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Jackson C, Furnes M, Rød‐Eriksen L, Yap KN, Davey M, Fossøy F, Flagstad Ø, Eide NE, Mjøen T, Ulvund K. Subclinical thiamine deficiency results in failed reproduction in Arctic foxes. Vet Med Sci 2024; 10:e1358. [PMID: 38356320 PMCID: PMC10867461 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Thiamine deficiency can result in life-threatening physiological and neurological complications. While a thiamine-deficient diet may result in the onset of such symptoms, the presence of thiaminase - an enzyme that breaks down thiamine - is very often the cause. In such instances, thiaminase counteracts the bioavailability and uptake of thiamine, even when food-thiamine levels are adequate. Here, we report on a case of failed reproduction in seven Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) breeding pairs kept at a captive breeding facility, including the presentation of severe thiamine deficiency symptoms in two male foxes. Symptoms included ataxia, obtundation, truncal sway, star-gazing and visual impairment. Blood tests were inconclusive, yet symptoms resolved following treatment with a series of thiamine hydrochloride injections, thereby verifying the diagnosis. A fish-dominated feed, which for the first time had been frozen for a prolonged period, was identified as the likely source of thiaminase and subsequent deterioration in the animals' health. Symptoms in the two males arose during the annual mating period. All seven breeding pairs at the captive breeding station failed to reproduce - a phenomenon never recorded during the captive breeding facility's preceding 17-year operation. Relating our findings to peer-reviewed literature, the second part of this case report assesses how thiamine deficiency (due to thiaminase activity) likely resulted in subclinical effects that impaired the production of reproduction hormones, and thereby led to a complete breeding failure. While previous work has highlighted the potentially lethal effects of thiamine deficiency in farmed foxes, this is, to our knowledge the first study showing how subclinical effects in both males and females may inhibit reproduction in foxes in general, but specifically Arctic foxes. The findings from our case report are not only relevant for captive breeding facilities, but for the welfare and management of captive carnivorous animals in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig Jackson
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Marianne Furnes
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Lars Rød‐Eriksen
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Kang Nian Yap
- Department of BiologyNorwegian University of Science and TechnologyTrondheimNorway
| | - Marie Davey
- Department of Terrestrial BiodiversityNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Frode Fossøy
- Department of Aquatic BiodiversityNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Øystein Flagstad
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Toralf Mjøen
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Kristine Ulvund
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
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2
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Gauthier G, Ehrich D, Belke-Brea M, Domine F, Alisauskas R, Clark K, Ecke F, Eide NE, Framstad E, Frandsen J, Gilg O, Henttonen H, Hörnfeldt B, Kataev GD, Menyushina IE, Oksanen L, Oksanen T, Olofsson J, Samelius G, Sittler B, Smith PA, Sokolov AA, Sokolova NA, Schmidt NM. Taking the beat of the Arctic: are lemming population cycles changing due to winter climate? Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232361. [PMID: 38351802 PMCID: PMC10865006 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Reports of fading vole and lemming population cycles and persisting low populations in some parts of the Arctic have raised concerns about the spread of these fundamental changes to tundra food web dynamics. By compiling 24 unique time series of lemming population fluctuations across the circumpolar region, we show that virtually all populations displayed alternating periods of cyclic/non-cyclic fluctuations over the past four decades. Cyclic patterns were detected 55% of the time (n = 649 years pooled across sites) with a median periodicity of 3.7 years, and non-cyclic periods were not more frequent in recent years. Overall, there was an indication for a negative effect of warm spells occurring during the snow onset period of the preceding year on lemming abundance. However, winter duration or early winter climatic conditions did not differ on average between cyclic and non-cyclic periods. Analysis of the time series shows that there is presently no Arctic-wide collapse of lemming cycles, even though cycles have been sporadic at most sites during the last decades. Although non-stationary dynamics appears a common feature of lemming populations also in the past, continued warming in early winter may decrease the frequency of periodic irruptions with negative consequences for tundra ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilles Gauthier
- Department of Biology and Centre d’études nordiques, Université Laval, Québec city, Québec, Canada
| | - Dorothée Ehrich
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maria Belke-Brea
- Department of Geography, Takuvik Joint International Laboratory and Centre d’études nordiques, Université Laval, Québec city, Québec, Canada
| | - Florent Domine
- Department of Chemistry, Takuvik Joint International Laboratory and Centre d’études nordiques, Université Laval, Québec city, Québec, Canada
- CNRS-INSU, Paris, France
| | - Ray Alisauskas
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Karin Clark
- Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim/Oslo, Norway
| | - Erik Framstad
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim/Oslo, Norway
| | - Jay Frandsen
- Western Arctic Field Unit, Parks Canada, Kingmingya, Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
| | - Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 Chrono-Environnement, CNRS, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Francheville, France
- Groupe de recherche en Écologie Arctique, Francheville, France
| | - Heikki Henttonen
- Terrestrial Population Dynamics, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Birger Hörnfeldt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | | | - Lauri Oksanen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Alta, Norway
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Tarja Oksanen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Alta, Norway
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | | | - Benoit Sittler
- Groupe de recherche en Écologie Arctique, Francheville, France
- Chair for Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Paul A. Smith
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aleksandr A. Sokolov
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Labytnangi, Russia
| | - Natalia A. Sokolova
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Labytnangi, Russia
| | - Niels M. Schmidt
- Department of Ecoscience and Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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3
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Rød-Eriksen L, Killengreen ST, Ehrich D, Ims RA, Herfindal I, Landa AM, Eide NE. Predator co-occurrence in alpine and Arctic tundra in relation to fluctuating prey. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:635-647. [PMID: 36528820 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Large carnivores influence ecosystem dynamics in multiple ways, for example, by suppressing meso-carnivores and providing carrions for smaller scavengers. Loss of large carnivores is suggested to cause meso-carnivore increase and expansion. Moreover, competition between meso-carnivores may be modified by the presence of larger carnivores. In tundra ecosystems, the smallest meso-carnivore, the Arctic fox, has experienced regional declines, whereas its larger and competitively superior congener, the red fox, has increased, potentially due to changes in the abundance of apex predators. We explored if variation in the occurrence of wolverine and golden eagle impacted the occurrence and co-occurrence of the Arctic fox and red fox in relation to varying abundances of small rodents within the Scandinavian tundra. We applied multi-species occupancy models to an extensive wildlife camera dataset from 2011-2020 covering 98 sites. Daily detection/non-detection of each species per camera trap site and study period (late winter; March-May) was stacked across years, and species occupancy was related to small rodent abundance while accounting for time of the year and status of simulated carcass. The Arctic fox was more likely to co-occur with the red fox when the wolverine was present and less likely to co-occur with the red fox when golden eagles were present and the wolverine was absent. Red foxes increased in occupancy when co-occurring with the larger predators. The Arctic fox responded more strongly to small rodent abundance than the red fox and co-occurred more often with the other species at carcasses when rodent abundance was low. Our findings suggest that the interspecific interactions within this tundra predator guild appear to be surprisingly intricate, driven by facets of fear of predation, interspecific mediation and facilitation, and food resource dynamics. These dynamics of intraguild interactions may dictate where and when conservation actions targeted towards the Arctic fox should be implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Rød-Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Dorothee Ehrich
