medium cover density. Culpeo foxes were found more often in thickets of trees and in areas of high cover density. Within their home range, matorral shrubland or Nothofagus thicket habitat was selected by all culpeo foxes and by 60% of grey foxes monitored. Interference competition by the culpeo fox may have been important in determining fox distribution.

Home Range and Movement Patterns of Sminthopsis leucopus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) In Coastal Dry Heathland, Anglesea, Victoria.

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
S. Laidlaw W ◽  
S. Hutchings ◽  
R. Newell G
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Hours ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Degree Of Overlap

Sminthopsis leucopus is a small dasyurid distributed in south-eastern Australia. Radiotelemetry in conjunction with live capture trapping was used to investigate home range size and habitat utilisation of S. leucopus. The average distance moved showed no significant differences between sexes or between seasons. The observed range length and home range area were similar for both sexes. The mean home range area (95% harmonic mean) for S. leucopus was 0.917 hectares. Home ranges of males and females revealed a high degree of overlap. Activity during the day was low and highest in the hours following dusk.

Spatial relationships between swift foxes and coyotes in northwestern Texas

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan F Kamler ◽  
Warren B Ballard ◽  
Rickey L Gilliland ◽  
Kevin Mote
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Spatial Relationships ◽  
Spatial Displacement ◽  
Annual Survival ◽  
Vulpes Velox ◽  
Swift Fox ◽  
Behavioral Avoidance ◽  
Core Areas

Interspecific competition among canids can result in mortalities and spatial displacement of smaller canids by larger canids. To investigate mortalities and spatial relationships of swift foxes (Vulpes velox) and coyotes (Canis latrans), we captured and radio-tracked both species at Rita Blanca National Grasslands in northwestern Texas. At least 89% of swift fox mortalities were caused by coyotes, resulting in a relatively low annual survival of 0.47 for swift foxes. Annual home ranges of swift foxes occurred near the periphery and outside coyote home ranges, and did not overlap or only slightly overlapped coyote core areas. Thirty-three of 36 known swift fox dens occurred outside coyote core areas. When swift foxes established dens within coyote core areas (n = 3), they were killed by coyotes shortly thereafter. Our data indicated that spatial displacement of swift foxes was not due to behavioral avoidance of coyotes but rather to increased killing of swift foxes within coyote core areas. Most mortalities caused by coyotes occurred in the immediate vicinity of swift fox dens, suggesting that coyotes made an active effort to kill swift foxes.

scholarly journals Impact of natural salt lick on the home range of Panthera tigris at the Royal Belum Rainforest, Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Andrew Lazarus ◽  
Azlan Che-Amat ◽  
Muhammad Muzammil Abdul Halim Shah ◽  
Azwan Hamdan ◽  
Hasliza Abu Hassim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Nutritional Ecology ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Panthera Tigris ◽  
Health Maintenance ◽  
Salt Lick ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
Salt Licks

AbstractNatural salt lick (sira) is a strategic localisation for ecological wildlife assemblage to exhibit geophagy which may act as a population dynamic buffer of prey and predators. Undoubtedly, many agree that geophagy at natural licks is linked to nutritional ecology, health and assembly places facilitating social interaction of its users. Overall, natural salt licks not only save energy of obtaining nutrient leading to health maintenance but also forms the basis of population persistence. The Royal Belum Rainforest, Malaysia (Royal Belum) is a typical tropical rainforest in Malaysia rich in wildlife which are mainly concentrated around the natural salt lick. Since this is one of the most stable fauna ecology forest in Malaysia, it is timely to assess its impact on the Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris) home range dynamics. The three-potential home ranges of the Malayan tiger in this rainforest were selected based on animal trails or foot prints surrounding the salt lick viz (e.g. Sira Kuak and Sira Batu; Sira Rambai and Sira Buluh and Sira Papan) as well as previous sightings of a Malayan tiger in the area, whose movement is dependent on the density and distribution of prey. Camera traps were placed at potential animal trails surrounding the salt lick to capture any encountered wildlife species within the area of the camera placements. Results showed that all home ranges of Malayan tiger were of no significance for large bodied prey availability such as sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), and smaller prey such as muntjacs (Muntiacus muntjac) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). Interestingly, all home range harbour the Malayan tiger as the only sole predator. The non-significance of prey availability at each home range is attributed to the decline of the Malayan tiger in the rainforest since tigers are dependant on the movement of its preferred prey surrounding natural salt licks. Thus, the information from this study offers fundamental knowledge on the importance of prey-predator interaction at salt lick which will help in designing strategy in rewilding or rehabilitation programs of the Malayan tiger at the Royal Belum Rainforest.

