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

Yom‐Tov, Yoram; Kvam, Tor; Wiig, Øystein

doi:10.1007/s13280-010-0070-z

Cited by 12 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(47 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Additionally, S. fatalis does not follow a temporal version of Bergmann's rule, which predicts that larger body sizes are correlated with colder temperatures (Bergmann, ). Many modern carnivores do not in fact follow Bergmann's rule, because their body sizes seem to be indirectly related to climate – and directly linked to competition, prey productivity and food availability (Geist, ; Dayan & Simberloff, , ; McNab, ; Yom‐Tov & Geffen, ; Yom‐Tov et al ., ). Stable isotope data may be useful to help elucidate any interpit differences in prey preference for S. fatalis .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution in the sabre‐tooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, in response to Pleistocene climate change

Meachen

O’Keefe

Sadleir

2014

J of Evolutionary Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The late Pleistocene was a time of environmental change, culminating in an extinction event. Few fossil localities record a temporal series of carnivore fossil populations from this interesting interval as well as Rancho La Brea (RLB). We analysed mandibles of Smilodon fatalis from RLB using 2-D geometric morphometrics to examine whether, and how, mandibular shape changes through time. Smilodon fatalis shows mandibular evolution with oscillations between a small, ancestral-type morph in pits 77 (%37 Kybp) and 2051 (%26 Kybp), a larger, more derived morph in pits 91 (%28 Kybp) and 61-67 (%13.6 Kybp), and an intermediate morph from pit 13 (%17.7 Kybp). These oscillations end in pit 61-67, with greatest body size, and are estimated to have its widest gape and lowest bite force. Additionally, variation is lowest in pit 61-67, which was deposited concurrent with the Bølling-Allerød warming event, which may have important implications for the timing or conditions during the extinction event. Contra to a temporal Bergmann's rule, such rapid warming events appear to be correlated with larger, derived, morphologies whereas static, cooler, climates correlate with gracile, ancestral morphologies.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution in the sabre‐tooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, in response to Pleistocene climate change

Meachen

O’Keefe

Sadleir

2014

J of Evolutionary Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…(2009), who showed a clear effect of abiotic climatic factors (indexed by NAO) on observed kill rates in snow‐rich areas of the Eurasian lynx distribution. In another relevant study, Yom‐Tov et al. (2010) found that skull size in lynx females was affected positively by roe deer Capreolus capreolus availability and by latitude, and negatively by the NAO index; they concluded that local climate and particularly snow conditions affect lynx skull and body size in females but not in males.…”

Section: Effect Of Climatic Factors On Lynx Genetic Variability In Eumentioning

confidence: 98%

“…We suggest that winter conditions – snow cover depth and duration – explain the variation in Eurasian lynx genetic data better than geographical distance does. It seems that latitude affects the lynx population genetic structure as a proxy for climate: ambient temperature decreases and snow cover increases with latitude (Yom‐Tov et al. 2010).…”

Section: Effect Of Climatic Factors On Lynx Genetic Variability In Eumentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of genetic variability and population differentiation in the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx for conservation, in the context of habitat and climate change

Schmidt¹,

Ratkiewicz²,

Konopiński³

2011

Mammal Review

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. The Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx occupies a variety of environmental and climatic conditions, and the majority of present-day European populations have either recovered from severe demographic bottlenecks, or are living in fragmented habitat. These factors may have affected the genetic variability of lynx populations. We summarize available data on genetics, population status and ecology of these felids to shed light on the pattern and mechanisms behind their genetic variability and population differentiation in Europe. 2.Genetic studies conducted so far, based on mtDNA and microsatellites, have shown that the Eurasian lynx has low to moderate genetic variability. Variability is lowest in the north (Scandinavian bottlenecked population), but is also low in the Carpathian region. A trend towards loss of genetic variation has been noted in fragmented and reintroduced populations. Genetically, the populations are highly differentiated from each other. 3. There are clear relationships between the pattern of lynx genetic variability, differentiation between the populations, and such factors as population history (demographic bottlenecks), social interactions and habitat fragmentation. The genetic divergence between lynx populations is also strongly correlated with the depth and duration of snow cover. 4. Our review provides evidence that the lynx is undergoing significant genetic differentiation, due to several factors. To enable better planning of conservation programmes for the Eurasian lynx, researchers should identify the Evolutionarily Significant Units among its populations, using different classes of molecular markers.

show abstract

“…In many birds and mammals, the environmental conditions experienced during their growth period affect food availability and energy expenditure, and ultimately adult body size, as well as a range of other life‐history components (Geist , Read and Gaskin , Ulijaszek et al , Lindstrom ). These conditions include prey availability (Yom‐Tov et al , , ) and other biotic factors that affect food availability, such as prey population density (Pettorelli et al , Mysterud et al , Zedrosser et al ). They also include specific climate variables such as ambient temperature (reviewed by Madsen and Shine , Yom‐Tov et al ) and snow conditions (Stenseth et al ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These conditions include prey availability (Yom‐Tov et al , , ) and other biotic factors that affect food availability, such as prey population density (Pettorelli et al , Mysterud et al , Zedrosser et al ). They also include specific climate variables such as ambient temperature (reviewed by Madsen and Shine , Yom‐Tov et al ) and snow conditions (Stenseth et al ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Harsh climate selects for small body size among Iceland's Arctic foxes

2016

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We studied the effect of the two environmental indices, the sub‐polar gyre (SPG), and winter and summer North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), together with mean annual winter and summer temperatures and geographic location on mandible size and body mass of Arctic foxes in Iceland (6345 and 2732 specimens, respectively) during the year of their death. We predicted that when favorable conditions prevailed, large specimens would be selected for, and vice versa. Body size and body mass were significantly affected by the environmental parameters (i.e. SPG, NAO, ambient temperature and cloud cover) prevailing during the year of death. The effect of environmental conditions on body size was much stronger in the less productive region of eastern Iceland, apparently because in areas where food availability is meager, even a small difference in climate may tilt the balance from food sufficiency to food shortage. Western Iceland comprises only a quarter of the total surface area of the country, but its productive seashores are twice as long as those of all the rest of the country combined. It is interesting to note that the effect of the SPG, a marine phenomenon in the oceans surrounding Iceland, is reflected in the condition of the foxes more than the other climatic variables we used in this study, which are largely land‐related. Because Arctic foxes in Iceland feed largely on marine birds and invertebrates, the SPG seems to encompass more accurate information regarding the direct ocean forces that affect food availability to the foxes.

show abstract

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

Cited by 12 publications

References 36 publications

Evolution in the sabre‐tooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, in response to Pleistocene climate change

Evolution in the sabre‐tooth cat, Smilodon fatalis, in response to Pleistocene climate change

The importance of genetic variability and population differentiation in the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx for conservation, in the context of habitat and climate change

Harsh climate selects for small body size among Iceland's Arctic foxes

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About