- Institute for Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Rolf A Ims
- Institute for Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ivar Herfindal
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Arild M Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
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4
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Jackson CR, Rød‐Eriksen L, Mattisson J, Flagstad Ø, Landa A, Miller AL, Eide NE, Ulvund KR. Predation of endangered Arctic foxes by Golden eagles: What do we know? Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9864. [PMID: 36937073 PMCID: PMC10015364 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Dedicated conservation efforts spanning the past two decades have saved the Fennoscandian Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) population from local extinction, and extensive resources continue to be invested in the species' conservation and management. Although increasing, populations remain isolated, small and are not yet viable in the longer term. An understanding of causes of mortality are consequently important to optimize ongoing conservation actions. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are a predator of Arctic foxes, yet little information on this interaction is available in the literature. We document and detail six confirmed cases of Golden eagle depredation of Arctic foxes at the Norwegian captive breeding facility (2019-2022), where foxes are housed in large open-air enclosures in the species' natural habitat. Here, timely detection of missing/dead foxes was challenging, and new insights have been gained following recently improved enclosure monitoring. Golden eagle predation peaked during the winter months, with no cases reported from June to November. This finding contrasts with that which is reported from the field, both for Arctic and other fox species, where eagle depredation peaked at dens with young (summer). While the seasonality of depredation may be ecosystem specific, documented cases from the field may be biased by higher survey efforts associated with the monitoring of reproductive success during the summer. Both white and blue color morphs were housed at the breeding station, yet only white foxes were preyed upon, and mortality was male biased. Mitigation measures and their effectiveness implemented at the facility are presented. Findings are discussed in the broader Arctic fox population ecology and conservation context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R. Jackson
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Lars Rød‐Eriksen
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Jenny Mattisson
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Øystein Flagstad
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Arild Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)BergenNorway
| | - Andrea L. Miller
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
- Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Applied EcologyAgricultural Sciences and BiotechnologyInland Norway University of Applied SciencesKoppangNorway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Department of Terrestrial EcologyNorwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
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5
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Olsen SL, Evju M, Åström J, Løkken JO, Dahle S, Andresen JL, Eide NE. Climate influence on plant-pollinator interactions in the keystone species Vaccinium myrtillus. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8910. [PMID: 35619731 PMCID: PMC9126989 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change is altering the world's ecosystems through direct effects of climate warming and precipitation changes but also indirectly through changes in biotic interactions. For instance, climate‐driven changes in plant and/or insect communities may alter plant–pollinator interactions, thereby influencing plant reproductive success and ultimately population dynamics of insect‐pollinated plants. To better understand how the importance of insect pollination for plant fruit set varies with climate, we experimentally excluded pollinators from the partly selfing keystone species Vaccinium myrtillus along elevational gradients in the forest‐tundra ecotone in central Norway. The study comprised three mountain areas, seven elevational gradients spanning from the climatically relatively benign birch forest to the colder alpine areas above the tree line, and 180 plots of 1 × 1 m, with experimental treatments allocated randomly to plots within sites. Within the experimental plots, we counted the number of flowers of V. myrtillus and counted and weighed all fruits, as well as seeds for a selection of fruits. Excluding pollinators resulted in lower fruit production, as well as reduced fruit and seed mass of V. myrtillus. In the alpine sites pollinator exclusion resulted in 84% fewer fruits, 50% lower fruit weight, and 50% lower seed weight compared to control conditions. Contrary to our expectations, the negative effect of pollinator exclusion was less pronounced in the forest compared to alpine sites, suggesting that the importance of insect pollination for seed production is lower at low elevations. Our findings indicate that the keystone species V. myrtillus is relatively robust to changes in the pollinator community in a warmer climate, thereby making it less vulnerable to climate‐driven changes in plant–pollinator interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siri L Olsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Oslo Norway.,Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences Ås Norway
| | | | - Jens Åström
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Trondheim Norway
| | - Jørn O Løkken
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Trondheim Norway
| | - Sondre Dahle
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Trondheim Norway
| | - Jonas L Andresen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management Norwegian University of Life Sciences Ås Norway.,University of South-Eastern Norway Bø Norway
| | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Trondheim Norway
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6
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Lindsø LK, Dupont P, Rød-Eriksen L, Andersskog IPØ, Ulvund KR, Flagstad Ø, Bischof R, Eide NE. Estimating red fox density using non-invasive genetic sampling and spatial capture-recapture modelling. Oecologia 2021; 198:139-151. [PMID: 34859281 PMCID: PMC8803778 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-05087-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Spatial capture–recapture modelling (SCR) is a powerful tool for estimating density, population size, and space use of elusive animals. Here, we applied SCR modelling to non-invasive genetic sampling (NGS) data to estimate red fox (Vulpes vulpes) densities in two areas of boreal forest in central (2016–2018) and southern Norway (2017–2018). Estimated densities were overall lower in the central study area (mean = 0.04 foxes per km2 in 2016, 0.10 in 2017, and 0.06 in 2018) compared to the southern study area (0.16 in 2017 and 0.09 in 2018). We found a positive effect of forest cover on density in the central, but not the southern study area. The absence of an effect in the southern area may reflect a paucity of evidence caused by low variation in forest cover. Estimated mean home-range size in the central study area was 45 km2 [95%CI 34–60] for females and 88 km2 [69–113] for males. Mean home-range sizes were smaller in the southern study area (26 km2 [16–42] for females and 56 km2 [35–91] for males). In both study areas, detection probability was session-dependent and affected by sampling effort. This study highlights how SCR modelling in combination with NGS can be used to efficiently monitor red fox populations, and simultaneously incorporate ecological factors and estimate their effects on population density and space use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars K Lindsø
