Selection of land cover by the Tibetan fox Vulpes ferrilata on the eastern Tibetan Plateau, western Sichuan Province, China

Habitat loss is one of the main factors impacting endangered wildlife in China. The Tibetan fox Vulpes ferrilata Hodgson, 1842 is a characteristic species of the Tibetan Plateau. However, its habitat use is poorly known. We conducted a project (2001-2003) to better understand habitat use by the Tibetan fox in Shiqu County, Sichuan Province, China. The research site was classified into four land cover categories: grassland, grassland and shrubs, shrubs, and disturbed area (more than half of the area in a plot covered by bare soil and gravel). Their proportional share in land cover categories was estimated by line transects and used as expected land cover. Plots were also located at fox locations, fox dens, and fox feces (hereafter "fox plots"). Using Bonferroni z-statistics, land cover proportions in fox plots were compared with the expected land cover proportions. Tibetan foxes were found primarily in grassland habitat and there was evidence of use of grassland/shrub habitat and disturbed area. However, the fox were rarely observed in shrubs. Two reasons for this are: (1) the need of prey, pika, which mainly lives in open areas; (2) the requirement of security from natural enemies.