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Study area map. The map shows the c. 460 km2 study area with breeding den locations of Indian foxes (V. bengalensis) and dominant land-cover categories in and around the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in 2009-10.
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Fragmentation of native habitats is now a ubiquitous phenomenon affecting wildlife at various scales. We examined selection of den-sites (n = 26) by Indian foxes (Vulpes bengalensis) in a highly modified short-grassland landscape in central India (Jan-May, 2010). At the scale of the home-range, defined by an 800 m circular buffer around den sites,...
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Citations
... Their favourable topographical features and fertile soils have made grassland habitats the most extensively modified ecosystem by human activity (Henwood 1998). These modifications and the resulting fragmentation have led to increased habitat heterogeneity which can severely threaten native grassland species (Punjabi et al. 2013). ...
... The study area, much like the larger landscape, is an evolving mosaic of protected native grasslands, afforested woodland plots, communal and private grazing lands, urban settlements, and agricultural land (Krishna et al. 2016;Narwade and Rahmani 2020;Punjabi et al. 2013). Among the main crops grown in the region are jowar (millets) and groundnut. ...
Open natural ecosystems (ONEs), such as tropical grasslands, are among the most threatened habitats on Earth today. The long-term monitoring of ONEs is an important research domain that is essential for understanding anthropogenic impacts and facilitating conservation action. Using a simple day-listing method over a 13-year period, we studied species trends in a central Indian grassland–agriculture mosaic experiencing several land-use changes. Our results indicate that some grassland species (such as the Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps ) showed steep declines during the study period, while other generalist species (such as the Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus ) showed an increasing trend. Daily listing also revealed distinct seasonal patterns, and we discuss the Great Indian Bustard and Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus as examples. Our study highlights the utility of consistent checklist surveys to monitor population trends of bird communities within a changing landscape.
... Although den site selection is important for the survival of most canid and felid species (Punjabi et al., 2013;Ahmadi et al., 2014), it is of even greater importance for mesocarnivores such as Rüppell's fox and sand cat. These sub-ordinate carnivores use den sites year-round (authors' direct observation), and more importantly, these structures act as thermal refuges in the harsh environment of deserts as well as a means to avoid sub-ordinate competitors (Ross et al., 2010;Elbroch et al., 2015;Byerly et al., 2018;Reshamwala et al., 2021). ...
... Based on remote monitoring with binoculars, searching for footprints and feces, and setting camera traps, the identified dens were checked to ensure that they belong to the two target species. To evaluate the pattern of den site selection of the species, five 20 × 20 m plots were located around den sites, one with the center of den opening and the other four plots 50 m from the den in the cardinal directions (Trapp et al., 2008;Punjabi et al., 2013). The measured variables in these 5 plots were then averaged for each den.For each identified den burrows, we conservatively placed absence sites 1 km far from den sites based on previous studies (Person and Russell, 2009;Ahmadi et al., 2014) in a random direction where we assured of the absence of the species. ...
... The measured variables in these 5 plots were then averaged for each den.For each identified den burrows, we conservatively placed absence sites 1 km far from den sites based on previous studies (Person and Russell, 2009;Ahmadi et al., 2014) in a random direction where we assured of the absence of the species. Punjabi et al. (2013) in a useavailable approach considered 800 m radius around Indian red fox to investigate its den site selection pattern. Based on prior knowledge of den sites and our three-years extensive surveys in the study area, we are confident that, to perform the GLMM analyses, we detected appropriate absence sites for identified den sites. ...
... Our field surveys indicate that foxes are likely to avoid locations for den excavation with a good hold of golden jackals, appeared from the absence of dens where jackals are common. In central Indian landscape, Bengal fox was found to avoid sympatric canids such as Indian wolf Canis lupus and golden jackals (Punjabi et al. 2013). We found small Indian mongoose and rodents to appropriate abandoned dens of the fox. ...
The northwest regions of Bangladesh belong to the global range of Bengal fox, Vulpes bengalensis. However, scientific information on this small canid in Bangladesh is scanty; it also remains out of any conservation initiatives, and it is widely perceived as a potential threat to local poultry. We conducted this premier study between September 2019 and December 2021. We investigated the feeding and breeding behaviour of this fox by using scat samples, direct field surveys and camera-trapping. An analysis of 67 scats yielded eight major categories of prey items consumed by the fox. Arthropods (29%) ranked top in the relative percentage of occurrence, followed by rodents (27%), plant parts (17%), and birds (13%), among the others. Ninety-two percent of scats contained multiple food items, with an average number of food items per scat of 3.50± SE 1.87. We recorded 17 den sites in and around human-dominated landscapes, of which nine den sites remained unoccupied during the entire study period. Dens used by Bengal foxes were complex, comprising interconnected tunnels and holes with an average of 23.66± SD 12.78 holes/den. We estimated a total of 37 individuals of the fox, with 62% pups in the recorded population. The average litter size was 3.36± SE 0.52 pups. We recommend further research to assess population status and delineate its range in Bangladesh.
