Hjstrix, zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA (i1.s.) 9 (1-2) (1997): 71-74 RED FOX SIGHTINGS IN ROME BRUNO CIGNINI zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONML (*) AND FRANCESCO RIGA (**) ABSTRACT - In this study preliminary data on tlie presence of Red fox in Rome (an area of 360 kinL within the Rome ringroad. G.R.A,j Tince 1980 are presented. The data were mapped on a UTM 1 sq. krn. grid. Data were analysed and correlaied, for each City district, with thc prevalent environment (green, bUi~t-Llp, river-side areas) and with thc dcnsity of inhabitans. Kcx zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA M Y ~ ~ Y : Red fox, \’ulpcs zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDC \,u/pe.v, Distribution, Urban habilat, Rome. I NTRODUCTION Thc urban habitat of Rome is characterized by a particularly dynamic environment and a highly fragmented distribution of resour - ces (cfr. Dickman arid Doncaster, 1987). Within the “Grande Raccordo Anulare” (G.R.A., the Rome ringroad) “biological corridors” can be identified, which link the green extra - urban areas with the more inner city districts as well as natural or semi-na- tural areas which are completely surrounded by built - up areas. Of particular interest. in this context. is the presence of the Red fox \4:111pes I’ldpCS, zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPO 2 predator at the top of thc food chain which is of notable behavioural adaptability. In fact it can adapt rapidly to environmental clian- ges which enables it to exploit new food sources successfully, as. for example, urban waste in the city (Harris, 1986: Macdonald. 1987: Doncaater et ai. . 1990). MATERIAL AND METHODS This research. promoted by thc Municipality of Rome (Departmcnt of Animal Rights) and the Univcrsity of Rome “LA Sapienza” (Department of Animal and Human Biology). contains some preliminary data on the presence of the Fox in tlie Rome area within the G.R.A. (360 bm’).The dala dale back to 198(J. and was supplied by sc- veral researchers who workcd in thc urban area using their own personal observations; subse- quently. the first direct survey were carried out (1994). All thc data. past and present. has. the- refore, been mapped (Fig. I) u5ing an L!.T.M. grid (1x1 km’ basis). For cvcry specimen. the following parameters were considered and analy- sed: the prevalent environment and its density of inhabitants. The environment was classified into three categories: green, built-up and rivcr-sidc areas. The respective areas were analysed by sub- dividing each quadrant into maller sections. 0.5 x 0.5 sq krn basis) and assigning to each of the- se its prevalent environmental typolog (cfr. AA. vv., 1YYI). RbSULI‘S AND CON(’LLlSI0NS The resulting data were split up “Circoscri- zioni” (City districts), taking into considera- tion for each one only the area falling within the G.K.A. (Fig. 1). For each City district. the number of quadrants, in which the pre- sence of the Fox was noted, was related to the total area of each City district (Table 1). The density of quadrants. in which the pre- scncc of the Fox was registered. was, final - ly, correlated, using the Spearman rank cor - relation technique (Sicgcl and Castellan. 1992). whwereby the percentages of the en- vironmental typologies under consideration were compared to the density of inhabitants (Table 2).