Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-5230, USA.
Life Science II RM 251, 1125 Lincoln Dr, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA.
Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 24;14(1):14446. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-61692-1.
Coyotes (Canis latrans) are believed to contribute to declining kit fox (Vulpes macrotis) numbers in the Great Basin desert through intraguild predation. Intraguild prey have been shown to exhibit adaptive compromise, whereby an animal increases selection for risky, but food-rich areas during times of food stress (i.e. winter). We evaluated the habitat selection of kit foxes in the Great Basin desert to elucidate if they demonstrated adaptive compromise as a method of coexisting with coyotes. We created 2nd order resource selection functions to analyze kit fox habitat selection associated with coyote relative probability of use (RPU), prey abundance, and type of soil substrate. In the summer, we found that kit fox selection for areas of relatively more abundant prey was not significant, and there was a small positive selection for coyote RPU. In the winter, we found a positive relationship between kit fox selection and prey abundance as well as a stronger selection for coyote RPU. These findings do follow the pattern of adaptive compromise. We also found kit foxes selected for silty and sandy soils, which are conducive to den construction, as they use dens seasonally for breeding but also year-round for multiple uses, including refugia from predators and extreme heat. Soil substrate appeared to be an important factor impacting kit fox habitat selection.
人们认为郊狼（Canis latrans）通过种内捕食对大盆地沙漠中的囊地鼠（Vulpes macrotis）数量的下降负有责任。已经表明，种内猎物表现出适应性妥协，即在食物匮乏期（即冬季），动物会增加对风险较高但食物丰富的区域的选择。我们评估了大盆地沙漠中囊地鼠的栖息地选择，以阐明它们是否表现出适应性妥协，以此与郊狼共存。我们创建了二阶资源选择函数，以分析与郊狼相对使用概率（RPU）、猎物丰度和土壤基质类型相关的囊地鼠栖息地选择。在夏季，我们发现囊地鼠对相对更丰富的猎物的选择并不显著，对郊狼 RPU 的选择有轻微的正相关。在冬季，我们发现囊地鼠对猎物丰度的选择呈正相关，对郊狼 RPU 的选择也更强。这些发现确实遵循了适应性妥协的模式。我们还发现囊地鼠选择了粉砂质土壤和沙质土壤，这有利于洞穴的建造，因为它们季节性地使用洞穴繁殖，但也全年用于多种用途，包括躲避捕食者和极端高温。土壤基质似乎是影响囊地鼠栖息地选择的一个重要因素。