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, 7034, Trondheim, Norway. .,Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Universitetstunet 3, 1430, Ås, Norway. .,Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), The Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindernveien 31, 0371, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Pierre Dupont
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Universitetstunet 3, 1430, Ås, Norway
| | - Lars Rød-Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, 7034, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | | | - Øystein Flagstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, 7034, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Richard Bischof
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Universitetstunet 3, 1430, Ås, Norway
| | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, 7034, Trondheim, Norway
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7
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Tietgen L, Hagen IJ, Kleven O, Bernardi CD, Kvalnes T, Norén K, Hasselgren M, Wallén JF, Angerbjörn A, Landa A, Eide NE, Flagstad Ø, Jensen H. Fur colour in the Arctic fox: genetic architecture and consequences for fitness. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211452. [PMID: 34583587 PMCID: PMC8479361 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies provide good opportunities for studying the genetic basis of adaptive traits in wild populations. Yet, previous studies often failed to identify major effect genes. In this study, we used high-density single nucleotide polymorphism and individual fitness data from a wild non-model species. Using a whole-genome approach, we identified the MC1R gene as the sole causal gene underlying Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus fur colour. Further, we showed the adaptive importance of fur colour genotypes through measures of fitness that link ecological and evolutionary processes. We found a tendency for blue foxes that are heterozygous at the fur colour locus to have higher fitness than homozygous white foxes. The effect of genotype on fitness was independent of winter duration but varied with prey availability, with the strongest effect in years of increasing rodent populations. MC1R is located in a genomic region with high gene density, and we discuss the potential for indirect selection through linkage and pleiotropy. Our study shows that whole-genome analyses can be successfully applied to wild species and identify major effect genes underlying adaptive traits. Furthermore, we show how this approach can be used to identify knowledge gaps in our understanding of interactions between ecology and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Tietgen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Ingerid J Hagen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway.,Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Oddmund Kleven
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Cecilia Di Bernardi
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway.,Department of Biology and Biotechnologies 'Charles Darwin', University of Rome La Sapienza, Viale dell' Università 32, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Thomas Kvalnes
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
| | - Karin Norén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Malin Hasselgren
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Johan Fredrik Wallén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden.,Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm 10405, Sweden
| | - Anders Angerbjörn
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
| | - Arild Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Øystein Flagstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim 7485, Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim 7491, Norway
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8
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Larm M, Hovland AL, Palme R, Thierry AM, Miller AL, Landa A, Angerbjörn A, Eide NE. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites as an indicator of adrenocortical activity in Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) and recommendations for future studies. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02917-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
AbstractMeasuring fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) is a widely used, non-invasive method for studies of stress in vertebrates. To study physiological responses in wild Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) to perceived stressors such as fluctuating food availability, occurrence of competitors and predators and disturbance from human activities, a species-specific physiological validation of a method to evaluate adrenocortical activity is needed. Here we used 15 captive Arctic foxes (both males and females and juveniles and adults) to investigate fGCM concentrations following ACTH injection (physiological validation), or handling alone and compared them with their respective baseline concentrations prior to the treatments. A 5α-pregnane-3ß,11ß,21-triol-20-one enzyme immunoassay measured significant fGCM increases following both treatments. The time lags to reach peak fGCM values were 9.3 ± 1.3 h and 12.8 ± 1.7 h for ACTH and handling treatment, respectively. Concentrations of fGCMs varied a lot between individuals, but not attributed to sex nor age of the foxes. However, we found a negative relationship between boldness and fGCM concentrations. Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites concentrations did not change significantly over a period of 48 h in samples kept at temperatures reflecting winter and summer means. This would allow the collection of samples up to two days old in the wild regardless of the season. We conclude that our successfully validated method for measuring fGCMs can be used as a non-invasive tool for studies exploring various stressors both in wild and captive Arctic foxes.
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9
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Nater CR, Eide NE, Pedersen ÅØ, Yoccoz NG, Fuglei E. Contributions from terrestrial and marine resources stabilize predator populations in a rapidly changing climate. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chloé R. Nater
- Norwegian Polar Institute Tromsø Norway
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology UIT – The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Trondheim Norway
| | | | - Nigel G. Yoccoz
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology UIT – The Arctic University of Norway Tromsø Norway
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10
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Gomo G, Mattisson J, Rød-Eriksen L, Eide NE, Odden M. Spatiotemporal patterns of red fox scavenging in forest and tundra: the influence of prey fluctuations and winter conditions. MAMMAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-021-00566-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractConcern has been raised regarding red fox (Vulpes Vulpes) population increase and range expansion into alpine tundra, directly and indirectly enhanced by human activities, including carrion supply, and its negative impact on native fauna. In this study, we used cameras on bait stations and hunting remains to investigate how spatiotemporal patterns of red fox scavenging were influenced by abundance and accessibility of live prey, i.e., small rodent population cycles, snow depth, and primary productivity. We found contrasting patterns of scavenging between habitats during winter. In alpine areas, use of baits was highest post rodent peaks and when snow depth was low. This probably reflected relatively higher red fox abundance due to increased reproduction or migration of individuals from neighboring areas, possibly also enhanced by a diet shift. Contrastingly, red fox use of baits in the forest was highest during rodent low phase, and when snow was deep, indicating a higher dependency of carrion under these conditions. Scavenging patterns by red fox on the pulsed but predictable food resource from hunting remains in the autumn revealed no patterns throughout the rodent cycle. In this study, we showed that small rodent dynamics influenced red fox scavenging, at least in winter, but with contrasting patterns depending on environmental conditions. In marginal alpine areas, a numerical response to higher availability of rodents possible lead to the increase in bait visitation the proceeding winter, while in more productive forest areas, low availability of rodents induced a functional diet shift towards scavenging.
