The diet of red foxes, Vulpes vulpes L., in Victoria

1973 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Coman

Stomach contents were examined for 1229 foxes collected in Victoria during 1968-70. Of these, 967 stomachs contained measurable quantities of food. The fox appears to have a very wide dietary range but is predominantly carnivorous. The main food items encountered were rabbits, sheep carrion, and mice. Lesser amounts of native mammals, birds, cold-blooded vertebrates, invertebrates, and plant material were encountered. For many foods, particularly insects, the intake was markedly seasonal. Regional differences in diet were also apparent. Much of the variation in intake of particular foods over time and between regions was explicable in terms of changing availabilities of these foods.

2000 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Kirkwood ◽  
P Dann ◽  
M Belvedere

The diet of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) on Phillip Island, Victoria, was assessed from the frequency of occurrence and volume of food items in stomachs of foxes killed during a 16-year control program (1983 to 1998). Of the 289 stomachs examined, 244 (85%) contained recognisable food items. Based on frequency of occurrence, the most common prey were short­tailed shearwaters (Puffinus tenuirostris, 47%), European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus, 30%), house mice (Mus musculus, 15%), insects (15%), little penguins (Eudyptula minor, 12%), other birds (12%), sheep (Ovis aries 8%) and black rats (Rattus rattus 5%). The seasonal attendance patterns of P. tenuirostris caused substantial variations in the fox diet. When P. tenuirostris were present, between September and April each year, they were the most common food item, and when absent, they were replaced by rabbits. The sex of foxes did not appear to influence diet, but age did. Juvenile (Rubus fructicosus), than did adult foxes.


Author(s):  
Henry Masters ◽  
Christine R Maher

Species can alleviate competition by reducing diet overlap. Nonnative coyotes (Canis latrans (Say, 1823)) and historically native gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Schreber, 1775)) have expanded their ranges and may compete with native red foxes (Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758)). To examine potential competition among canids in Maine, we compared δ13C and δ15N from muscle and hair samples to assess relative resource use, and we compared frequency of occurrence of prey items from stomach contents to assess diets. For these species, red foxes consumed anthropogenically-based foods the most in fall-early winter, gray foxes consumed anthropogenically-based foods the most in summer, and coyotes consumed anthropogenically-based foods the least in all seasons. Coyotes held the highest relative trophic position in fall-early winter, red foxes held the highest relative trophic position in summer, and gray foxes held the lowest relative trophic position. Based on stomach contents, gray foxes had the broadest diet and consumed the most plants, and coyotes had the narrowest diet. Red foxes were the only species to show isotopic niche overlap with both potential competitors across seasons. Thus they may be most susceptible to competitive exclusion among these canids, with implications for community dynamics as ranges shift due to human activity.


UNICIÊNCIAS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Márcio Amorim Tolentino Lima ◽  
Ricardo Jucá Chagas

