关键词: 赤狐, 食性, 食物生态位宽度, 准噶尔盆地, 荒漠

Abstract: We analyzed diets of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in the Junggar Basin desert, Xinjjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,
China,during 2002 -2008, by fecal analysis and compared differences in diet composition between pup rearing (April 15 - August 14; n =108) and dispersal (August 15 - December 14; n =279) seasons. Foxes consumed a total of 16 food items including small mammals (Lepus capensis, Meriones spp., Rhombomys opimus,Cricetulus migratorius, Mus musculus, Allactaga elater), Passeriformes,Coleoptera,Orthoprera,Eremias velox and plantss Meriones spp. and Rhombomys opimus were the most important food items throughout both periods,accounting for 41. 0% and 16. 5% by percentage and 48. 2% and 19.7% percent frequency of occurrence in fecal samples, respectively. Red fox food niche breadth was narrow (B_sta = 0. 23). Based on contingency-table analysis,diets differed between the two periods (Pearson’s χ² test, P= 0. 001 < 0. 01; Likelihood Ratio χ² test, P = 0. 001 < 0. 01).

Key words: Desert, Food habitat, Food niche breadth, Junggar Basin, Red fox (Vuples vulpes)