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Di Bernardi C, Thierry AM, Eide NE, Bowler DE, Rød-Eriksen L, Blumentrath S, Tietgen L, Sandercock BK, Flagstad Ø, Landa A. Fitness and fur colouration: Testing the camouflage and thermoregulation hypotheses in an Arctic mammal. J Anim Ecol 2021; 90:1328-1340. [PMID: 33660289 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Selection for crypsis has been recognized as an important ecological driver of animal colouration, whereas the relative importance of thermoregulation is more contentious with mixed empirical support. A potential thermal advantage of darker individuals has been observed in a wide range of animal species. Arctic animals that exhibit colour polymorphisms and undergo seasonal colour moults are interesting study subjects for testing the two alternative hypotheses: demographic performance of different colour morphs might be differentially affected by snow cover with a cryptic advantage for lighter morphs, or conversely by winter temperature with a thermal advantage for darker morphs. In this study, we explored whether camouflage and thermoregulation might explain differences in reproduction and survival between the white and blue colour morphs of the Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus under natural conditions. Juvenile and adult survival, breeding propensity and litter size were measured for 798 captive-bred and released or wild-born Arctic foxes monitored during an 11-year period (2007-2017) in two subpopulations in south-central Norway. We investigated the proportion of the two colour morphs and compared their demographic performance in relation to spatial variation in duration of snow cover, onset of snow season and winter temperatures. After population re-establishment, a higher proportion of blue individuals was observed among wild-born Arctic foxes compared to the proportion of blue foxes released from the captive population. Our field study provides the first evidence for an effect of colour morph on the reproductive performance of Arctic foxes under natural conditions, with a higher breeding propensity of the blue morph compared to the white one. Performance of the two colour morphs was not differentially affected by the climatic variables, except for juvenile survival. Blue morph juveniles showed a tendency for higher survival under colder winter temperatures but lower survival under warmer temperatures compared to white morph juveniles. Overall, our findings do not consistently support predictions of the camouflage or the thermoregulation hypotheses. The higher success of blue foxes suggests an advantage of the dark morph not directly related to disruptive selection by crypsis or thermoregulation. Our results rather point to physiological adaptations and behavioural traits not necessarily connected to thermoregulation, such as stress response, immune function, sexual behaviour and aggressiveness. Our findings highlight the need to explore the potential role of genetic linkage or pleiotropy in influencing the fitness of white and blue Arctic foxes as well as other species with colour polymorphisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Diana E Bowler
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway.,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Lars Rød-Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Lukas Tietgen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD), Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Øystein Flagstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - Arild Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Bergen, Norway
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12
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Gomo G, Rød‐Eriksen L, Andreassen HP, Mattisson J, Odden M, Devineau O, Eide NE. Scavenger community structure along an environmental gradient from boreal forest to alpine tundra in Scandinavia. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:12860-12869. [PMID: 33304499 PMCID: PMC7713988 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Scavengers can have strong impacts on food webs, and awareness of their role in ecosystems has increased during the last decades. In our study, we used baited camera traps to quantify the structure of the winter scavenger community in central Scandinavia across a forest-alpine continuum and assess how climatic conditions affected spatial patterns of species occurrences at baits. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that the main habitat type (forest or alpine tundra) and snow depth was main determinants of the community structure. According to a joint species distribution model within the HMSC framework, species richness tended to be higher in forest than in alpine tundra habitat, but was only weakly associated with temperature and snow depth. However, we observed stronger and more diverse impacts of these covariates on individual species. Occurrence at baits by habitat generalists (red fox, golden eagle, and common raven) typically increased at low temperatures and high snow depth, probably due to increased energetic demands and lower abundance of natural prey in harsh winter conditions. On the contrary, occurrence at baits by forest specialists (e.g., Eurasian jay) tended to decrease in deep snow, which is possibly a consequence of reduced bait detectability and accessibility. In general, the influence of environmental covariates on species richness and occurrence at baits was lower in alpine tundra than in forests, and habitat generalists dominated the scavenger communities in both forest and alpine tundra. Following forecasted climate change, altered environmental conditions are likely to cause range expansion of boreal species and range contraction of typical alpine species such as the arctic fox. Our results suggest that altered snow conditions will possibly be a main driver of changes in species community structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gjermund Gomo
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology (Fac. Appl. Ecol.)Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN)KoppangNorway
| | - Lars Rød‐Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
- Department of BiologyCentre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD)Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)TrondheimNorway
| | - Harry P. Andreassen
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology (Fac. Appl. Ecol.)Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN)KoppangNorway
| | - Jenny Mattisson
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
| | - Morten Odden
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology (Fac. Appl. Ecol.)Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN)KoppangNorway
| | - Olivier Devineau
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology (Fac. Appl. Ecol.)Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN)KoppangNorway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)TrondheimNorway
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13
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Rød‐Eriksen L, Skrutvold J, Herfindal I, Jensen H, Eide NE. Highways associated with expansion of boreal scavengers into the alpine tundra of Fennoscandia. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lars Rød‐Eriksen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) Trondheim Norway
- Department of Biology Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD) Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim Norway
| | | | - Ivar Herfindal
- Department of Biology Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD) Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Department of Biology Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics (CBD) Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Trondheim Norway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) Trondheim Norway
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14
