Winter severity limits red fox populations in Eurasia
Winter severity limits red fox populations in Eurasia
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1466-8238.2007.00299.x
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发表时间：
2007-05-01
影响因子：
6.4
通讯作者：
Zalewski, Andrzej
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Barton, Kamil A.;Zalewski, Andrzej
目的 我们调查了与气候变量、栖息地生产力和季节性相关的红狐密度的地理变化，以确定狐狸密度的最佳预测因子。地点 已发布的红狐丰度数据来自欧洲和亚洲 69 个地点。方法 使用广义线性模型和信息论方法，我们分析了气候措施（冬季和夏季温度、平均雪深和 红狐密度的变化。结果 冬季红狐密度范围为 0.001-2.8 个体 km(-2)；冬季红狐密度范围为 0.001-2.8 个体 km(-2)；平均密度为0.21个体km(-2)。红狐密度的变化最好用冬季温度和季节性来解释。密度随着冬季和夏季气温的下降、季节性程度的增加和积雪持续时间的增加而降低。与栖息地生产力没有关系。主要结论我们的结果表明，冬季气候条件和季节性，而不是栖息地生产力，可能限制欧亚大陆的红狐密度。红狐种群数量有限的一种解释可能是狐狸应对非生物条件的生理能力。同时，严酷的冬季可能会导致狐狸的猎物减少。再加上较短的繁殖期可能会导致繁殖产量降低以及成虫和幼崽的存活率降低。
Aim We investigated geographical variation in the density of the red fox in relation to climatic variables, habitat productivity and seasonality to identify those factors that were the best predictors of fox density.Location Published data on red fox abundance were collated from 69 locations over Europe and Asia.Methods Using generalized linear models and the information-theoretic approach, we analysed the contribution of climatic measures (winter and summer temperature, mean snow depth and duration), primary productivity and seasonality indices [based on the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) index] to account for variation in red fox density.Results Red fox density in winter ranged from 0.001-2.8 individuals km(-2); the average density was 0.21 individuals km(-2). Variation in red fox density was best explained by the winter temperature and seasonality. Density decreased with declining winter and summer temperatures, increasing degree of seasonality and increasing duration of snow cover. There was no relationship with habitat productivity.Main conclusions Our results indicate that winter climatic conditions and seasonality, but not habitat productivity, may limit red fox density in Eurasia. One explanation for the limitation of the red fox population may be the fox's physiological capability to cope with abiotic conditions. Concurrently, the severity of winter may lead to reduced availability of the fox's prey. That, together with a shorter reproductive period may result in lower reproductive output as well as lower survival of adults and cubs.