Kit Foxes Demonstrate Adaptive Compromise Characteristics under Intraguild Predation Pressure by Coyotes in the Great Basin Desert

Authors

Nadine A. Pershyn, Utah State UniversityFollow
Eric M. Gese, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Logan, UtahFollow
Erica F. Stuber, United States Geological Survey, Utah Cooperative Fish and Wildlife, Research Unit
Bryan M. Kluever, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Heath Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Florida Field Station, Gainesville, FloridaFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2024

Citation

Scirntific Reports (2024) 14: 14446

doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-61692-1

Comments

United States government work

Abstract

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.