... Their favourable topographic features and fertile soils have made grassland habitats the most extensively modified ecosystem by humans (Henwood 1998). These modifications and the resulting fragmentation has led to increased habitat heterogeneity and can severely threaten native grassland species (Punjabi et al. 2013). ...
... The study area, much like the larger landscape, is an evolving mosaic of protected native grasslands, afforested woodland plots, communal and private grazing lands, urban settlements, and agricultural land (Punjabi et al. 2013;Krishna et al. 2016; Narwade and Rahmani 2020). ...
Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs), such as tropical grasslands, are among the most threatened habitats on Earth today. The long-term monitoring of ONEs is an important research domain that is essential for understanding anthropogenic impacts and facilitating conservation action. Using a simple day-listing method over a 12-year period, we studied bird abundance in a central Indian grassland-agriculture mosaic experiencing several land-use changes. Our results indicate that some grassland species (such as the Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps ) show steep declines during the study period, while woodland species (such as the Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus ) show highly fluctuating populations with no discernable trend. Daily listing also reveals distinct seasonal patterns, and we discuss the Great Indian Bustard and Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus as examples. Our study highlights the utility of consistent checklist surveys to monitor abundance trends of bird communities within a changing landscape.
... Coyotes may have similarly adapted denning habits to urban environments through specific selection of fourth-order characteristics that promote security from humans and domestic dogs. The failure to avoid anthropogenic features and to incorporate anthropogenic infrastructure into dens is consistent with other observations of small canids denning near human centers; for example, red foxes do not avoid areas with human activity when denning (Zaman et al. 2020), and den under buildings (Dekker 1983), and Indian foxes (Vulpes bengalensis) frequently use anthropogenic items or debris as infrastructure to support their dens (Punjabi et al. 2013). Coyotes in urban environments dig dens in anthropogenic topographical features (Way et al. 2001, Grubbs andKrausman 2009), and den near occupied buildings (Way 2009). ...
The establishment of coyote (Canis latrans) populations in urban areas across North America has been accompanied by increased rates of human–coyote conflict. One factor thought to promote physical conflict between coyotes and people or pets is the presence of coyote pups near natal dens; however, this idea has not been tested, and no multivariate study of den selection within cities has occurred. Our objectives were to conduct a multivariate analysis of third‐ (i.e., home range) and fourth‐order (i.e., den sites) habitat selection at dens and determine whether proximity to dens is associated with reports of physical conflict with coyotes. We found 120 dens by following coyote trails using snow tracking within urban green spaces that comprise presumed high‐quality habitat for coyotes in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. We used resource selection functions to assess habitat selection for dens, testing variables related to land cover and anthropogenic features at the third order, and testing microsite habitat features via paired sites at the fourth order. We defined conflict encounters from comments in a community reporting database and used general linear models to assess their spatial proximity to the nearest den and prevalence during the pup‐rearing period compared to the rest of the year. Habitat selection was strongest at the fourth order, wherein coyotes selected for abundant hiding cover, steep slopes, and eastern exposure. The prevalence of physical conflict with coyotes increased during the pup‐rearing period. Conflict also increased near known dens as an overall effect and when reports occurred outside of naturalized urban areas. These results suggest that coyotes in Edmonton den in green spaces near human development in microsites that minimize detection by people via steep slopes and dense vegetation. We suggest urban wildlife managers increase public safety education about recognition of coyote denning habitat and coyote defensive behaviors, especially outside of naturalized urban areas, because of the observed increase in physical conflict near dens. Urban coyotes selected den sites with abundant hiding cover, steep slopes, and eastern exposure at a fine scale, but they did not exhibit strong selection at a coarser scale or avoidance of human infrastructure. Because coyote dens are associated with higher rates of physical conflict between coyotes and people or pets, this information will enable land managers to proactively mitigate risk through strategic management.
... Since the Indian fox is a den-dependent species, the collection of scat samples were carried out by active search in the vicinity of dens during the dry season, i.e. from November 2015 to June 2016. The den is primarily used for reproduction, pup-rearing and resting by breeding pairs [16]. A total number of 8 active dens were observed during the study period and scats collections were made near these dens to avoid the mixture of samples. ...
