Does protection from hunting favour genetic uniformity in the red fox?

Allozymes and mtDNA sequences were used to assess genetic variability in si x hunted and three nonhunted populations of red foxes Vulpes vulpes in Cent ral Europe and the Mediterranean area. Allozyme variability was very low (P = 0.0- 4.4; He = 0.0-0.006) and significantly smaller in protected populat ions than in hunted ones (P = 8.9-15.6: He = 0.010-0.044). As a trend. this result was confirmed by the distribution of mtDNA variation. Differences o f genetic variability were independent from sample size. Most likely, foxes evolved under predation by larger carnivores which probably have primed th e turnover of territorial reproducers In absence of predation, hunting coul d superficially mimic such an effect and favour a greater genetic variabili ty and, thus, a better viability in the red fox. This may suggest an explan ation to the failure of intensive hunting campaigns as a measure to reduce strongly the population size of red foxes.