The aim was to compare radiographic X-ray data to foreleg bending, moving difficulties and body size in juvenile blue foxes. Experimental groups were: 1) restricted feeding, Ca:P ratio 1.5:1 (R 1);2) restricted feedin...The aim was to compare radiographic X-ray data to foreleg bending, moving difficulties and body size in juvenile blue foxes. Experimental groups were: 1) restricted feeding, Ca:P ratio 1.5:1 (R 1);2) restricted feeding, Ca:P ratio 2.9:1 (R 2);3) restricted feeding Ca:P ratio 2.0:1 control level (R 3);4) ad libitum feeding, Ca:P ratio 1.5:1 (AL 1);5) ad libitum feeding, Ca:P ratio 2.9:1 (AL 2);6) ad libitum feeding Ca:P ratio 2.0:1 control level (AL 3). Moving difficulties and foreleg bending were evaluated in live animals. At pelting, left foreleg was removed. X-ray pictures were taken from lateral views. Dimensions of ulna and radius were measured from the X-ray pictures. Conditions of carpal joint and elbow joint were visually evaluated. The results showed that final body weight was affected by feeding intensity (P = 0.001). Ad libitum fed animals had more moving difficulties compared to restricted ones (P = 0.001). The Ca:P ratio tended (P = 0.06) to have an effect on feet bending. Bending was greatest in low Ca:P ratio (1.5:1) and, correspondingly, least in high Ca:P ratio (2.9:1). Moving difficulties were most common in heaviest animals. The moving difficulties tended (P = 0.07) to be positively related to feet bending. Maximum width of ulna was lowest in low Ca:P ratio diet (1.5:1). Bending was negatively correlated with maximum width of ulna. It can be concluded that low Ca:P ratio in the diet (1.5:1) increases foreleg bending in juveniles. Moving difficulties are related to foreleg bending and high body weight.展开更多
A traditional fox cage was furnished with both activating environmental enrichments (EE) (a bone, a scratching plate, a hockey buck, a ceiling rope and a wall rope and straw) and EEs enabling resting or observation (a...A traditional fox cage was furnished with both activating environmental enrichments (EE) (a bone, a scratching plate, a hockey buck, a ceiling rope and a wall rope and straw) and EEs enabling resting or observation (a wire-mesh platform and a top nest box). The aim was to find out to which extent blue foxes (Vulpes lagopus) utilized these EEs, and to collect practical experiences of the EEs. The experimental animals were 12 adult blue fox vixens that had been housed in cages furnished with a platform and a bone for about 1.5 years before they were transferred to the multi-enriched cages. The frequency and duration of the active contacts with the EEs were measured with continuous recording on Days 1, 2, 7 and 16 after the transfer, with three hours (13:30 - 14:30, 18:00 - 19:00 and 2:00 - 3:00) on each day. The total use of the EEs was 15 times per hour and more than 20% of the time. For most EEs both the time spent in contact and the frequency of contacts with the EEs declined steeply after Day 1, reflecting a novelty effect of the EEs. This decline was not so evident for the platform, top nest box and wall rope. These three EEs were also the ones used the most by the foxes. The ropes were badly damaged during the experiments, whereas other EEs remained in good condition. Explorativity markedly increased when animals were transferred from home cage to enriched cages. Explorativity remained high during entire study period when foxes were kept in enriched enrichment. Furthermore, it remained high also after transferring of animals back to home cages. Capture reaction was quite similar in home and enriched cages. The amount of stereotypy varied among recording days (P < 0.05). When foxes were transferred from home cages to multi-enriched cages, no change was found in the amount stereotypy during Days 1 and 2. Thereafter, the amount of stereotypy showed a declined trend. Stereotypy tended to increase when foxes were transferred back to home cages. Our results indicated that foxes used readily the opportunities for more diverse behaviours.展开更多