A introdução de espécies exóticas, em ambientes naturais, é considerada, atualmente, um dos principais motivos causadores da perda de biodiversidade do mundo, esse evento é tipicamente comum em peixamentos feitos em barragens, no Nordeste do Brasil, no intuito de aumentar a produtividade pesqueira, porém com consequências ambientalmente desastrosas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar o impacto causado pelas espécies de peixes alóctones em um trecho influenciado pelo reservatório da Barragem da Pedra, BA. O trabalho foi feito entre abril de 2004 a agosto de 2006. Nesse período foram realizadas coletas mensais em três pontos de amostragem, utilizando duas redes de malhas distintas (1,5 e 3,0 cm entre nós adjacentes) colocadas no início do dia e retiradas após 24 horas para a coleta dos peixes. Estes foram etiquetados, congelados, e transportados para o Laboratório de Ecologia da UESB – Campus de Jequié, no qual os conteúdos estomacais foram analisados. Ao todo 882 indivíduos de oito espécies foram utilizados neste estudo e foram separadas em dois grupos: nativas e introduzidas. Alguns itens alimentares foram encontrados no trato digestivo de grande parte das espécies abordadas, como o camarão (Macrobachium amazonicum), material vegetal, e matéria orgânica. Houve alta sobreposição entre as espécies Leporinus bahiensis e Astyanax bimaculatus, que são espécies indígenas; entre Serrasalmus brandtii e Pygocentrus piraya, que são espécies introduzidas, mostrando assim uma possível sobreposição de nichos entre os dois grupos de espécies. Palavras-chave: Introdução de Espécies. Barragem. Ictiofauna.AbstractThe introduction of exotic species into natural environments is currently considered a major cause of biodiversity loss in the world. This event is typically common in dams made in dams in the Northeast of Brazil in order to increase fishing productivity, but with environmental consequences that are disastrous. The objective of this work was to analyze the impact of alien species in an area influenced by the reservoir of the. The work was done between April 2004 and August 2006, during which time monthly collections were carried out at three sampling points, using two distinct meshes (1.5 and 3.0 cm between adjacent nodes) placed at the beginning of the day , and were collected after 24 hours to collect the fish, which were labeled, frozen and transported to the Ecology Laboratory of UESB - Jequié Campus, where the stomach contents were analyzed. In all, 882 individuals of eight species were used in this study, and these were separated into two groups: native and introduced. Some food items were found in the digestive tract of most of the species, such as shrimp (Macrobachium amazonicum), plant material, and organic matter. There was high overlap between the species Leporinus bahiensis, and Astyanax bimaculatus that are indigenous species; between these two with Serrasalmus brandtii, and Pygocentrus piraya, the latter two are introduced species, thus showing a possible overlap of niches between the two groups of species. Keywords: Introduction of species. Dam. Ichthyofauna.A introdução de espécies exóticas, em ambientes naturais, é considerada, atualmente, um dos principais motivos causadores da perda de biodiversidade do mundo, esse evento é tipicamente comum em peixamentos feitos em barragens, no Nordeste do Brasil, no intuito de aumentar a produtividade pesqueira, porém com consequências ambientalmente desastrosas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo analisar o impacto causado pelas espécies de peixes alóctones em um trecho influenciado pelo reservatório da Barragem da Pedra, BA. O trabalho foi feito entre abril de 2004 a agosto de 2006. Nesse período foram realizadas coletas mensais em três pontos de amostragem, utilizando duas redes de malhas distintas (1,5 e 3,0 cm entre nós adjacentes) colocadas no início do dia e retiradas após 24 horas para a coleta dos peixes. Estes foram etiquetados, congelados, e transportados para o Laboratório de Ecologia da UESB – Campus de Jequié, no qual os conteúdos estomacais foram analisados. Ao todo 882 indivíduos de oito espécies foram utilizados neste estudo e foram separadas em dois grupos: nativas e introduzidas. Alguns itens alimentares foram encontrados no trato digestivo de grande parte das espécies abordadas, como o camarão (Macrobachium amazonicum), material vegetal, e matéria orgânica. Houve alta sobreposição entre as espécies Leporinus bahiensis e Astyanax bimaculatus, que são espécies indígenas; entre Serrasalmus brandtii e Pygocentrus piraya, que são espécies introduzidas, mostrando assim uma possível sobreposição de nichos entre os dois grupos de espécies. Palavras-chave:  Introdução de Espécies. Barragem. Ictiofauna.  AbstractThe introduction of exotic species into natural environments is currently considered a major cause of biodiversity loss in the world. This event is typically common in dams made in dams in the Northeast of Brazil in order to increase fishing productivity, but with environmental consequences that are disastrous. The objective of this work was to analyze the impact of alien species in an area influenced by the reservoir of the. The work was done between April 2004 and August 2006, during which time monthly collections were carried out at three sampling points, using two distinct meshes (1.5 and 3.0 cm between adjacent nodes) placed at the beginning of the day , and were collected after 24 hours to collect the fish, which were labeled, frozen and transported to the Ecology Laboratory of UESB - Jequié Campus, where the stomach contents were analyzed. In all, 882 individuals of eight species were used in this study, and these were separated into two groups: native and introduced. Some food items were found in the digestive tract of most of the species, such as shrimp (Macrobachium amazonicum), plant material, and organic matter. There was high overlap between the species Leporinus bahiensis, and Astyanax bimaculatus that are indigenous species; between these two with Serrasalmus brandtii, and Pygocentrus piraya, the latter two are introduced species, thus showing a possible overlap of niches between the two groups of species. Keywords: Introduction of species. Dam. Ichthyofauna.