Urban expansions into natural habitats have forced many carnivores to adapt to the modified areas; however, our understanding of their ecology in such areas is limited. The Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis) is a small carnivore species that can adapt and exploit urban areas due to its generalist nature, but there is a paucity of data on Indian foxes in these human-modified areas. To understand the resource requirement of Indian foxes in urban habitats, we conducted a diet analysis by examining 119 scats of Indian foxes in a peri-urban habitat of Baripada town, Odisha, eastern India. To determine the diet composition of Indian foxes, we analyzed scat contents by their frequency occurrence (%FO), the relative frequency of occurrence (%RF) and mean percent volume (%Vm). Indian foxes consumed a wide range of food categories, including arthropods, rodents, reptiles, birds, plant parts and an-thropogenic resources. In %Vm, rodents showed the highest volume, followed by polythene, Spondias pinnata fruit and Coleoptera. We found anthropogenic foods in considerable quantities, including polythene and paper. The diet of Indian foxes indicates that the species has opportunistic and generalist feeding habits consisting primarily of easily accessible foods. Furthermore, management efforts should focus on the proper management of waste and control of anthropogenic food sources in urban habitats.
... Dens were more common beneath weather board buildings and were associated with properties that did not contain domestic dogs. And another study conducted by [20] . Importance of native grassland habitat for den-site selection of Indian foxes in a fragmented landscape fragmentation of native. ...
... Leopards irregular patterns are also predicted through the mammal species studied with visual acuity evidence also suggested that in felids (Tapetum lucidum, choroidal tapetum cellulosum layers are found [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] and also has higher tendency of visual or hearing abilities and additionally, felid tapetal cells cover more accurately packed rodlets related with the less proficient design of canids and mustelids and it seems that the high amount of layers fixed with efficient packing pays to the extraordinary reflectance of the feline tapetum cellulosum, assessed to reflect 130 times extra light than the super predator human eye [99] .Leopards irregular activity pattern were also imaginable to linked with the temporal behaviors of prey species, for example, Felid activity patterns rarely relate with those of their potential prey [118] . Besides for large herbivores and medium sized preys' species such as wild boar exhibited lunarphobic, roe deer indicated lunarphilic and hare showed dip at night full moon but day time activity were showed lunar phobic. ...
... Canids comprise one of the most prominent families of carnivores globally, with 36 taxa distributed across 13 genera from 81% of countries [146,147] . Canids, in general, are declining across their ranges as a consequence of habitat loss, human persecution, decline in prey populations, disease and harvesting/over-exploitation [20] . ...
The nocturnal activities of animals are influenced by the brightness of the moon in
different moon phases. Further, behaviour of prey animals, and also density, may fluctuate in
response to predators through both lethal effects and non-lethal (fear) effects. As we understand,
wildlife may experience fear from a range of predators, including large carnivores,
mesopredators, domestic dogs and humans, the latter being regarded as a super predator. In
such landscapes with the occurrence of predators, the prey is likely to be more alert in order to
lower the danger of being killed. Further, flight response is an appropriate, recognised and
measurable indicator (as flight initiation distance, FID) of fear effects in terrestrial animals.
In this research, our specific aims were: 1) to investigate the effects of moonlight on
activity patterns and the interactions between a large carnivore (North China leopard Panthera
pardus japonensis) and their prey; 2) to analyse the den-site selection by the mesopredator, red
fox (Vulpes vulpes montana) at multiple scales in a patchy human-dominated landscape; 3) to
describe the habitat factors and predator density effects on the spatial abundance of cape hare
(Lepus capensis) distribution; 4) to explore the increased FID in golden marmots (Marmota
caudata aurea) in response to domestic dogs, and; 5) to understand how the occurrence of
conspecifics in the neighboring space may influence FID in cape hare under the effect of
human disturbance. These collective works contributed to the understanding of fear ecology
and their implications for predator-prey interactions in China and Pakistan.
We used camera-traps to investigate the first aim; for the remaining four objectives, we
laid out transect lines in different habitats to explore how the fear effects stimulated by humans
and predators influence other mammals. A total of 102 camera locations operated between
March 2017-May 2019 and circadian activities of each species was analyzed by using temporalniche overlap model, as well as Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Model (GLMM) to link
habitat structures with leopards and prey species. We derived Resource Selection Functions
(RSFs) to predict the potential distribution of red fox dens at three spatial scales. We used the
standard line transect distance sampling method to calculate the seasonal density of hare and
comparative density of red fox. A traditional live-trapping protocol was used to capture a
sample of golden marmots at the four colonies. Lastly, we used human stimuli at the start of
each sampling period for the cape hare investigation to link with disturbances and flight
response.
