Body size changes among otters, Lutra lutra, in Norway: the possible effects of food availability and global warming

Yom‐Tov, Yoram; Heggberget, Thrine Moen; Wiig, Øystein; Yom‐Tov, Shlomith

doi:10.1007/s00442-006-0499-8

Cited by 55 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…It is well known that conditions experienced during early development, particularly food quantity and quality, affect growth, and ultimately adult body size (Bolton et al 1982;Lindström 1999;Yom-Tov et al 2006;Hersteinsson et al 2009). Yom-Tov et al (2010) have shown that this is the case also for the lynx in Sweden, where roe deer density at birth year affects body size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This effect of latitude may be explained as a Bergmannian reaction to ambient temperature, with females being more sensitive to environmental conditions than males. Bergmannian trend in body size was also detected among otters (Lutra lutra) in Norway, and was interpreted as a reaction to ambient temperature (Yom-Tov et al 2006). However, in Sweden, the size of lynx increases with The best two (females) and four (males) models, selected by the Akaike information criterion (AIC), are presented.…”

Section: The Effect Of Latitudementioning

confidence: 92%

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Lynx Body Size in Norway is Related to its Main Prey (Roe Deer) Density, Climate, and Latitude

Yom‐Tov

Kvam²,

Wiig

2010

AMBIO

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We studied the effect of various factors on body size variation of the Eurasian lynx in Norway, using data from 374 lynx collected between 1960 and 1976 and whose locality of capture, year of birth, sex, and age were known. Body size of lynx in Norway was mainly affected by sex and age. Female skull size (and by implication body size) was also positively affected by the availability of its main prey (roe deer) and by latitude, and negatively by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Male size was not affected by any of the environmental factors examined. We interpret the effects of NAO and latitude on body size through their effect on the local climate and particularly snow conditions. We suggest that females are more sensitive to environmental factors than males.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Effect Of Latitudementioning

confidence: 92%

Lynx Body Size in Norway is Related to its Main Prey (Roe Deer) Density, Climate, and Latitude

Yom‐Tov

Kvam²,

Wiig

2010

AMBIO

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“…Only in some exceptional cases, the opposite trend is observed, with increasing body sizes for certain fish, lizards, birds and mammals. Along this line, studies such as those by Yom-Tov and collaborators [21,22] have shown an increase in body size in medium and small mammals (otters and shrews, respectively), with increasing temperatures during the last decades. The hypothesized mechanism behind this was an increase in productivity over the whole ecosystem owing to increasing temperatures, which in turn facilitated an increase in species body size.…”

Section: Closed Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 91%

Novel communities from climate change

Lurgi

López

Montoya

2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

184

187

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Climate change is generating novel communities composed of new combinations of species. These result from different degrees of species adaptations to changing biotic and abiotic conditions, and from differential range shifts of species. To determine whether the responses of organisms are determined by particular species traits and how species interactions and community dynamics are likely to be disrupted is a challenge. Here, we focus on two key traits: body size and ecological specialization. We present theoretical expectations and empirical evidence on how climate change affects these traits within communities. We then explore how these traits predispose species to shift or expand their distribution ranges, and associated changes on community size structure, food web organization and dynamics. We identify three major broad changes: (i) Shift in the distribution of body sizes towards smaller sizes, (ii) dominance of generalized interactions and the loss of specialized interactions, and (iii) changes in the balance of strong and weak interaction strengths in the short term. We finally identify two major uncertainties: (i) whether largebodied species tend to preferentially shift their ranges more than small-bodied ones, and (ii) how interaction strengths will change in the long term and in the case of newly interacting species.

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“…In addition to these large-scale patterns, human activities occurring at the local scale may also affect body condition and size (e.g. body size of Otters Lutra lutra increased in Norway in response to expanding fish farming; Yom-Tov et al 2006b; carnivores benefiting from human garbage; Yom-Tov 2003). Agricultural practices are known to have strongly benefited some goose populations by means of improved feeding opportunities, leading to better body condition and increased abundance (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wintering French Mallard and Teal Are Heavier and in Better Body Condition than 30 Years Ago: Effects of a Changing Environment?

Guillemain

Elmberg

Gauthier‐Clerc

et al. 2010

AMBIO

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Animal populations are exposed to large-scale anthropogenic impact from e.g. climate change, habitat alteration and supplemental stocking. All of these may affect body condition in wintering dabbling ducks, which in turn may affect an individual's survival and reproductive success. The aim of this study was to assess whether there have been morphometric changes in Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and Teal (Anas crecca) over the last 30 years at a major wintering site. Body mass and condition increased from the 1950s-1960s to the 2000s in both species. The increase in body mass amounted to as much as 11.7%, with no corresponding change in body size. Improved body condition was maintained from early to mid-winter, but then converged with historical values for late winter. Our interpretation is that increasingly benign ambient winter conditions permit ducks to maintain better energetic ''safety margins'' throughout winter, and that converging spring departure values may be related to evolutionary flight energetic optima. The observed changes are consistent with large-scale climate amelioration and local/regional habitat improvement (both anthropogenic).

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Body size changes among otters, Lutra lutra, in Norway: the possible effects of food availability and global warming

Cited by 55 publications

References 22 publications

Lynx Body Size in Norway is Related to its Main Prey (Roe Deer) Density, Climate, and Latitude

Lynx Body Size in Norway is Related to its Main Prey (Roe Deer) Density, Climate, and Latitude

Novel communities from climate change

Wintering French Mallard and Teal Are Heavier and in Better Body Condition than 30 Years Ago: Effects of a Changing Environment?

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