Adaptation of Some Large North American Mammals for Survival In Snow

Telfer, Edmund S.; Kelsall, John P.

doi:10.2307/1937779

Cited by 202 publications

(176 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Ungulates differ in their morphological and behavioural adaptations to snow, and current distributions of ungulate communities in North America correspond well with their adaptations to type and depth of snow in the regions in which they occur (Telfer and Kelsall, 1984). Changes in winter climate will likely change the suitability of winter habitat, and hence the ranges of these species.…”

Section: Deer-caribou Winter Distributions In Nova Scotiamentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Winter snow depth affects the distribution of many mammals at both local and regional scales (Formozov, 1946;Telfer and Kelsall, 1984). Ungulates differ in their morphological and behavioural adaptations to snow, and current distributions of ungulate communities in North America correspond well with their adaptations to type and depth of snow in the regions in which they occur (Telfer and Kelsall, 1984).…”

Section: Deer-caribou Winter Distributions In Nova Scotiamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temperature Mediated Moose Survival in Northeastern Minnesota

et al. 2009

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The earth is in the midst of a pronounced warming trend and temperatures in Minnesota, USA, as elsewhere, are projected to increase. Northern Minnesota represents the southern edge to the circumpolar distribution of moose (Alces alces), a species intolerant of heat. Moose increase their metabolic rate to regulate their core body temperature as temperatures rise. We hypothesized that moose survival rates would be a function of the frequency and magnitude that ambient temperatures exceeded the upper critical temperature of moose. We compared annual and seasonal moose survival in northeastern Minnesota between 2002 and 2008 with a temperature metric. We found that models based on January temperatures above the critical threshold were inversely correlated with subsequent survival and explained >78% of variability in spring, fall, and annual survival. Models based on late‐spring temperatures also explained a high proportion of survival during the subsequent fall. A model based on warm‐season temperatures was important in explaining survival during the subsequent winter. Our analyses suggest that temperatures may have a cumulative influence on survival. We expect that continuation or acceleration of current climate trends will result in decreased survival, a decrease in moose density, and ultimately, a retreat of moose northward from their current distribution.

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Section: Deer-caribou Winter Distributions In Nova Scotiamentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Deer-caribou Winter Distributions In Nova Scotiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature Mediated Moose Survival in Northeastern Minnesota

et al. 2009

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“…When wolves traveled through the study area, they selected lower elevations, shallower slopes, and areas of high prey abundance, and these movements were typical of wolves in other areas (Telfer andKelsall 1984, Huggard 1993a,b). Consistent with wolf movement in other areas, they selected low use trails (Thurber et al 1994) likely because they offered easy travel routes across the study area with low probabilities of encountering people (Musiani et al 1998, James and Stuart-Smith 2000, Callaghan 2002, Whittington et al 2005, Hebblewhite 2006).…”

Section: Resources Important To Wolves and Change In Resource Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Response of Wolves to Corridor Restoration and Human Use Management

Shepherd¹,

Whittington²

2006

E&S

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ABSTRACT. Corridor restoration is increasingly being used to connect habitat in mountainous areas where rugged topography and increasing human activity fragment habitat. Wolves (Canis lupus) are a conservation priority because they avoid areas with high levels of human use and are ecologically important predators. We examined how corridor restoration through a golf course changes the distribution of wolves and their prey in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. We followed and recorded wolf paths in the snow both within the corridor and in the surrounding landscape before and after a corridor was re-established. Track transects were used to estimate prey abundance and snow depths, and trail counters measured human activity. We compared resources on wolf paths to available movement routes using conditional logistic regression and also compared resources used by wolves before and after restoration. We addressed potential confounding effects of prey abundance, snow depths, and levels of human use by testing for changes in these variables. Prior to restoration, wolves traveled around the golf course and used the mountainside to connect valley-bottom habitat. Conversely, elk (Cervus elaphus) densities were highest in the golf course. After restoration, wolves shifted most of their movement to the golf course corridor, whereas elk dispersed along the corridor and mountainside. When traveling through the study area, wolves selected for areas with high prey abundance, low elevations, and low levels of human activity. Corridor restoration increased the area of high quality habitat available to wolves and increased their access to elk and deer at low elevations. Our results corroborate other studies suggesting that wolves and elk quickly adapt to landscape changes and that corridor restoration can improve habitat quality and reduce habitat fragmentation.

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“…Different habitat types may also offer varying levels of preda¬ tion pressure. Similarly, different snow conditions can change the relatively vulnerability of caribou to predation (Telfer & Kelsall, 1984). Predation pressure is an important factor, as caribou not judging this risk correctly will be killed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling influences on winter distribution of caribou in northwestern Alaska through use of satellite telemetry

Joly

2011

Ran

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I hypothesize that the distribution of barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) is affected by multiple, interrelated factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, terrain and snow characteristics as well as predation pressure and habitat. To test this hypothesis, I attributed caribou locations derived from satellite telemetry over a 6 year period with terrain (elevation, slope, aspect, and ruggedness), habitat characteristics, and moose density -potentially an index of wolf predation pressure. These locations were compared to random locations, attributed using the same data layers, using logistic regression techniques to develop resource selection functions (RSFs). I found that caribou moved significantly less during mid-winter than early-or late-winter and that cows moved significantly more in April than bulls due to their earlier departure on their spring migration. Distribution was different between cows and bulls. Terrain variables were important factors but were scale-dependent. Cows avoided forested areas, highlighting the importance of tundra habitats, and selected for dwarf shrub, with relatively high lichen cover, and sedge habitat types. Bulls selected for dryas, coniferous forest and dwarf shrub habitats but against lowland sedge, upland shrub and burned tundra. Cow distribution was negatively correlated with moose density at the scale of the Seward Peninsula. My results support the hypothesis that caribou distribution during winter in northwest Alaska is affected by multiple, interrelated factors. These results may be useful for researchers to track and/or model changes in future patterns of range use over winter.

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Adaptation of Some Large North American Mammals for Survival In Snow

Cited by 202 publications

References 6 publications

Temperature Mediated Moose Survival in Northeastern Minnesota

Temperature Mediated Moose Survival in Northeastern Minnesota

Response of Wolves to Corridor Restoration and Human Use Management

Modeling influences on winter distribution of caribou in northwestern Alaska through use of satellite telemetry

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