Vole abundance and reindeer carcasses determine breeding activity of Arctic foxes in low Arctic Yamal, Russia.

摘要: High latitude ecosystems are at present changing rapidly under the influence of climate warming, and specialized Arctic species southern margin may be particularly affected. The fox (Vulpes lagopus), a small mammalian predator endemic to northern tundra areas, is able exploit different resources in context varying ecosystems. Although generally widespread, it critically endangered subarctic Fennoscandia, where fading out characteristic lemming cycles competition with abundant red foxes have been identified as main threats. We studied an population Erkuta Tundra Monitoring site low Yamal (Russia) during 10 years order determine which support breeding activity this population. In study area, lemmings rare last 15 years nearly absent, creating interesting contrast situation Fennoscandia. was nine study. number active dens on average 2.6 (range 0–6) per 100 km2 increased rodent abundance. It also higher after winters many reindeer carcasses, occurred when mortality unusually high due icy pastures following rain-on-snow events. Average litter size 5.2 (SD = 2.1). Scat dissection suggested that rodents (mostly Microtus spp.) were most important prey category. Prey remains observed show birds, notably waterfowl, resource summer. Yamal, part species-rich food web, seems cope state shift community from amplitude cyclicity dominated peaks, vole fluctuations. estimated parameters characterized intermediate between coastal ecotype. Only continued ecosystem-based monitoring will reveal their fate ecosystem.