INTER AND INTRASPECIFIC COMPETITION BETWEEN THE FOX SPECIES ALOPEX-LAGOPUS AND VULPES-VULPES - AN EVALUATION TRIAL UNDER PENNED CONDITIONS

This study compared competition capacity and dominance relations betwe en arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Experi ments were carried out in semi-natural earthen floor enclosures using farm-bred colour types of both species (blue fox and silver fox) as su bjects. Results of the dominance scoring and open held behaviour after weaning in August-September showed that blue foxes dominated over sil ver foxes. Thereafter, the situation gradually became reversed and sil ver foxes were dominant during the breeding and whelping seasons. Hous ing both species together from weaning produced more curious animals a s compared to when these species were placed in common quarters after the autumn equinox. In the case of blue forest the male dominated high ly over all females. In silver foxes, the difference in dominance betw een the sexes was. however, less pronounced. The most dominant individ uals in the study groups were typically among the heaviest. Breedings and whelpings succeeded better in silver than in blue foxes. However, none of litters born survived more than one week. The present results support the conclusion that when both fox species are housed together, Vulpes vulpes tends to dominate over Alopex lagopus.