The main results of this study are the following:
(1) North China leopard exhibited an irregular activity pattern, wild boar (Sus scrofa)
indicated lunar phobic behaviour and avoided leopard, and roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) were
lunar philic. Tolai hare (Lepus tolai) showed lunar phobic behavior. The nocturnal activities of
leopards, roe deer and tolai hare were positively related. The occurrence of leopard day vs.
night activity during four different lunar phases were exhibited a preference with distance to
deciduous forest and secondary roads, while avoided to lower elevations. Roe deer showed a
preference to secondary roads. Wild boar displayed avoidance of intermediate elevation. Tolai
hare indicated preference to grassland. Further, cloud cover, moonlight risk index (MRI),
humans and season had diverse effects on leopard and prey interactions.
(2) We found that for red fox den occurrence, elevation was the most significant covariate
at landscapes scale, and distance to forest had negative effect; at patch scale, distance to forests
were negatively correlated with number of dens and positively linked to shrubs. Furthermore,
at microhabitat scale, den occurrence was negatively linked with hiding cover and positively
associated with tree density and anthropogenic features – den occurrence was negatively
related with distance to roads and positively correlated with Indian pika (Ochotona roylei)burrow existence. We found that den entrance dimensions were larger for natal dens than
resting dens.
(3) We identified that, the population density of hare was highest in bare areas and the
lowest in mixed plantations. In summer, we found a positive correlation between hare and red
fox density in a bare area, and in winter, in shrubs land. The relative density of red fox was
lowest in subalpine habitat. We found that hare pellet indices were positively connected with
indices of herbs in plantation forest, shrubs in mixed forest, trees in two selected habitat sites,
and negatively linked to cultivated land, roads, and rivers in mixed and streams in bare areas.
(4) We measured FID in 72 Golden marmots from four colonies in the Karakoram Range,
Pakistan. We found that the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) caused greater FID than pedestrian alone, and adult marmots nearer to roads showed greater FID. However, marmot age and colony substrate had more marked influences on FID, which was also greater at lower elevations where there were clusters of human settlements and livestock pastures.
(5) Our results showed that foraging hares have smaller FIDs than vigilant ones. Social
animals reduced FID of the focal hare due to a mutual vigilance, while a solitary animal had
greater FID due to less cooperative defense for predator detection.
This research has demonstrated that fear effects exist in human-dominated landscapes, and
that environmental factors can drive temporal activities of predator-prey interactions which are
linked with lunar phase. It also showed that human disturbances, such as domestic dogs,
influenced the core activity zones of burrowing herbivores. The studies also show the scale of fear and provide a superior chance to recognize the biological significance of fear ecology and its application for future wildlife conservation in human-dominated landscapes.
... For species that are habitat specialists, access to preferred habitat types within the habitat mosaic in heterogeneous systems is crucial for their continued persistence (Kamler et al., 2003). For example, the presence of native grassland patches has been found to be important for den site selection by Indian foxes, especially in human-dominated landscapes (Punjabi et al., 2013). ...
... The golden jackal is the only jackal species found in India and is reportedly widespread and tolerant of human presence (Admasu et al., 2004;Jaeger et al., 2007). The Indian fox is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and is generally found in areas with native savannah grasslands (Punjabi et al., 2013;Vanak & Gompper, 2010). The jungle cat, despite being known to occur in a wide variety of landscapes across India (Kalle et al., 2013;Mukherjee et al., 2004;Thatte et al., 2020), has a strong affinity toward water, and is often found near swamps, wetlands, and riparian zones, even in drier habitats (Duckworth et al., 2005;Mukherjee et al., 2010). ...
... Despite its low proportional availability (0.03-10%), the plantation class was also selected over other LULC types by the Indian fox. These plantations are managed by the forest department and have artificially constructed trenches and embankments, which are useful as denning sites for Indian foxes (Punjabi et al., 2013). The plantations are often interspersed with patches of native grassland vegetation, providing continuous patches of suitable habitat for Indian foxes. ...