1978 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
JD Croft ◽  
LJ Hone

Foxes were killed in each of 4 seasons in the 5 years 1969-73 and a table gives numbers of stomachs with food for each year and season in each of 6 regions into which New South Wales was divided according to climate, vegetation and land use. Incidence of 11 food items or classes of food varied with region. An appendix lists precentage and volume of food items for the 811 foxes with food, out of the 899 that were killed. Main foods were rabbit, sheep and house mouse, by number and volume. The number of plant and insect items was high but the volume was low. Food included reptiles, amphibians, fish, grass and fruit. Foxes seemed to be opportunists and scavengers; food included feral pig and kangaroo when those were being shot locally, sheep carrion in the lambing season, mice during a plague of mice, domestic fowl, birds and animals probably killed on the road, and blackberries and apples in season. Insects included maggots, locusts and processionary caterpillars.


1995 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
RA Palmer

Examination of the stomach contents of 74 foxes from a south-western Queensland sheep grazing property revealed a diverse range of prey. Mammals formed the bulk of the diet representing 64% of the total weight of food items and occurred in 80% of stomachs. Sheep and kangaroo carrion were the main mammalian prey. Insects and other invertebrates were an important but lesser component of the diet. Dietary trends were heavily influenced by human activity, rainfall, and season. These results differ from those of other studies conducted in southern parts of Australia due to the large proportions of scavenged food items in the diet (63% by weight) and relatively high consumption levels of non-mammalian prey. The lack of a small to medium sized staple prey source in the study area, which were available in southern areas appears to be the reason for the foxes reliance on such a varied prey base.


2017 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Casey J. Wagnon ◽  
Thomas L. Serfass

Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) often carry food items to caching sites and while making provisioning trips to litters. This behaviour provides opportunities to use camera traps to record Red Foxes carrying food that is likely prey. As part of a larger study using camera-trap surveys to monitor carnivore populations at Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, our cameras also recorded Red Foxes carrying food items allowing us to gain insight into the feeding ecology of this predator. Camera traps documented Red Foxes carrying food 71 times; items included mammals (78.9%), birds (19.7%), and fish (1.4%). Small mammals (unknown rodent or soricid species [23.9%] and voles [Microtus or Clethrionomys spp.; 5.6%]) were the most common groups of food items and Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus; 15.5%) was the most common food item identified to species. Our surveys corroborate traditional diet assessments (e.g., scat analysis) of Red Foxes in North America, identifying them as a generalist forager that typically consumes smaller mammals. We also highlight the potential to apply camera trapping as a supplemental technique for gaining additional insight into the feeding ecology of this predator.


1971 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1153-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Kennedy ◽  
D. H. Steele

Monthly samples of winter flounder taken in Long Pond from November 1962 to October 1963 indicated that the flounder moved into deeper water (7–10 m) during the summer and returned to shallow water (1–2 m) from September to June. These movements corresponded to the end of the spawning season and the ripening of the gonads respectively. Spawning occurred from March until early June, most of it in May and early June. Most males were mature at age 6 and most females at age 7. Fifty percent of the males and females were mature at 21 and 25 cm respectively. The growth rates of the males and females were similar until the age of 8, after which the females apparently outgrew the males. Early growth and fecundity were similar to those reported for other areas. No feeding took place in December or January but the flounder fed in March and continued to feed throughout the summer; food intake decreased in the fall. They were omnivorous and the type of food eaten varied with the locality. Polychaetes, plant material, and molluscs were the most common food items throughout the year. Capelin eggs and fish remains were found only during a few months of the year but were eaten in great quantities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Zatoń-Dobrowolska ◽  
Magdalena Moska ◽  
Anna Mucha ◽  
Heliodor Wierzbicki ◽  
Piotr Przysiecki ◽  
...  

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.


2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 531-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana C. Matos ◽  
Luis Figueira ◽  
Maria H. Martins ◽  
Manuela Matos ◽  
Márcia Morais ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Attila D. Sándor ◽  
Gianluca D’Amico ◽  
Călin M. Gherman ◽  
Mirabela O. Dumitrache ◽  
Cristian Domșa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document