A Study On Comparing The Habitat Selection And Habitat Suitability Assessment Of Red Fox(Vulpes Vulpes) And Stray Dog(Canis Familiaris)in Helan Mountains

The study of wildlife habitat selection and habitat suitability is one of the important elements of wildlife conservation and management,and is of great significance to the conservation of wildlife.The red fox(Vulpes vulpes)and the dog(Canis familiaris)have great similarities in size and feeding habits,both belonging to the Mammalia,Carnivora,Canidae family.In Helan Mountains,many dogs have been abandoned and become stray dogs wandering in and around Helan Mountains due to ecological migration and mining shutdowns,etc.To understand the specific impact of the presence of stray dogs on the red fox population in the Helan Mountains,a survey of two canid species was conducted from 2021 to 2022.In this study,17 habitat factors were selected to analyze the habitat selection preferences of red foxes and stray dogs among different seasons,and the differences in habitat selection in the winter and spring,summer and autumn were compared.After one year of investigation,a total of 157red fox utilization samples,152 stray dog utilization samples and 147 control samples were collected.In the process of transect investigation,the locations and coordinates were recorded as occurrence points where traces of red foxes or stray dogs were found,and the distribution of suitable habitats for red foxes and stray dogs was studied using the maximum entropy model by combining data on nine environmental factors,including topography,vegetation and climate.A total of 193 coordinates of red foxes and 152 coordinates of stray dogs were obtained after the field investigation.The main results are as follows:(1)Habitat selection characteristics of red foxes in all seasons are as follows:In spring,red foxes prefer to choose habitat types with sunny slopes,gentle slopes,downslope positions,moderate food abundance,high tree density,close tree proximity and high seclusion levels.In summer,habitat types with high food abundance,high tree density,high height and proximity are preferred.In autumn,red foxes prefer to choose montane open grasslands characterized by moderately broken slopes,gentle slopes,downslope positions,high food abundance,low elevation,high tree height,high shrub density,and high concealment level.In winter,red foxes prefer to choose montane open grasslands characterized by smooth undulating slopes,sunny slopes,flat slopes,downslope positions,low altitude,close to shrubs,close to human disturbance and far from bare rocks.(2)Habitat selection characteristics of stray dogs in all seasons are as follows:In spring,stray dogs prefer to choose habitat types with smooth undulating slopes,down slopes,medium food abundance,high tree density,long shrub distance,close distance from human disturbance and high concealment level.In summer,habitat types with smooth undulating slopes,moderate food abundance downhills,high tree density,high tree height,close tree distance,and close proximity to water sources are preferred.In autumn,the type of habitat with smooth undulating montane sparse grassland zone,medium food abundance and high concealment is preferred.In winter,stray dogs prefer to choose montane open grasslands characterized by smooth undulating slopes,sunny slopes,flat slopes,downhill positions,low altitude,close to shrubs,close to human disturbance and far from bare rocks.(3)In winter and spring,red foxes and stray dogs have great similarities in habitat selection,differing only in food richness,distance from human disturbance,distance from bare rock and concealment selection.Red foxes prefer to choose habitat types with high food abundance,long distance from human disturbance,long distance from bare rock,and high concealment.Stray dogs prefer to choose habitat types with moderate food abundance,proximity to human disturbance,proximity to bare rock,and slightly lower levels of seclusion.In summer and autumn,red foxes and stray dogs show certain similarities and differences in habitat selection.There were differences in the selection of six habitat factors:slope,altitude,tree height,shrub density,shrub height and distance from anthropogenic disturbance.Red foxes avoid choosing uphill positions,preferring habitat types with low altitude,high tree height,high shrub density,high shrub height,and long distance from human disturbance.Stray dogs randomly select uphill locations,preferring habitat types with high elevation,low tree height,low shrub density,low shrub height and proximity to human disturbance.(4)The suitable habitat area of red fox in Helan Mountains is 329.21 km~2,the subsuitable habitat area is 597.17 km~2,and the unsuitable habitat area is 2 538.42 km~2.Vegetation type,annual precipitation,altitude,distance from forest protection point and aspect are the main environmental factors affecting the suitable habitat distribution of red fox in Helan Mountains.The suitable habitat area of stray dogs in Helan Mountains is 195.29 km~2,the subsuitable habitat area is 726.97 km~2,and the unsuitable habitat area is 2 542.54 km~2.Vegetation type,annual precipitation,altitude,distance from road and aspect are the main environmental factors affecting the suitable habitat distribution of stray dogs in Helan Mountains.The suitable habitat distribution overlap rate of red foxes and stray dogs is high,and the common suitable habitat area and the subsuitable habitat area reach 611.13 km~2,accounting for 65.97%and 66.26%of the total suitable habitat area of red foxes and stray dogs,respectively.Based on the results of the study,we recommend:(1)Strengthen the monitoring of red fox population in Helan Mountains and clarify the dynamic changes of it;(2)Set up rescue stations or shelters for stray animals,strengthen publicity efforts and control human influence.