Human presence and activities have profoundly altered animals’habitats,exposing them to greater risks but also providing new opportunities and resources.The animals’capacity to effectively navigate and strike a bala...Human presence and activities have profoundly altered animals’habitats,exposing them to greater risks but also providing new opportunities and resources.The animals’capacity to effectively navigate and strike a balance between risks and benefts is crucial for their survival in the Anthropocene era.Red foxes(Vulpes vulpes),adept urban dwellers,exhibit behavioral plasticity in human-altered environments.We investigated variations in detection frequency on trail cameras and the behavioral responses(explorative,bold,and fearful)of wild red foxes living along an urbanization gradient when exposed to a metal bin initially presented clean and then flled with anthropogenic food.All fox populations displayed an increased interest and similar explorative behavioral responses toward the anthropogenic food source,irrespective of the urbanization gradient.Despite no impact on explorative behaviors,foxes in more urbanized areas initially showed heightened fear toward the empty bin,indicating increased apprehension toward novel objects.However,this fear diminished over time,and in the presence of food,urban foxes displayed slightly reduced fear compared with their less urban counterparts.Our results highlight foxes’potential for adaptability to human landscapes,additionally underscoring the nuanced interplay of fear and explorative behavioral response of populations living along the urbanization gradient.展开更多
The mechanisms of interactions between apex and smaller carnivores may range from competition to facilitation.Conversely,interactions between predators and prey are mainly driven by the prey reducing the likelihood of...The mechanisms of interactions between apex and smaller carnivores may range from competition to facilitation.Conversely,interactions between predators and prey are mainly driven by the prey reducing the likelihood of encounters with predators.In this study,we investigated(1)the spatiotemporal interactions between an apex(the snow leopard)and a meso-predator(the red fox),and(2)the temporal interactions between the snow leopard and its potential prey(Siberian ibex,argali,Asian wild ass,Tolai hare)through camera trapping in the Mongolian Great Gobi-A.The probability of occurrence for the red fox was higher in the presence of the snow leopard than in its absence.Moreover,the red fox activity pattern matched that of the snow leopard,with both species mostly active at sunset.This positive spatiotemporal interaction suggests that the presence of the snow leopard may be beneficial for the red fox in terms of scavenging opportunities.However,other explanations may also be possible.Amongst prey,the Siberian ibex and the argali were mainly active during the day,whereas the Asian wild ass and the Tolai hare were more nocturnal.These findings suggest that potential prey(especially the Siberian ibex and the argali)may shape their behavior to decrease the opportunity for encounters with the snow leopard.Our results have revealed complex interactions between apex and smaller predators andbetween apexpredatorand its potential prey.展开更多
文摘The aim was to compare radiographic X-ray data to foreleg bending, moving difficulties and body size in juvenile blue foxes. Experimental groups were: 1) restricted feeding, Ca:P ratio 1.5:1 (R 1);2) restricted feeding, Ca:P ratio 2.9:1 (R 2);3) restricted feeding Ca:P ratio 2.0:1 control level (R 3);4) ad libitum feeding, Ca:P ratio 1.5:1 (AL 1);5) ad libitum feeding, Ca:P ratio 2.9:1 (AL 2);6) ad libitum feeding Ca:P ratio 2.0:1 control level (AL 3). Moving difficulties and foreleg bending were evaluated in live animals. At pelting, left foreleg was removed. X-ray pictures were taken from lateral views. Dimensions of ulna and radius were measured from the X-ray pictures. Conditions of carpal joint and elbow joint were visually evaluated. The results showed that final body weight was affected by feeding intensity (P = 0.001). Ad libitum fed animals had more moving difficulties compared to restricted ones (P = 0.001). The Ca:P ratio tended (P = 0.06) to have an effect on feet bending. Bending was greatest in low Ca:P ratio (1.5:1) and, correspondingly, least in high Ca:P ratio (2.9:1). Moving difficulties were most common in heaviest animals. The moving difficulties tended (P = 0.07) to be positively related to feet bending. Maximum width of ulna was lowest in low Ca:P ratio diet (1.5:1). Bending was negatively correlated with maximum width of ulna. It can be concluded that low Ca:P ratio in the diet (1.5:1) increases foreleg bending in juveniles. Moving difficulties are related to foreleg bending and high body weight.
