[Changes in the dietary structure of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the ecologically rich forest complexes in connection with the intensive forest felling]
2008
Sidorovich, A.A. | Sidorovich, V.E. | Krasko, D.A., National Academy of Sciences (Belarus). Institute of Zoology
To investigate the impact of forest felling on red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) prey choice and dietary composition in the conditions of ecologically rich coniferous - small - leaved forests in the central part Belarus there were analysed 722 feeding samples (scats and prey remains), from which 1614 prey individuals and other food objects were identified. It was shown that the dietary structure of red fox has changed a lot after the intensification of forest felling, indicating the feeding plasticity of the species to the anthropogenically transformed habitat structure and food supply. Altogether there were defined 30 categories of feeds depending on their sizes and taxonomic belonging. Small rodents, hares, white - breasted hedgehogs and birds were the main feeding objects in course of the whole year, including carrion in cold seasons. At the same time, the number of voles (Microtus) in felling areas was higher than in the native forest biotopes. Taking into consideration the fact that voles are the preferable preys for foxes, the increasing of preferred prey (Microtus) number caused the increasing of its predator demand
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