Field cost of activity in the kit fox, Vulpes macrotis.

Abstract

Field metabolic rates and daily movement distances were measured in 26 individual kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) over a 29-mo period in the southern Mojave Desert of California. Kit foxes traveled long distances (up to 32 km d(-1)), with males usually traveling farther than females. Daily movement distances were affected by season, since males traveled the greatest distances in spring and females traveled farthest in summer. Individual foxes tracked multiple times demonstrated repeatability of daily movement distance between nights, between summer and winter, and between consecutive winters. The field cost of activity per unit distance was estimated as 15.6 kJ km(-1) from the partial regression coefficient of a multiple linear regression model, a value not significantly different from the incremental cost of locomotion derived from laboratory measurements. The field cost of activity was not affected by season, despite the expectation of higher costs of activity in the winter with increased thermoregulatory expenditure. The large daily movement distances resulted in significant activity energy expenditure (11%-33% of field metabolic rate), with a mean of 21% of field metabolic rate expended in activity during nonreproductive seasons.