Down a hole: missing GPS positions reveal birth dates of an underground denning species, the red fox

Author:

Walton ZeaORCID,Mattisson JennyORCID

Abstract

AbstractGlobal positioning system (GPS) technology is increasingly used to study animal behavior. However, some animals exhibit behaviors that may result in the failure to acquire a GPS position, such as for species with underground denning behavior. This creates a challenge for researchers to identify the timing of important life-history events such as birth. Here, we tested if information gaps arising from unsuccessful GPS positions, in connection with intrinsic and extrinsic factors, can identify parturition events in an underground denning species, the red fox. Using data from 30 GPS collared female red foxes during the approximate parturition period of 1 March–31 May, we calculated the proportion of successful GPS positions per day. We then compared the patterns of successful GPS positions for females of known reproductive status to those known not to have reproduced and a subset of females for which reproductive status was unknown. Females confirmed to have pups (n = 11) and two females of unknown reproductive status showed a significant difference in the proportion of successful GPS positions compared to females without pups, illustrating that parturition and denning activity could be identified from GPS data. None of the 12 subadult females were identified as denning. Parturition date, identified as the day with the lowest GPS fix rate within the five-day period with the lowest proportion of successful GPS positions, ranged from 20 March–14 May, with a mean parturition date of 12 April. We, therefore, conclude that important biological information, such as reproductive status and parturition dates, can be identified from patterns of missing GPS positions for some underground denning species.

Funder

Naturvårdsverket

Svenska Jägareförbundet

Miljødirektoratet

Gotaas Fund, Norway

Karl Erik Önnesjös Stiftelse

Inland Norway University Of Applied Sciences

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Subject

Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Reference37 articles.

1. Aronsson M (2017) ‘O Neighbour, Where Art Thou?’ Spatial and social dynamics in wolverine and lynx, from individual space use to population distribution. PhD thesis No. 2017:24. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

2. Asano M et al (2003) Reproductive characteristics of the feral raccoon (Procyon lotor) in Hokkaido. Japan J Vet Med Sci 65:369–373

3. Bonar M et al (2018) Implementing a novel movement-based approach to inferring parturition and neonate caribou calf survival. PLoS One 13(2):e0192204

4. Cagnacci F et al (2010) Animal ecology meets GPS-based radiotelemetry: a perfect storm of opportunities and challenges. Philos Trans R Soc B Biol Sci 365:2157–2162

5. Cavallini P, Santini S (1995) Timing of reproduction in red fox. Vuples vuples. Int J Mamm Biol. 60:337–342

Cited by 3 articles. 订阅此论文施引文献 订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3