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Ehrich D, Schmidt NM, Gauthier G, Alisauskas R, Angerbjörn A, Clark K, Ecke F, Eide NE, Framstad E, Frandsen J, Franke A, Gilg O, Giroux MA, Henttonen H, Hörnfeldt B, Ims RA, Kataev GD, Kharitonov SP, Killengreen ST, Krebs CJ, Lanctot RB, Lecomte N, Menyushina IE, Morris DW, Morrisson G, Oksanen L, Oksanen T, Olofsson J, Pokrovsky IG, Popov IY, Reid D, Roth JD, Saalfeld ST, Samelius G, Sittler B, Sleptsov SM, Smith PA, Sokolov AA, Sokolova NA, Soloviev MY, Solovyeva DV. Documenting lemming population change in the Arctic: Can we detect trends? Ambio 2020; 49:786-800. [PMID: 31332767 PMCID: PMC6989711 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01198-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Lemmings are a key component of tundra food webs and changes in their dynamics can affect the whole ecosystem. We present a comprehensive overview of lemming monitoring and research activities, and assess recent trends in lemming abundance across the circumpolar Arctic. Since 2000, lemmings have been monitored at 49 sites of which 38 are still active. The sites were not evenly distributed with notably Russia and high Arctic Canada underrepresented. Abundance was monitored at all sites, but methods and levels of precision varied greatly. Other important attributes such as health, genetic diversity and potential drivers of population change, were often not monitored. There was no evidence that lemming populations were decreasing in general, although a negative trend was detected for low arctic populations sympatric with voles. To keep the pace of arctic change, we recommend maintaining long-term programmes while harmonizing methods, improving spatial coverage and integrating an ecosystem perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothée Ehrich
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Niels M. Schmidt
- Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Gilles Gauthier
- Département de Biologie and Centre d’Études Nordiques, Université Laval, 1045 avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Ray Alisauskas
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4 Canada
| | - Anders Angerbjörn
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Clark
- Environment and Natural Resources, PO Box 1320, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 Canada
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, P.O.Box 5685, Torgard, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Erik Framstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jay Frandsen
- Parks Canada, PO Box 1840, 81 Kingmingya, Inuvik, NT X0E0T0 Canada
| | - Alastair Franke
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 Chrono-Environnement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000 Besançon, France
- Groupe de recherche en Ecologie Arctique, 16 rue de Vernot, 21440 Francheville, France
| | - Marie-Andrée Giroux
- K.-C.-Irving Research Chair in Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development, Université de Moncton, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9 Canada
| | - Heikki Henttonen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Birger Hörnfeldt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rolf A. Ims
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gennadiy D. Kataev
- Laplandskii Nature Reserve, Per. Zelenyi 8, Monchegorsk, Murmansk Region Russia
| | | | - Siw T. Killengreen
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Charles J. Krebs
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Richard B. Lanctot
- Migratory Bird Management Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 201, Anchorage, AK 99503 USA
| | - Nicolas Lecomte
- K.-C.-Irving Research Chair in Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development, Université de Moncton, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9 Canada
| | | | - Douglas W. Morris
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, 954 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON PTB 5E1 Canada
| | - Guy Morrisson
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Lauri Oksanen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Postboks 1621, 9509 Alta, Norway
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Tarja Oksanen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Postboks 1621, 9509 Alta, Norway
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ivan G. Pokrovsky
- Max-Planck Institute for Ornithology, Am Obstberg, 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, 18 Portovaya Str, Magadan, 685000 Russia
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelenaya Gorka Str. 21, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
| | - Igor Yu. Popov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninskij prosp, Moscow, Russia 119071
| | - Donald Reid
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, 169 Titanium Way, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5T2 Canada
| | - James D. Roth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Rd, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
| | - Sarah T. Saalfeld
- Migratory Bird Management Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 201, Anchorage, AK 99503 USA
| | - Gustaf Samelius
- Snow Leopard Trust, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle, USA
| | - Benoit Sittler
- Chair for Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sergey M. Sleptsov
- Institute of Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lenin Avenue, 41, Yakutsk, Sakha Republic Russia 677980
| | - Paul A. Smith
- National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
| | - Aleksandr A. Sokolov
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelenaya Gorka Str. 21, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
- Science Center for Arctic Studies, State Organization of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Salekhard, Russia
| | - Natalya A. Sokolova
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelenaya Gorka Str. 21, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
- Science Center for Arctic Studies, State Organization of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Salekhard, Russia
| | - Mikhail Y. Soloviev
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia 119991
| | - Diana V. Solovyeva
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, 18 Portovaya Str, Magadan, 685000 Russia
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15
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Ehrich D, Schmidt NM, Gauthier G, Alisauskas R, Angerbjörn A, Clark K, Ecke F, Eide NE, Framstad E, Frandsen J, Franke A, Gilg O, Giroux MA, Henttonen H, Hörnfeldt B, Ims RA, Kataev GD, Kharitonov SP, Killengreen ST, Krebs CJ, Lanctot RB, Lecomte N, Menyushina IE, Morris DW, Morrisson G, Oksanen L, Oksanen T, Olofsson J, Pokrovsky IG, Popov IY, Reid D, Roth JD, Saalfeld ST, Samelius G, Sittler B, Sleptsov SM, Smith PA, Sokolov AA, Sokolova NA, Soloviev MY, Solovyeva DV. Correction to: Documenting lemming population change in the Arctic: Can we detect trends? Ambio 2020; 49:801-804. [PMID: 31605369 PMCID: PMC6989706 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-019-01262-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the original published article, some of the symbols in figure 1A were modified incorrectly during the typesetting and publication process. The correct version of the figure is provided in this correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorothée Ehrich
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Niels M. Schmidt
- Arctic Research Centre, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Gilles Gauthier
- Département de Biologie and Centre d’Études Nordiques, Université Laval, 1045 avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Ray Alisauskas
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4 Canada
| | - Anders Angerbjörn
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Clark
- Environment and Natural Resources, PO Box 1320, Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 Canada
| | - Frauke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, P.O.Box 5685, Torgard, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Erik Framstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jay Frandsen
- Parks Canada, PO Box 1840, 81 Kingmingya, Inuvik, NT X0E0T0 Canada
| | - Alastair Franke
- Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, 751 General Services Building, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1 Canada
| | - Olivier Gilg
- UMR 6249 Chrono-Environnement, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 16 route de Gray, 25000 Besançon, France
- Groupe de recherche en Ecologie Arctique, 16 rue de Vernot, 21440 Francheville, France
| | - Marie-Andrée Giroux
- K.-C.-Irving Research Chair in Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development, Université de Moncton, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9 Canada
