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1

Faeces count as an index of fox abundance

100%

Cavallini P.

Acta Theriologica

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1994

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tom 39

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nr 4

Faeces were collected monthly along transects in 9 areas of the Pisa province, central Italy, from April 1992 to March 1993 (total km walked = 982). An index of fox abundance (n of faeces per km) was computed. It was negatively influenced by rainfall in the 20 days preceding the transect, but was unrelated to the percentage of plant material in the diet. Differences among areas (averages from 0.338 to 2.966 faeces per km) were significant (p < 0.0001) and consistent throughout the year, Faeces were randomly distributed along the transects. The index may therefore provide an efficient and inexpensive method to evaluate relative abundance of foxes, but comparisons should include only areas and periods with similar rainfall. Seasonal population fluctuations are not detectable. Best results may be obtained when rainfall in the 20 days preceding the transect did not exceed 50 mm.

2

Internal organ masses of the red fox Vulpes vulpes: data from the wild

100%

Cavallini P.

Acta Theriologica

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1997

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tom 42

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nr 1

Totally, 330 (125 females, 205 males) red foxes Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758), killed during predator control operations (January to April 1992) in central Italy, were dissected. Their kidneys, spleen, heart, liver, and adrenal giands were weighed and related to body mass, age, sex, and kidney fat index. The mass of all organs examined, except for the adrenal glands, was highly correlated with body mass. Sex, age, and fat did not affect liver or spleen mass. Kidney fat was negatively related to the mass of heart and kidneys. Only kidneys and adrenals increased in mass with age. The increases were small, and could not explain an increase of total body mass with age. The hearts and spleens were relatively heavier in wild foxes than in farmed foxes, whereas livers were relatively lighter. Environmental factors (exposure to parasites and physical activity) may explain the differences. The masses of all of the organs were more variable in wild foxes than in farmed foxes, possibly because of a greater environmental and genetic variability.

3

Home range, habitat selection and activity of red fox in a Mediterranean coastal ecotone

63%

Cavallini P., Lovari S.

Acta Theriologica

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1994

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tom 39

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nr 3

Ranging behaviour and activity of five [2 females, 3 males) red foxes Vulpes uulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Mediterranean coastal area of Maremma Natural Park (central Italy; an area of great habitat diversity) are described. One female ranged over a very small area and had diurnal activity rhythms, For other foxes, home range size (100% minimum convex polygon) varied between 86 and 485 ha (larger than fox ranges in urban areas and smaller than in northern or homogeneous areas), and core areas (50% harmonic mean) between 4.0 and 13.7 ha. Habitat diversity within home ranges was significantly higher than that of the overall area. Within their home ranges, foxes selected scrubwood for resting. When active, they showed individual differences in habitat selection. Peak activity was between 20.00 h and 22.00 h, but foxes were active also during the day.

Ograniczanie wyników

3 Acta Theriologica

3 Cavallini P.

1 Lovari S.

1 1997

2 1994

Faeces count as an index of fox abundance

Internal organ masses of the red fox Vulpes vulpes: data from the wild

Home range, habitat selection and activity of red fox in a Mediterranean coastal ecotone