The spatial dynamics of White-browed Babbler groups in a fragmented agricultural landscape

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter G. Cale
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Breeding Site ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Group Movements

White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus groups occupying linear strips of vegetation had breeding territories that were smaller in area and had longer linear dimensions than those occupying patches. A group's non-breeding home range was larger than its breeding territory. Groups occupying linear/patch home ranges expanded the linear extent and area of their home ranges more than those within other home range configurations. Some groups moved during the non-breeding season and this was more likely to occur if the group occupied a remnant with a low abundance of invertebrates during summer. Some groups that moved returned prior to the next breeding season, but the majority were never seen again. New groups moved into the study sites and established in vacant home ranges. This suggests that those groups that left the study sites may have established new home ranges elsewhere. Breeding site fidelity was lower in groups that had failed in previous breeding attempts. Therefore, group movements were influenced by the feeding and breeding quality of the habitat. However, the configuration of the local population also influenced group movements with those groups on the edge of a local population being more likely to move than those in the interior. New groups were formed by two processes; group dispersal, where groups generally filled a vacant home range, and group budding, which involved the splitting of a large group. Group dispersal maintained group densities while group budding increased the density of groups in a local population. These two processes were common, producing localized fluctuations in the density of groups. Since babbler groups contain only one breeding pair, changes in group density represent changes in effective population size. Therefore, group dynamics may be important to the persistence of local populations of White-browed Babblers, especially in landscapes that have suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation.

Koalas continue to occupy their previous home-ranges after selective logging in Callitris - Eucalyptus forest

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney P. Kavanagh ◽  
Matthew A. Stanton ◽  
Traecey E. Brassil
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Selective Logging ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Eucalyptus Forest ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Callitris Glaucophylla ◽  
One Year ◽  
Cypress Pine

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a charismatic, high-profile species whose conservation needs are commonly perceived to be incompatible with logging. However, koala biology and the results of chronosequence studies elsewhere suggest that this species may tolerate a degree of habitat alteration caused by logging. In this study, 30 koalas, five in each of six areas available for logging within a mixed white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla)–Eucalyptus forest in north-western New South Wales, were radio-tracked for one year during 1997–1998 to determine their movements, home-range sizes and tree preferences. Five months after the study began, three of these areas were logged selectively for sawlogs and thinnings of the white cypress pine, a tree that is important to koalas for daytime shelter. This removed about one-quarter of the stand basal area, but the eucalypt component was unaffected. The remaining three areas were left undisturbed as controls. Radio-tracking continued in all six areas for another seven months. Koalas continued to occupy all or part of their previous home-ranges after selective logging, and home-range sizes remained similar between logged and unlogged areas. Home-ranges for both sexes overlapped and were ~12 ha for males and 9 ha for females. Koala survival and the proportions of breeding females were similar in logged and unlogged areas. The principal food trees of the koala were red gums, mainly Eucalyptus blakelyi and E. chloroclada, and the pilliga box (E. pilligaensis), none of which were logged in this study. These results suggest that selective logging for white cypress pine does not appear to adversely affect koala populations and that koalas may not be as sensitive to logging as previously thought. Further work is required to determine thresholds in the level of retention of koala food trees in logging operations.

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