文摘A traditional fox cage was furnished with both activating environmental enrichments (EE) (a bone, a scratching plate, a hockey buck, a ceiling rope and a wall rope and straw) and EEs enabling resting or observation (a wire-mesh platform and a top nest box). The aim was to find out to which extent blue foxes (Vulpes lagopus) utilized these EEs, and to collect practical experiences of the EEs. The experimental animals were 12 adult blue fox vixens that had been housed in cages furnished with a platform and a bone for about 1.5 years before they were transferred to the multi-enriched cages. The frequency and duration of the active contacts with the EEs were measured with continuous recording on Days 1, 2, 7 and 16 after the transfer, with three hours (13:30 - 14:30, 18:00 - 19:00 and 2:00 - 3:00) on each day. The total use of the EEs was 15 times per hour and more than 20% of the time. For most EEs both the time spent in contact and the frequency of contacts with the EEs declined steeply after Day 1, reflecting a novelty effect of the EEs. This decline was not so evident for the platform, top nest box and wall rope. These three EEs were also the ones used the most by the foxes. The ropes were badly damaged during the experiments, whereas other EEs remained in good condition. Explorativity markedly increased when animals were transferred from home cage to enriched cages. Explorativity remained high during entire study period when foxes were kept in enriched enrichment. Furthermore, it remained high also after transferring of animals back to home cages. Capture reaction was quite similar in home and enriched cages. The amount of stereotypy varied among recording days (P < 0.05). When foxes were transferred from home cages to multi-enriched cages, no change was found in the amount stereotypy during Days 1 and 2. Thereafter, the amount of stereotypy showed a declined trend. Stereotypy tended to increase when foxes were transferred back to home cages. Our results indicated that foxes used readily the opportunities for more diverse behaviours.
基金The study was funded by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund(WWTF)[10.47379/ESR20009]RB was partially financed by the WWTF and partially financed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan(NRRP),Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4 Call for tender No.3138 of 16 December 2021,rectified by Decree n.3175 of 18 December 2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union Next Generation EU.MAwas financed by Fondo di Ateneo per la Ricerca 2020(University of Sassari).
文摘Human presence and activities have profoundly altered animals’habitats,exposing them to greater risks but also providing new opportunities and resources.The animals’capacity to effectively navigate and strike a balance between risks and benefts is crucial for their survival in the Anthropocene era.Red foxes(Vulpes vulpes),adept urban dwellers,exhibit behavioral plasticity in human-altered environments.We investigated variations in detection frequency on trail cameras and the behavioral responses(explorative,bold,and fearful)of wild red foxes living along an urbanization gradient when exposed to a metal bin initially presented clean and then flled with anthropogenic food.All fox populations displayed an increased interest and similar explorative behavioral responses toward the anthropogenic food source,irrespective of the urbanization gradient.Despite no impact on explorative behaviors,foxes in more urbanized areas initially showed heightened fear toward the empty bin,indicating increased apprehension toward novel objects.However,this fear diminished over time,and in the presence of food,urban foxes displayed slightly reduced fear compared with their less urban counterparts.Our results highlight foxes’potential for adaptability to human landscapes,additionally underscoring the nuanced interplay of fear and explorative behavioral response of populations living along the urbanization gradient.
基金Wildlife Initiative NGO(Mongolia)and Bavarian Association for Bird Protection(LBV-Germany)and IGA-20223107 provided the funding to realize this research.
文摘The mechanisms of interactions between apex and smaller carnivores may range from competition to facilitation.Conversely,interactions between predators and prey are mainly driven by the prey reducing the likelihood of encounters with predators.In this study,we investigated(1)the spatiotemporal interactions between an apex(the snow leopard)and a meso-predator(the red fox),and(2)the temporal interactions between the snow leopard and its potential prey(Siberian ibex,argali,Asian wild ass,Tolai hare)through camera trapping in the Mongolian Great Gobi-A.The probability of occurrence for the red fox was higher in the presence of the snow leopard than in its absence.Moreover,the red fox activity pattern matched that of the snow leopard,with both species mostly active at sunset.This positive spatiotemporal interaction suggests that the presence of the snow leopard may be beneficial for the red fox in terms of scavenging opportunities.However,other explanations may also be possible.Amongst prey,the Siberian ibex and the argali were mainly active during the day,whereas the Asian wild ass and the Tolai hare were more nocturnal.These findings suggest that potential prey(especially the Siberian ibex and the argali)may shape their behavior to decrease the opportunity for encounters with the snow leopard.Our results have revealed complex interactions between apex and smaller predators andbetween apexpredatorand its potential prey.