Space‐use patterns of animals are a fundamental measure of resource requirements and constraints. In some human‐modified landscapes, especially agroecosystems that depend on both rainfall and irrigation, drivers that influence animal space use can show unexpected spatial and temporal patterns due to anthropogenic activities. Animals living in such landscapes are expected to respond to changes in their environment by altering home‐range sizes and habitat selection at multiple scales. We used movement data from a guild of mesocarnivores to determine how home‐range size and habitat selection differ across species and seasons in a complex agroecosystem in Central India. Based on high‐resolution location data from golden jackals (Canis aureus), jungle cats (Felis chaus), and Indian foxes (Vulpes bengalensis) over a period of ~3 years, we found that home‐range sizes scaled with body mass as expected, with high intra‐species variability. Seasonal home ranges of golden jackals, jungle cats, and Indian foxes varied from 3.1 to 23.7 (mean = 12.3 ± 1.6), 1.01 to 26.48 (mean = 5.9 ± 0.9), and 1.16 to 10.71 (mean = 4.3 ± 0.5) km², respectively. Contrary to expectations, home‐range size did not vary significantly with season, suggesting that agricultural activities may dampen typical seasonal variations in resource availability and distribution. Site fidelity in seasonal home ranges for golden jackals, jungle cats, and Indian foxes was high (seasonal overlaps = 0.94 ± 0.01, 0.89 ± 0.02 and 0.81 ± 0.03, respectively). We also found that the habitat specialist Indian fox primarily selected for remnant native grasslands and plantations, whereas the generalist golden jackal and jungle cat selected more human‐modified land cover types at both the landscape and home‐range scales. This study highlights the importance of maintaining natural habitats within production landscapes, especially for habitat specialists, which are more constrained in their requirements than generalist species.
... To collect data for evaluating micro-habitat characteristics, the design implemented by Punjabi et al. (2013) was used. We recorded visibility, number of rodent burrows, spiny-tail lizard's burrows and number of shrubs within a 25 × 25 meter north-oriented plot with the den site as the center (Fig. 2). ...
... Although desert foxes seem to avoid thick vegetation at the landscape scale, at scale of the den site, they selected areas having higher vegetation cover than the surrounding open flats. This is similar to what is seen in several other species of open habitat foxes such as the swift fox, Vulpes velox (Uresk et al. 2003), kit fox, Vulpes macrotis (Arjo et al. 2003) and the Indian fox V. bengalensis (Punjabi et al. 2013). At the broader scale, desert fox dens were located in areas that were closer to water sources, as this is a strongly limited resource. ...
Encroachment by woody invasive plants has been recognized as a major driver of structural change in grasslands ecosystems. The impact of invasive plant-mediated changes on mammalian species from higher trophic levels is relatively less understood. This study aims to understand the impact of woody encroachment on the ecology of a relatively understudied mesopredator, the Indian desert fox Vulpes v. pusilla in a semi-arid saline grassland ecosystem in Western India. We examined the site occupancy of the Indian desert fox at the landscape level, and den site selection at the micro-habitat scale. We also examined the diet of desert foxes during winter and summer season. We found that at the landscape level the desert fox selects more open Suaeda saline habitats over dense invasive Prosopis juliflora dominated habitats. At the scale of the den, proximity to water and vegetation cover were the main drivers of den site selection. Similar to other arid zone foxes, insects, plant materials and small mammals were the main components of the diet of Indian desert fox. Given its selection of open habitats, invasive shrub encroachment is likely to result in a loss of habitat as well as resources for this species, potentially impacting on the conservation status of this already range-restricted species in India.
... Rangelands are indeed an important type of the managedgrasslands categories, in which grasslands were assessed to cover 31.5% of the landmass worldwide, and play a massive role in controlling the global cycle of carbon (Franzluebbers, 2010), in addition to encouraging plant-animal biodiversity (Pokluda et al., 2012;Punjabi et al., 2013). According to species structure, rangelands are populated by native herbaceous/shrubbery vegetation that is a feed supply equally for domestic and wild herbivores, available in terms of desert shrublands, steppes, shrub woodlands and savannas (Ali et al., 2016). ...
Through most of the natural rangelands of Saudi Arabia, overgrazing, sand drifting, and off-road vehicles driving are almost the major contributing factors that lead to vegetation damage and land degradation in natural landscapes. The current study aimed at examining the dynamic nature of Abqaiq rangelands' vegetation, generating a vegetation intensity map, and investigating possible impacts caused by the spatial variability of obtained soil texture, sand content (%), and the derived available water capacity (DAW capacity (%)) on the intensity distribution of vegetation cover. Ordinal-nominal correlation type and spatial autocorrelation processes were adopted throughout the study to analyze the spatial correspondences as well as the interrelated patterns of the given variables. The resultant correlation between vegetation and soil texture (ordinal versus nominal variables) has yielded a significant (p-value