| | - Heikki Henttonen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Birger Hörnfeldt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Rolf A. Ims
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gennadiy D. Kataev
- Laplandskii Nature Reserve, Per. Zelenyi 8, Monchegorsk, Murmansk Region Russia
| | | | - Siw T. Killengreen
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Framstredet 39, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Charles J. Krebs
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4 Canada
| | - Richard B. Lanctot
- Migratory Bird Management Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 201, Anchorage, AK 99503 USA
| | - Nicolas Lecomte
- K.-C.-Irving Research Chair in Environmental Sciences and Sustainable Development, Université de Moncton, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9 Canada
| | | | - Douglas W. Morris
- Department of Biology, Lakehead University, 954 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON PTB 5E1 Canada
| | - Guy Morrisson
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Canada
| | - Lauri Oksanen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Postboks 1621, 9509 Alta, Norway
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Tarja Oksanen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Postboks 1621, 9509 Alta, Norway
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Johan Olofsson
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ivan G. Pokrovsky
- Max-Planck Institute for Ornithology, Am Obstberg, 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, 18 Portovaya Str, Magadan, 685000 Russia
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelenaya Gorka Str. 21, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
| | - Igor Yu. Popov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 33 Leninskij prosp, Moscow, Russia 119071
| | - Donald Reid
- Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, 169 Titanium Way, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 5T2 Canada
| | - James D. Roth
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 50 Sifton Rd, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
| | - Sarah T. Saalfeld
- Migratory Bird Management Division, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 East Tudor Road, MS 201, Anchorage, AK 99503 USA
| | - Gustaf Samelius
- Snow Leopard Trust, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle, USA
| | - Benoit Sittler
- Chair for Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sergey M. Sleptsov
- Institute of Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Lenin Avenue, 41, Yakutsk, Sakha Republic Russia 677980
| | - Paul A. Smith
- National Wildlife Research Centre, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6 Canada
| | - Aleksandr A. Sokolov
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelenaya Gorka Str. 21, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
- Science Center for Arctic Studies, State Organization of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Salekhard, Russia
| | - Natalya A. Sokolova
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Zelenaya Gorka Str. 21, Labytnangi, Russia 629400
- Science Center for Arctic Studies, State Organization of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Salekhard, Russia
| | - Mikhail Y. Soloviev
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia 119991
| | - Diana V. Solovyeva
- Laboratory of Ornithology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North, 18 Portovaya Str, Magadan, 685000 Russia
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16
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Thierry A, De Bouillane De Lacoste N, Ulvund K, Andersen R, MeÅs R, Eide NE, Landa A. Use of Supplementary Feeding Dispensers by Arctic Foxes in Norway. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anne‐Mathilde Thierry
- Norsk institutt for naturforskning (NINA) P.O. Box 5685, Torgard, NO‐7485 Trondheim Norway
| | | | | | - Roy Andersen
- NINA P.O. Box 5685, Torgard, NO‐7485 Trondheim Norway
| | - Roger MeÅs
- NINA P.O. Box 5685, Torgard, NO‐7485 Trondheim Norway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- NINA P.O. Box 5685, Torgard, NO‐7485 Trondheim Norway
| | - Arild Landa
- NINA Thormøhlens gate 55, NO‐5006 Bergen Norway
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17
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Larsson P, von Seth J, Hagen IJ, Götherström A, Androsov S, Germonpré M, Bergfeldt N, Fedorov S, Eide NE, Sokolova N, Berteaux D, Angerbjörn A, Flagstad Ø, Plotnikov V, Norén K, Díez-Del-Molino D, Dussex N, Stanton DWG, Dalén L. Consequences of past climate change and recent human persecution on mitogenomic diversity in the arctic fox. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20190212. [PMID: 31679495 PMCID: PMC6863501 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ancient DNA provides a powerful means to investigate the timing, rate and extent of population declines caused by extrinsic factors, such as past climate change and human activities. One species probably affected by both these factors is the arctic fox, which had a large distribution during the last glaciation that subsequently contracted at the start of the Holocene. More recently, the arctic fox population in Scandinavia went through a demographic bottleneck owing to human persecution. To investigate the consequences of these processes, we generated mitogenome sequences from a temporal dataset comprising Pleistocene, historical and modern arctic fox samples. We found no evidence that Pleistocene populations in mid-latitude Europe or Russia contributed to the present-day gene pool of the Scandinavian population, suggesting that postglacial climate warming led to local population extinctions. Furthermore, during the twentieth-century bottleneck in Scandinavia, at least half of the mitogenome haplotypes were lost, consistent with a 20-fold reduction in female effective population size. In conclusion, these results suggest that the arctic fox in mainland Western Europe has lost genetic diversity as a result of both past climate change and human persecution. Consequently, it might be particularly vulnerable to the future challenges posed by climate change. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The past is a foreign country: how much can the fossil record actually inform conservation?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Petter Larsson
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna von Seth
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Anders Götherström
- Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Mietje Germonpré
- Operational Direction 'Earth and History of Life', Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nora Bergfeldt
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sergey Fedorov
- Mammoth Museum of Institute of Applied Ecology of the North, North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk, Republic Sakha (Yakutia), Russia
| | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Natalia Sokolova
- Arctic Research Station of Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Russia.,Arctic Research Center of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, Salekhard, Russia
| | - Dominique Berteaux
- Canada Research Chair on Northern Biodiversity and Centre for Northern Studies, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada
| | | | | | - Valeri Plotnikov
- Academy of Sciences of Sakha Republic, Lenin Avenue 33, Republic of Sakha, Yakutia, Russia
| | - Karin Norén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Díez-Del-Molino
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicolas Dussex
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David W G Stanton
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Love Dalén
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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18
