Spatial and temporal variability in the distribution, daily activity and diet of fennec fox (Vulpes zerda), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and African golden wolf (Canis anthus) in southern Tunisia

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the habitat, the daily activity and the trophic niche overlap of three carnivores found in southern Tunisia, namely the fennec fox (Vulpes zerda), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the African golden wolf (Canis anthus) over seasons. To achieve this goal, we surveyed 300-meter transects in Sidi Toui National Park (N=29) and in Oued Dekouk Natural Reserve (N=24) over a year. Using information provided by camera trap photos and scats analysis; we determined daily activities and diets of the three canids. African golden wolves and red foxes shared most of their habitat in the two areas, especially in Sidi Toui National Park, while fennec foxes were restricted to the sandy area in Oued Dekouk Natural Reserve. Based on 729 photos produced by camera trap, we observed that the African golden wolf had a continuous activity through the day and the year, while the red fox and the fennec fox were active also through the year but mainly during twilight. We were able to identify food items from 504 scats, which included fruits, invertebrates, rodents, lagomorphs, birds, reptiles and livestock. Our results showed a significant variation in the diets between the species, seasons and sites. Rodents and livestock represented, respectively, 11.7% and 19.2% of the biomass consumed by the African golden wolf over the year. Both foxes ate invertebrates and rodents with different frequency during the seasons. The trophic niche overlap was very high between the two foxes (Ojk > 0.95) and partial between each fox species and the wolves (Ojk < 0.65). The knowledge of the habitat and the trophic niche overlap of these three carnivores increases our understanding of factors responsible for their coexistence, which may help to improve management and conservation actions.