Mortality pattern of the Alpine chamois: the influence of snow–meteorological factors

Jonas, Tobias; Geiger, Flavia; Jenny, Hannes

doi:10.3189/172756408787814735

Cited by 31 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…We kept the observations between May and December in order to have similar periods between the sites and to estimate winter survival (the period of highest mortality for chamois; Jonas et al 2008). We first analysed the Bauges population and the SNP populations separately (pooling Il Fuorn and Val Trupchun).…”

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age-specific survival and annual variation in survival of female chamois differ between populations

et al. 2015

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In many species, population dynamics are shaped by age-structured demographic parameters, such as survival, which can cause age-specific sensitivity to environmental conditions. Accordingly, we can expect populations with different age-specific survival to be differently affected by environmental variation. However, this hypothesis is rarely tested at the intra-specific level. Using capture-mark-recapture models, we quantified age-specific survival and the extent of annual variations in survival of females of alpine chamois in two sites. In one population, survival was very high (>0.94; Bauges, France) until the onset of senescence at approximately 7 years old, whereas the two other populations (Swiss National Park, SNP) had a later onset (12 years old) and a lower rate of senescence. Senescence patterns are therefore not fixed within species. Annual variation in survival was higher in the Bauges (SD = 0.26) compared to the SNP populations (SD = 0.20). Also, in each population, the age classes with the lowest survival also experienced the largest temporal variation, in accordance with inter-specific comparisons showing a greater impact of environmental variation on these age classes. The large difference between the populations in age-specific survival and variation suggests that environmental variation and climate change will affect these populations differently.

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Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age-specific survival and annual variation in survival of female chamois differ between populations

et al. 2015

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“…The study of the spatial and temporal variability of snowpack and winter precipitation is of great interest because it plays an important role in the ecology and hydrology of mountainous areas and cold regions (López-Moreno & García-Ruiz 2004, Barnett et al 2005, Jonas et al 2008a. Winter precipitation and snowpack also influence economic activities such as winter tourism, agriculture, and hydropower generation (Barnett et al 2005, Abegg et al 2007, Lasanta et al 2007, Gilaberte-Búrdalo et al 2014.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of weather type variability on winter precipitation, temperature and annual snowpack in the Spanish Pyrenees

Buisán¹,

López‐Moreno²,

Saz³

et al. 2016

Clim. Res.

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The annual frequency of the occurrence of 10 discriminated weather types were summarized using a principal component analysis that revealed 4 different prevailing winter conditions affecting the Spanish Pyrenees. Northeasterly and easterly flows lead to dry and cold winters where snow only accumulates on northern slopes and mainly in the central Pyrenees. North and northwesterly flows favor wet and cold winters and an increase of snow accumulation in the western Pyrenees and on the northern slopes at lower elevations. Cyclonic and westerly flows favor an increase in precipitation and snow accumulation in all the Pyrenees at lower elevations and cold winters. Finally, southerly flows are associated with milder conditions and high precipitation in the central sector of the Pyrenees, where snow only accumulates at high elevations. For most stations, there were no significant trends in precipitation or temperature during the current reference climatic period (1981−2010), which was in agreement with the lack of observed principal component trends during the same period. Focusing on the shorter 1985−2010 period for which snow data were available, snow depth at mid-March demonstrated significant positive trends associated with an increase in westerly, southwesterly and cyclonic weather during this period. The results demonstrate that the changes in precipitation, temperature and snow accumulation are clearly related to changes in circulation patterns, which are the main driver of temporal fluctuations in the considered climatologies.

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“…The snow cover heterogeneous distribution is indeed the main factor controlling the runoff during the melting season (Anderton et al, 2002), as well as an essential factor of avalanche formation (Schweizer et al, 2003). The seasonal snow heterogeneity also strongly affects the alpine tundra plant life (Jonas et al, 2008b), as well as the alpine wildlife (Jonas et al, 2008a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Snowpack modelling in the Pyrenees driven by kilometric-resolution meteorological forecasts

et al. 2016

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Abstract. Distributed snowpack simulations in the French and Spanish Pyrenees are carried out using the detailed snowpack model Crocus driven by the numerical weather prediction system AROME at 2.5 km grid spacing, during four consecutive winters from 2010 to 2014. The aim of this study is to assess the benefits of a kilometric-resolution atmospheric forcing to a snowpack model for describing the spatial variability of the seasonal snow cover over a mountain range. The evaluation is performed by comparisons to ground-based measurements of the snow depth, the snow water equivalent and precipitations, to satellite snow cover images and to snowpack simulations driven by the SAFRAN analysis system. Snow depths simulated by AROME-Crocus exhibit an overall positive bias, particularly marked over the first summits near the Atlantic Ocean. The simulation of mesoscale orographic effects by AROME gives a realistic regional snowpack variability, unlike SAFRAN-Crocus. The categorical study of daily snow depth variations gives a differentiated perspective of accumulation and ablation processes. Both models underestimate strong snow accumulations and strong snow depth decreases, which is mainly due to the non-simulated wind-induced erosion, the underestimation of strong melting and an insufficient settling after snowfalls. The problematic assimilation of precipitation gauge measurements is also emphasized, which raises the issue of a need for a dedicated analysis to complement the benefits of AROME kilometric resolution and dynamical behaviour in mountainous terrain.

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Mortality pattern of the Alpine chamois: the influence of snow–meteorological factors

Cited by 31 publications

References 23 publications

Age-specific survival and annual variation in survival of female chamois differ between populations

Age-specific survival and annual variation in survival of female chamois differ between populations

Impact of weather type variability on winter precipitation, temperature and annual snowpack in the Spanish Pyrenees

Snowpack modelling in the Pyrenees driven by kilometric-resolution meteorological forecasts

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