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Hasselgren M, Angerbjörn A, Eide NE, Erlandsson R, Flagstad Ø, Landa A, Wallén J, Norén K. Genetic rescue in an inbred Arctic fox ( Vulpes lagopus) population. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2814. [PMID: 29593110 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolation of small populations can reduce fitness through inbreeding depression and impede population growth. Outcrossing with only a few unrelated individuals can increase demographic and genetic viability substantially, but few studies have documented such genetic rescue in natural mammal populations. We investigate the effects of immigration in a subpopulation of the endangered Scandinavian arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), founded by six individuals and isolated for 9 years at an extremely small population size. Based on a long-term pedigree (105 litters, 543 individuals) combined with individual fitness traits, we found evidence for genetic rescue. Natural immigration and gene flow of three outbred males in 2010 resulted in a reduction in population average inbreeding coefficient (f), from 0.14 to 0.08 within 5 years. Genetic rescue was further supported by 1.9 times higher juvenile survival and 1.3 times higher breeding success in immigrant first-generation offspring compared with inbred offspring. Five years after immigration, the population had more than doubled in size and allelic richness increased by 41%. This is one of few studies that has documented genetic rescue in a natural mammal population suffering from inbreeding depression and contributes to a growing body of data demonstrating the vital connection between genetics and individual fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin Hasselgren
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anders Angerbjörn
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Rasmus Erlandsson
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Arild Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Johan Wallén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Norén
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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19
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Norén K, Statham MJ, Ågren EO, Isomursu M, Flagstad Ø, Eide NE, Berg TBG, Bech-Sanderhoff L, Sacks BN. Genetic footprints reveal geographic patterns of expansion in Fennoscandian red foxes. Glob Chang Biol 2015; 21:3299-3312. [PMID: 26058388 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Population expansions of boreal species are among the most substantial ecological consequences of climate change, potentially transforming both structure and processes of northern ecosystems. Despite their importance, little is known about expansion dynamics of boreal species. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are forecasted to become a keystone species in northern Europe, a process stemming from population expansions that began in the 19th century. To identify the relative roles of geographic and demographic factors and the sources of northern European red fox population expansion, we genotyped 21 microsatellite loci in modern and historical (1835-1941) Fennoscandian red foxes. Using Bayesian clustering and Bayesian inference of migration rates, we identified high connectivity and asymmetric migration rates across the region, consistent with source-sink dynamics, whereby more recently colonized sampling regions received immigrants from multiple sources. There were no clear clines in allele frequency or genetic diversity as would be expected from a unidirectional range expansion from south to north. Instead, migration inferences, demographic models and comparison to historical red fox genotypes suggested that the population expansion of the red fox is a consequence of dispersal from multiple sources, as well as in situ demographic growth. Together, these findings provide a rare glimpse into the anatomy of a boreal range expansion and enable informed predictions about future changes in boreal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Norén
- Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, Center for Veterinary Genetics, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mark J Statham
- Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, Center for Veterinary Genetics, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Erik O Ågren
- National Veterinary Institute, Department of Pathology and Wildlife Diseases, SE-751 89, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marja Isomursu
- Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Production Animal and Wildlife Health Research Unit, Elektroniikkatie 5, FIN-90590, Oulu, Finland
| | - Øystein Flagstad
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, N-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Nina E Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, N-7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Lene Bech-Sanderhoff
- Naturama - Modern Natural History, Dronningemaen 30, DK-5700, Svendborg, Denmark
| | - Benjamin N Sacks
- Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit, Center for Veterinary Genetics, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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20
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Meijer T, Elmhagen B, Eide NE, Angerbjörn A. Life history traits in a cyclic ecosystem: a field experiment on the arctic fox. Oecologia 2013; 173:439-47. [PMID: 23512202 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2641-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The reproduction of many species depends strongly on variation in food availability. The main prey of the arctic fox in Fennoscandia are cyclic small rodents, and its number of litters and litter size vary depending on the phase of the rodent cycle. In this experiment, we studied if the arctic fox adjusts its reproduction as a direct response to food abundance, in accordance with the food limitation hypothesis, or if there are additional phase-dependent trade-offs that influence its reproduction. We analysed the weaning success, i.e. proportion of arctic fox pairs established during mating that wean a litter in summer, of 422 pairs of which 361 were supplementary winter fed, as well as the weaned litter size of 203 litters of which 115 were supplementary winter fed. Females without supplementary winter food over-produced cubs in relation to food abundance in the small rodent increase phase, i.e. the litter size was equal to that in the peak phase when food was more abundant. The litter size for unfed females was 6.38 in the increase phase, 7.11 in the peak phase and 3.84 in the decrease phase. The litter size for supplementary winter-fed litters was 7.95 in the increase phase, 10.61 in the peak phase and 7.86 in the decrease phase. Thus, feeding had a positive effect on litter size, but it did not diminish the strong impact of the small rodent phase, supporting phase-dependent trade-offs in addition to food determining arctic fox reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Meijer
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden,
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21
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Angerbjörn A, Eide NE, Dalén L, Elmhagen B, Hellström P, Ims RA, Killengreen S, Landa A, Meijer T, Mela M, Niemimaa J, Norén K, Tannerfeldt M, Yoccoz NG, Henttonen H. Carnivore conservation in practice: replicated management actions on a large spatial scale. J Appl Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anders Angerbjörn
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; SE-10691; Stockholm; Sweden
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; N-7845; Trondheim; Norway
| | - Love Dalén
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; SE-10691; Stockholm; Sweden
| | - Bodil Elmhagen
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; SE-10691; Stockholm; Sweden
| | - Peter Hellström
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; SE-10691; Stockholm; Sweden
| | - Rolf A. Ims
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology; University of Tromsø; N-9037; Tromsø; Norway
| | - Siw Killengreen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology; University of Tromsø; N-9037; Tromsø; Norway
| | - Arild Landa
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; N-7845; Trondheim; Norway
| | - Tomas Meijer
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; SE-10691; Stockholm; Sweden
| | - Matti Mela
- Metsähallitus-Finnish Park and Forest Service; FI-99801; Ivalo; Finland
| | - Jukka Niemimaa
- Vantaa Research Centre; Finnish Forest Research Institute; Vantaa; Finland
| | - Karin Norén
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; SE-10691; Stockholm; Sweden
| | - Magnus Tannerfeldt
