Snow Conditions May Create an Invisible Barrier for Lynx

The dynamics of Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis) abundance are geographically structured according to the influence of large-scale climatic regimes. Here we demonstrate that this structuring matches zones of differential snow conditions, in particular surface hardness, as determined by the frequency...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2004-07, Vol.101 (29), p.10632-10634
Main Authors: Nils Chr. Stenseth, Shabbar, Amir, Chan, Kung-Sik, Boutin, Stan, Rueness, Eli Knispel, Ehrich, Dorothee, Hurrell, James W., Ole Chr. Lingjærde, Jakobsen, Kjetill S., Levin, Simon A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Animals
Biological Sciences
Canada
Carnivora
Climate
Climate models
Ecological genetics
Ecology
Functional responses
Geographic regions
Geography
Hardness
Hares
Hunting
Lepus americanus
Lynx
Lynx canadensis
Population Density
Seasons
Snow
Winter
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Summary:The dynamics of Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis) abundance are geographically structured according to the influence of large-scale climatic regimes. Here we demonstrate that this structuring matches zones of differential snow conditions, in particular surface hardness, as determined by the frequency of winter warm spells. Through a modified functional response curve, we show that various features of the snow may influence lynx interaction with its main prey species, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). This study highlights the importance of snow, and exemplifies how large-scale climatic fluctuations can mechanistically influence population biological patterns.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.0308674101