How do red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) explore their environment? Characteristics of movement patterns in time and space
Abstract Background Many animals must adapt their movements to different conditions encountered during different life phases, such as when exploring extraterritorial areas for dispersal, foraging or breeding. To better understand how animals move in different movement phases, we asked whether moveme...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Movement Ecology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00526-1 |
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| author | Felicitas Oehler Robert Hagen Klaus Hackländer Zea Walton Kumar Ashish Janosch Arnold |
| author_facet | Felicitas Oehler Robert Hagen Klaus Hackländer Zea Walton Kumar Ashish Janosch Arnold |
| author_sort | Felicitas Oehler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Many animals must adapt their movements to different conditions encountered during different life phases, such as when exploring extraterritorial areas for dispersal, foraging or breeding. To better understand how animals move in different movement phases, we asked whether movement patterns differ between one way directed movements, such as during the transient phase of dispersal or two way exploratory-like movements such as during extraterritorial excursions or stationary movements. Methods We GPS collared red foxes in a rural area in southern Germany between 2020 and 2023. Using a random forest model, we analyzed different movement parameters, habitat features—for example landclasses and distances to linear structures—and time variables (season and time of day) within red fox exploratory, transient and stationary movement phases to characterize phase specific movement patterns and to investigate the influence of different variables on classifying the movement phases. Results According to the classification model, the movement patterns in the different phases were characterized most strongly by the variables persistence velocity, season, step length and distance to linear structures. In extraterritorial areas, red foxes either moved straight with high persistence velocity, close to anthropogenic linear structures during transient movements, or more tortuously containing a higher variance in turning angles and a decrease in persistence velocity during exploratory-like movements. Transient movements mainly took place during autumn, whereas exploratory-like movements were mainly conducted during winter and spring. Conclusion Movement patterns of red foxes differ between transient, exploratory and stationary phases, reflecting displacement, searching and resident movement strategies. Our results signify the importance of the combined effect of using movement, habitat and time variables together in analyzing movement phases. High movement variability may allow red foxes to navigate in extraterritorial areas efficiently and to adapt to different environmental and behavioral conditions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c5823f81726e400f8c7b2bc7bd3c2ce4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2051-3933 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Movement Ecology |
| spelling | doaj-art-c5823f81726e400f8c7b2bc7bd3c2ce42025-01-19T12:43:16ZengBMCMovement Ecology2051-39332025-01-0113111710.1186/s40462-024-00526-1How do red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) explore their environment? Characteristics of movement patterns in time and spaceFelicitas Oehler0Robert Hagen1Klaus Hackländer2Zea Walton3Kumar Ashish4Janosch Arnold5Wildlife Research Unit Baden-Württemberg, LAZBWWildlife Research Unit Baden-Württemberg, LAZBWInstitute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, BOKU UniversityDepartment of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied SciencesSalim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural HistoryWildlife Research Unit Baden-Württemberg, LAZBWAbstract Background Many animals must adapt their movements to different conditions encountered during different life phases, such as when exploring extraterritorial areas for dispersal, foraging or breeding. To better understand how animals move in different movement phases, we asked whether movement patterns differ between one way directed movements, such as during the transient phase of dispersal or two way exploratory-like movements such as during extraterritorial excursions or stationary movements. Methods We GPS collared red foxes in a rural area in southern Germany between 2020 and 2023. Using a random forest model, we analyzed different movement parameters, habitat features—for example landclasses and distances to linear structures—and time variables (season and time of day) within red fox exploratory, transient and stationary movement phases to characterize phase specific movement patterns and to investigate the influence of different variables on classifying the movement phases. Results According to the classification model, the movement patterns in the different phases were characterized most strongly by the variables persistence velocity, season, step length and distance to linear structures. In extraterritorial areas, red foxes either moved straight with high persistence velocity, close to anthropogenic linear structures during transient movements, or more tortuously containing a higher variance in turning angles and a decrease in persistence velocity during exploratory-like movements. Transient movements mainly took place during autumn, whereas exploratory-like movements were mainly conducted during winter and spring. Conclusion Movement patterns of red foxes differ between transient, exploratory and stationary phases, reflecting displacement, searching and resident movement strategies. Our results signify the importance of the combined effect of using movement, habitat and time variables together in analyzing movement phases. High movement variability may allow red foxes to navigate in extraterritorial areas efficiently and to adapt to different environmental and behavioral conditions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00526-1Movement ecologyHabitat utilizationExplorationDispersalRandom forest model |
| spellingShingle | Felicitas Oehler Robert Hagen Klaus Hackländer Zea Walton Kumar Ashish Janosch Arnold How do red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) explore their environment? Characteristics of movement patterns in time and space Movement Ecology Movement ecology Habitat utilization Exploration Dispersal Random forest model |
| title | How do red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) explore their environment? Characteristics of movement patterns in time and space |
| title_full | How do red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) explore their environment? Characteristics of movement patterns in time and space |
| title_fullStr | How do red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) explore their environment? Characteristics of movement patterns in time and space |
| title_full_unstemmed | How do red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) explore their environment? Characteristics of movement patterns in time and space |
| title_short | How do red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) explore their environment? Characteristics of movement patterns in time and space |
| title_sort | how do red foxes vulpes vulpes explore their environment characteristics of movement patterns in time and space |
| topic | Movement ecology Habitat utilization Exploration Dispersal Random forest model |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-024-00526-1 |
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