Does protection from hunting favour genetic uniformity in the red fox?

Allozymes and mtDNA sequences were used to assess genetic variability in six hunted and three nonhunted populations of red foxes Vulpes vulpes in Central Europe and the Mediterranean area. Allozyme variability was very low (P = 0.0- 4.4; He = 0.0-0.006) and significantly smaller in protected populations than in hunted ones (P = 8.9-15.6: He = 0.010-0.044). As a trend. this result was confirmed by the distribution of mtDNA variation. Differences of genetic variability were independent from sample size. Most likely, foxes evolved under predation by larger carnivores which probably have primed the turnover of territorial reproducers In absence of predation, hunting could superficially mimic such an effect and favour a greater genetic variability and, thus, a better viability in the red fox. This may suggest an explanation to the failure of intensive hunting campaigns as a measure to reduce strongly the population size of red foxes.