Space use and territoriality in swift foxes (Vulpes velox) in northeastern Colorado
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Space use and territoriality in swift foxes (Vulpes velox) in northeastern Colorado. / Lebsock, Amariah A.; Burdett, Christopher L.; Darden, Safi K.; Dabelsteen, Torben; Antolin, Michael F.; Crooks, Kevin R.
In: Canadian Journal of Zoology, Vol. 90, No. 3, 2012, p. 337-344.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Space use and territoriality in swift foxes (Vulpes velox) in northeastern Colorado
AU - Lebsock, Amariah A.
AU - Burdett, Christopher L.
AU - Darden, Safi K.
AU - Dabelsteen, Torben
AU - Antolin, Michael F.
AU - Crooks, Kevin R.
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
U2 - 10.1139/z2012-003
DO - 10.1139/z2012-003
M3 - Journal article
VL - 90
SP - 337
EP - 344
JO - Canadian Journal of Zoology
JF - Canadian Journal of Zoology
SN - 0008-4301
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 48874230