Top down or bottom up: which process drives a population of an endangered mesocarnivore?

Context The San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) is listed as endangered in the United States and threatened in California. Primary processes influencing populations of this mesocarnivore are not well quantified. Aims The study aim was to determine whether bottom up or top down processes most influenced the demographic and ecological characteristics of kit foxes. Methods During 2014–19, we assessed prey abundance on 60 0.5-km transects. We then assessed food item use by kit foxes and coy