Food Habits of Arctic Foxes (<i>Alopex Lagopus</i>) on the Western Coast of Svalbard

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Food habits of arctic foxes (Alopex lugopus) on the western coast of Svalbard were studied in the years 1986-89. Faeces (n = 1018) hunting and feeding habits, utilizing a wide variety of available food items. Alcids (mainly little auks and Brünnich's guillemot), gulls (mainly kittiwakes), were collected mostly in summer, and food remains were recorded both at dens and elsewhere in the region. The foxes were opportunistic in their and fulmars were the major foods in summer. The consumption of alcids by fox families was correlated with availability near the den. In winter, fulmars and, in one region, seals were important foods. Some regional differences in food consumption were found. A change in diet was observed when a litter of pups moved from one den to another (2 of 3 cases). Differences in food habits between years also were found at the same den (4 of 5 cases). Foxes frequently cached food by scatter hoarding, placing only a single item in each cache. Key words: arctic fox, Alopex lugopus, food habits, prey species, food caching, Svalbard RkSUMk. On a 6tudit5 les habitudes alimentaires du renard arctique (Alopex lugopus) sur la &te ouest du Svalbard au cours des ann&% allant de 1986 B 1989. On a recueilli les &es (n = 1018) surtout en W , et on a consign6 les d6bris de nourriture B la fois dans les terriers et ailleurs dans la r6gion. Les renards se montraient opportunistes dans leurs façons de chasser et de se nourrir, et faisaient usage d'une vaste gamme d'aliments B leur port&. Les alcidks (surtout le petit pingouin et la marmette de Briinnich), les mouettes (surtout la mouette B trois doigts) et les fulmars 6taient les sources principales de nourriture estivale. La consommation d'alcid6s par les familles de renards 6tait c o d l & avec leur disponibilit6 B proXimit6 du terrier. En hiver, les fulmars et, dans un certain endroit, les phoques constituaient une source importante de nourriture. On a trouv6 certaines diff6rences rbgionales dans la consommation alimentaire. On a observd un changement dans le r6gime lorsqu'une port& de renardeaux se d6plaçait d'un terrier B un autre (dans 2 cas sur 3). On a aussi enregistr6 des differences dans les habitudes alimentaires d'une a n n & B l'autre au m&me terrier (dans 4 cas sur 5). Les renards cachaient m u e n m e n t la nourriture en Nparpillant, ne mettant qu'un &ment dans chaque cache.

Hormones and metabolites of arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in response to season, starvation and re-feeding

“…However, access to food becomes limited during autumn and winter because most birds leave Svalbard by October. Carcasses of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus) and other foxes, together with food stored during spring and summer, are potential food items for foxes during the dark winter, but their occurrence is low (Frafjord, 1993;Prestrud, 1993). Thus, during the harshest winter months, with complete darkness, low tempera-tures and occasional winter storms that can last for weeks, the arctic fox may undergo periods of starvation.…”

Acute toxoplasmosis in three wild arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) from Svalbard; one with co-infections of Salmonella Enteritidis PT1 and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype 2b

“…Important prey animals in summer are migratory seabirds, whereas reindeer carcasses and food remnants, such as seal carcasses, left by polar bears are important in winter. Cannibalism has also been observed (Prestrud, 1992;Frafjord, 1993Frafjord, , 2002. Svalbard has no native species of voles or lemmings, but there is a small population of introduced voles (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis), located in a restricted area of Grumant (78°10 0 N, 15°09 0 E), 7 km South-West of Bjørndalen, where the fox carcasses were recovered.…”

“…On Svalbard, arctic foxes are associated with all the main groups of birds and mammals, being a top predator and scavenger depending on both terrestrial and marine food webs (Prestrud, 1992;Frafjord, 1993Frafjord, , 2002. Important prey animals in summer are migratory seabirds, whereas reindeer carcasses and food remnants, such as seal carcasses, left by polar bears are important in winter.…”

Effects of season, food deprivation and re-feeding on leptin, ghrelin and growth hormone in arctic foxes ( Alopex lagopus ) on Svalbard, Norway

“…Arctic foxes on Svalbard are top predators and scavengers and prey on food from both the marine and terrestrial food webs (Prestrud 1992;Frafjord 1993). They are opportunistic feeders, prospering on a wide variety of foods that show extensive seasonal variation.…”