Use of Dens by red Vulpes vulpes and arctic Alopex lagopus Foxes in Alpine Environments: Can inter-specific Competition Explain the non-recovery of Norwegian Arctic fox Populations?

John D. C. Linnell ； Olav Strand ； Arild Landa

《Wildlife Biology》 5卷3期 (1999/09) Pp. 167-176

並列摘要

Following over-harvest in the early decades of the 20th century, the arctic fox Alopex lagopus has declined and failed to recover in Norway. Competition with the red fox Vulpes vulpes has frequently been suggested as a possible factor hindering arctic fox recovery. Between 1988 and 1997, a total of 213 former arctic fox dens in four alpine regions of Norway, i.e. Hardangervidda, Dovrefjell, Børgefjell and Dividalen, were checked at least once for occupation by red or arctic foxes. Of these 213 former arctic fox dens, 138 were unoccupied, and 32 and 43 were occupied by arctic and red foxes, respectively. In general, red foxes occupied dens situated at significantly lower altitudes than those occupied by arctic foxes, which supports present ideas of red fox/arctic fox coexistence. As arctic foxes tended to avoid dens at the lowest altitudes, it is possible that arctic foxes to some degree avoid the areas where red foxes are most abundant. This may have disproportionate effects, as the probability of reproduction in arctic fox dens was highest in dens at lower altitudes. Despite this, the large number of unoccupied dens indicates that dens are unlikely to be in limited supply. Therefore, neither our data, nor a review of published data and trapping records, support the hypothesis that inter-specific competition with the red fox is currently preventing arctic fox recovery in the Norwegian alpine environment.

並列關鍵字

Alopex lagopus ； arctic fox ； den ； inter-specific competition ； population decline ； red fox ； Vulpes vulpes