Flexible spatial organization of urban foxes, Vulpes vulpes, before and during an outbreak of sarcoptic mange
Flexible spatial organization of urban foxes, Vulpes vulpes, before and during an outbreak of sarcoptic mange
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DOI：
10.1006/anbe.1999.1285
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发表时间：
2000-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
White, PCL
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Baker, PJ;Funk, SM;White, PCL
城市狐狸群体的社会和空间组织之前和期间爆发疥螨进行了比较，来自资源分散假说（RDH）的预测。我们调查了三种关键资源的可用性。白天休息地点和繁殖地点似乎都不有限。通过问卷调查，对当地住户有意提供的食物的供应情况进行了审查。每天和每周的食物供应量大大超过了一对狐狸的最低需求量，但在不同地区之间是一致的。由于更多的人喂养狐狸，这种食物来源的可用性显着增加。与RDH一致，在爆发疥螨之前，群体大小从2.25只动物（N=4）增加到6.57只动物（N=7）。在疥癣爆发之前，两个地区被划分。在较小的领土上增加的可获得性可能促进了这些变化。除去这些空间的变化，领地在年份之间是非常稳定的。在爆发疥癣后，由于受疥癣的直接影响而导致死亡率下降。幸存的动物只有在邻近的群体灭绝后才增加它们的活动范围。范围没有增加的大小，以应对粮食供应的下降。分布区面积的增加也与放弃部分现有领土无关。这些产后变化与RDH相反。三个因素可能促进了这些变化：间隙空间的消除，年轻人的被迫分散或未来的领土分割。(C)2000年，动物行为研究协会。
The social and spatial organization of urban fox groups prior to and during an outbreak of sarcoptic mange was compared with predictions derived from the resource dispersion hypothesis (RDH). We investigated the availability of three key resources. Neither daytime rest sites nor breeding sites appeared to be limited in availability. The availability of food deliberately supplied by local householders was examined by questionnaire surveys. The daily and weekly amount of food supplied was greatly in excess of the minimum requirements of a pair of foxes, but was consistent between territories. The availability of this food source increased markedly as a result of more people feeding the foxes. In agreement with the RDH, group size prior to the outbreak of mange increased from 2.25 animals (N=4) to 6.57 animals (N=7). Before the outbreak of mange, two territories were divided. Increased scavenge availability on smaller territories may have promoted these changes. Excluding these spatial changes, territories were very stable between years. After the outbreak of mange, group size declined as a direct result of mange-induced mortality. Surviving animals increased their ranges only after neighbouring groups had died out. Ranges did not increase in size in response to a decline in food availability. Nor were the increases in range size associated with the relinquishment of parts of the existing territory. These postmange changes are contrary to the RDH. Three factors may have promoted these changes: the elimination of interstitial space, the forced dispersal of young or future division of the territory. (C) 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.