- Department of Zoology; Stockholm University; SE-10691; Stockholm; Sweden
| | - Nigel G. Yoccoz
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology; University of Tromsø; N-9037; Tromsø; Norway
| | - Heikki Henttonen
- Vantaa Research Centre; Finnish Forest Research Institute; Vantaa; Finland
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22
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Hamel S, Killengreen ST, Henden JA, Eide NE, Roed-Eriksen L, Ims RA, Yoccoz NG. Towards good practice guidance in using camera-traps in ecology: influence of sampling design on validity of ecological inferences. Methods Ecol Evol 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2041-210x.2012.00262.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Hamel
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics; University of Tromsø; 9037; Tromsø; Norway
| | - Siw T. Killengreen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics; University of Tromsø; 9037; Tromsø; Norway
| | - John-Andre Henden
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics; University of Tromsø; 9037; Tromsø; Norway
| | - Nina E. Eide
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; 7485; Trondheim; Norway
| | | | - Rolf A. Ims
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics; University of Tromsø; 9037; Tromsø; Norway
| | - Nigel G. Yoccoz
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics; University of Tromsø; 9037; Tromsø; Norway
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23
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Eide NE, Stien A, Prestrud P, Yoccoz NG, Fuglei E. Reproductive responses to spatial and temporal prey availability in a coastal Arctic fox population. J Anim Ecol 2011; 81:640-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2011.01936.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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24
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Pedersen ÅØ, Asmyhr L, Pedersen HC, Eide NE. Nest-predator prevalence along a mountain birch - alpine tundra ecotone. Wildl Res 2011. [DOI: 10.1071/wr11031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context Nest predation is a major factor influencing life history and population dynamics of ground-nesting birds. The transitions between the northern boreal mountain birch forests and the low-alpine tundra are important habitats for the willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus (Linnaeus, 1758). During the past decades, these landscapes have been extensively developed with cabin resorts in southern Norway, which has led to an increased number of roads and foot paths in relatively undisturbed habitats. Aims The aim of the present study was to investigate relative nest-predation rates in elevation gradients (ecotones) spanning from northern boreal mountain birch forests to low-alpine tundra in three locations with contrasting willow ptarmigan densities. Methods We conducted an artificial nest study by using baited track boards (n = 108). Track boards were placed along transects (200 m) in the following three habitat types: birch forest, edge habitat and low-alpine tundra. Predator prevalence was analysed in relation to study-design variables (location, habitat, study period) and the load of human infrastructure (i.e. distance to foot paths and roads), using generalised linear mixed-effect models assuming binomial distribution for the response variable. Key results Prevalence of avian predators was consistently high (range 38.2–85.3%), in contrast to much lower prevalence of mammalian predators (range 2.8–22.9%). Raven (Corvus corax) was the dominant nest predator, followed by hooded crow (C. cornix) and pine marten (Martes martes). Location, as contrasted by differences in willow ptarmigan density, was not significantly related to total relative predation rates. Species-specific predator prevalence was habitat specific and related to human infrastructure, but with opposite relative predation patterns between pine marten and raven. Hooded crow predation was similar across the ecotone and not related to human infrastructure. Conclusions Predator prevalence was habitat specific and affected by human infrastructure (distance to human foot paths). Our study confirmed that human activity might alter the predation rates by generalist species in these low-alpine environments. Implications We recommend that attractive willow ptarmigan habitat should be avoided when planning human infrastructure in alpine ecosystems. To reduce predation pressure in this ecosystem, it appears that generalist predators should be considered for management actions. Further research is needed to explain the underlying mechanism driving expansion of generalist species into alpine habitats. Such knowledge is also important in developing alternative management actions with focus other than predator control.
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25
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Selås V, Johnsen BS, Eide NE. Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus den use in relation to altitude and human infrastructure. Wildlife Biology 2010. [DOI: 10.2981/09-023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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26
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Fuglei E, Stien A, Yoccoz NG, Ims RA, Eide NE, Prestrud P, Deplazes P, Oksanen A. Spatial distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis, Svalbard, Norway. Emerg Infect Dis 2008; 14:73-5. [PMID: 18258082 PMCID: PMC2600161 DOI: 10.3201/eid1401.070565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In Svalbard, Norway, the only intermediate host for Echinococcus multilocularis, the sibling vole, has restricted spatial distribution. A survey of feces from the main host, the arctic fox, showed that only the area occupied by the intermediate host is associated with increased risk for human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Fuglei
- The Polar Environmental Centre, Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromsø, Norway.
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27
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Eide NE, Eid PM, Prestrud P, Swenson JE. Dietary responses of arctic foxes Alopex lagopus to changing prey availability across an Arctic landscape. Wildlife Biology 2005. [DOI: 10.2981/0909-6396(2005)11[109:droafa]2.0.co;2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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28
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Jepsen JU, Eide NE, Prestrud P, Jacobsen LB. The importance of prey distribution in habitat use by arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus). CAN J ZOOL 2002. [DOI: 10.1139/z02-023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The use of habitat by reproducing arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in relation to prey distribution was examined on the Svalbard archipelago in the Norwegian High Arctic during 19871988 and 19972000 by means of VHF telemetry. The distribution and abundance of the main prey species of foxes was registered in 4 separate periods during summer. The availability of 9 habitat types was estimated on the basis of a classification of a Landsat-5 TM scene. Three resource areas that differed with regard to distribution and availability of prey, vegetation, and terrain were identified within the study area: (1) inland areas with no geese, (2) inland areas with geese present, and (3) coastal areas with bird cliffs. The use of resources by foxes was calculated in the 4 separate periods, as was the average speed of movement (m/h) of foxes and the distance between fox locations and their natal dens. Resource-selection functions (RSFs) calculated for individual animals showed that resource use was nonrandom and similar for foxes that lived within the same resource area. In inland areas in which resource availability was low but fairly stable (area 1), RSFs were simple and in some cases of low significance compared with a no-selection model. In inland areas with highly dynamic resources (area 2), RSFs were complex and resource use differed significantly between periods. In coastal areas (area 3), where resources were plentiful, highly concentrated, and stable, RSFs were of intermediate complexity and resource use differed less between periods.
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