Interspecific Killing of an Arctic Fox by a Red Fox at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

Satellite DNA is a characteristic component of mammalian centromeric heterochromatin, and a comparative analysis of its evolutionary dynamics can be used for phylogenetic studies. We analysed satellite and satellite-like DNA sequences available in NCBI for 4 species of the family Canidae (red fox, Vulpes vulpes, VVU; domestic dog, Canis familiaris, CFA; arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus, VLA; raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides procyonoides, NPR) by comparative sequence analysis, which revealed 86-90% intraspecies and 76-79% interspecies similarity. Comparative fluorescence in situ hybridisation in the red fox and dog showed signals of the red fox satellite probe in canine and vulpine autosomal centromeres, on VVUY, B chromosomes, and in the distal parts of VVU9q and VVU10p which were shown to contain nucleolus organiser regions. The CFA satellite probe stained autosomal centromeres only in the dog. The CFA satellite-like DNA did not show any significant sequence similarity with the satellite DNA of any species analysed and was localised to the centromeres of 9 canine chromosome pairs. No significant heterochromatin block was detected on the B chromosomes of the red fox. Our results show extensive heterogeneity of satellite sequences among Canidae and prove close evolutionary relationships between the red and arctic fox.

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Missense polymorphisms in the MC1R gene of the dog, red fox, arctic fox and Chinese raccoon dog

Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics ◽

10.1111/jbg.12005 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 130 (2) ◽

pp. 136-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

J. Nowacka-Woszuk ◽

S. Salamon ◽

A. Gorna ◽

M. Switonski

Keyword(s):

Red Fox ◽

Arctic Fox ◽

Raccoon Dog ◽

Mc1r Gene

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Size of the lower carnassial in the arctic and the red fox from Late Pleistocene in Belgium compared to other ancient and extant populations

Mammal Research ◽

10.1007/s13364-019-00459-w ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (1) ◽

pp. 127-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elwira Szuma ◽

Mietje Germonpré

Keyword(s):

North America ◽

Late Pleistocene ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Red Fox ◽

The Arctic ◽

Arctic Fox ◽

Large Carnivores ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Specific Composition ◽

Food Niche

AbstractLengths, widths, and size proportions (length to width) of the lower carnassial were measured in 45 teeth of the arctic fox and 35 teeth of the red fox from Belgium radiocarbon dated to 46 640–14 120 ka BP. Data the Late Pleistocene foxes from Belgium were compared to 20 ancient and extant populations form Europe, Asia, and North America. The Pleistocene arctic fox from Belgium showed larger carnassial than in all recent samples of this species, whereas the Belgian fossil red foxes were characterized by the carnassial size comparable to that of the recent Siberian red foxes. Both fox species from the Pleistocene of Belgium showed the highest index of the carnassials length to width, which means increase in carnivorous adaptation. We conclude that the higher level of carnivorous specialization reached by the Belgian arctic and red foxes at the end of the Late Pleistocene reflected their scavenging on kills of large carnivores and human hunters (remains of megafauna). Harsh environmental conditions of that period and specific composition of ecosystems led to adapting to a more carnivorous food niche in both foxes.

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Microsatellite polymorphism and genetic distances between the dog, red fox and arctic fox

Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics ◽

10.1046/j.1439-0388.2003.00375.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 120 (2) ◽

pp. 88-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

J. Klukowska ◽

T. Strabel ◽

M. Mackowski ◽

M. Switonski

Keyword(s):

Red Fox ◽

Genetic Distances ◽

Microsatellite Polymorphism ◽

Arctic Fox

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Modelling the spatial population dynamics of arctic foxes: the effects of red foxes and microtine cycles

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z09-104 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 87 (12) ◽

pp. 1170-1183 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Mark D.F. Shirley ◽

Bodil Elmhagen ◽

Peter W.W. Lurz ◽

Steve P. Rushton ◽

Anders Angerbjörn

Keyword(s):

Population Size ◽

Red Fox ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Interference Competition ◽

Population Trends ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Arctic Fox ◽

Red Foxes ◽

Microtine Rodents ◽

Arctic Foxes

The Fennoscandian arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus (L., 1758)) population is critically endangered, possibly because of increased interference competition from red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)) and fading cycles in microtine rodents, which cause food shortage. It is not known how these factors drive arctic fox population trends. To test their role in arctic fox decline, we developed a spatially explicit and individual-based model that allowed us to simulate fox interactions and food availability in a real landscape. A sensitivity analysis revealed that simulated arctic fox population size and den occupancy were strongly correlated with fecundity and mortality during the microtine crash phase, but also with red fox status. Model simulations suggested that arctic fox population trends depended on microtine cycles and that arctic fox distributions were restricted by red fox presence. We compared the model predictions with field data collected at Vindelfjällen, Sweden. The model recreated the observed arctic fox trend only with the inclusion of arctic fox avoidance of red fox home ranges. The results indicate that avoidance behaviours can affect population trends and hence that relatively small numbers of red foxes can have a strong negative impact on arctic fox population size and distribution.

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St. Matthew Island colonized through multiple long-distance red fox (Vulpes vulpes) dispersal events

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2016-0289 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (8) ◽

pp. 607-609 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

K.E. Colson ◽

James D. Smith ◽

Kris J. Hundertmark

Keyword(s):

Bering Sea ◽

Vulpes Vulpes ◽

Red Fox ◽

Dispersal Ability ◽

Arctic Fox ◽

Vulpes Lagopus ◽

Long Distance ◽

Conservation Concern ◽

Dispersal Events ◽

The Bering Sea

Expansion of red fox (Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)) into new arctic habitat and the potential for competition with arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus (L., 1758)) are of considerable conservation concern. Previous work has focused on red fox expanding into contiguous areas with few barriers to dispersal. Here, we examine mitochondrial DNA in red fox on recently colonized St. Matthew Island in the Bering Sea to determine their ultimate origin. Though limited in sample size (n = 7), we found that St. Matthew Island was colonized by North American lineages; surprisingly, despite the >400 km distance to the mainland, we found the island was colonized by at least three mitochondrial matrilines. These results suggest that even extremely isolated places may be colonized by red fox, and that the over-ice or over-ocean dispersal ability of red fox may have been previously underappreciated.

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