The potential impact of red fox Vulpes vulpes predation in agricultural landscapes in lowland Britain

摘要: Abstract Recent legislative changes to red fox Vulpes vulpes control practices in Britain have focussed attention on the possible impact of predation economically and ecologically important species agricultural landscapes. We compared estimated mass prey consumed annually against pre-breeding biomass a farm southern England. Medium-sized mammals (mainly rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus) dominated diet all seasons (74% ingested); birds pheasants Phasianus colchicus), small field voles Microtus agrestis) large comprised 11, 7 6% diet, respectively. The rabbits, wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus bank Clethrionomys glareolus taken did not exceed respective spring biomasses, indicating that was unlikely be significant limiting factor as three high rate productivity. equivocal: total by foxes ...