Energy expenditure and water flux of Rüppell's foxes in Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Scattered populations of Rüppell's foxes (Vulpes rueppelli) occur across the deserts of northern Africa and Arabia. Little is known about the biology of these canids, especially the physiological mechanisms that contribute to their ability to live in such harsh environments. For individuals from Saudi Arabia, we tested the hypotheses that Rüppell's foxes have a reduced basal metabolic rate and total evaporative water loss (TEWL), parameters measured in the laboratory, and a reduced field metabolic rate (FMR) and water flux when free-living. Under basal conditions in the laboratory, males, which averaged 1,858 g in body mass, had an oxygen consumption of 914.9 mL O(2)/h, whereas females, which weighed on average 1,233 g, consumed 682.9 mL O(2)/h; rates of oxygen consumption translated to 441.4 kJ/d and 329.4 kJ/d, respectively. TEWL averaged 52.6 g H(2)O/d for males and 47.5 g H(2)O/d for females. We found no evidence that basal metabolism is reduced in Rüppell's foxes, but their TEWL was remarkably low: 50.9% of allometric prediction for males and 64.5% for females. In the wild during winter, males expended energy at a rate of 1,306.5 kJ/d, whereas females had an expenditure of 722.8 kJ/d. Analysis of covariance with FMR as the dependent variable, sex as a fixed factor, and body mass as a covariate showed no statistical difference in FMR between sexes. Water flux did not differ significantly between sexes and averaged 123 mL H(2)O/d, a value 30% lower than the kit fox from the deserts of southwestern North America. FMR was positively related to nocturnal activity levels as FMR (kJ/d) = -2,900.1+55.5 (% of time moving). The water content of prey items varied between 1.9 and 4.1 g H(2)O/g dry matter consumed. Based on these values and knowledge of their diet, we calculated that foxes captured about one rodent and a variety of anthropods per night of foraging.