C. Gortazar et al., Habitat-related microgeographic body size variation in two Mediterranean populations of red fox (Vulpes vulpes), J ZOOL, 250, 2000, pp. 335-338
The habitat-related microgeographical body size variations in red foxes Vul
pes vulpes living in two separated areas of Mediterranean Spain, the Centra
l Ebro Valley (CEV) and Donana National Park (DNP) are analysed. In both ar
eas, samples taken from good and bad fox-habitats were compared regarding b
ody weight and head and body length. In the Ebro Valley, foxes collected in
the good habitat were heavier (14%, P < 0.001 for males; 9%, P < 0.01 for
females) and larger (4%, P < 0.01 for males; 1%, P < 0.05 for females) than
those collected in the bad habitat. In Donana, males from the good habitat
were 19% heavier (P < 0.01) and 3% longer (P < 0.05) than those from the p
oorer one. The average weight and size of DNP vixens did not show significa
nt differences, although both are higher in the good habitat. It is shown t
hat body size of adult foxes can vary, linked to habitat change even across
short geographic distances. Some tentative explanations for these results
are discussed.