Here, we report from the Wrst direct observation of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) intrusion on an arc... more Here, we report from the Wrst direct observation of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) intrusion on an arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) breeding den from the southern Arctic tundra of Yamal Peninsula, Russia in 2007. At the same time, as a current range retraction of the original inhabitant of the circumpolar tundra zone the arctic fox is going on, the red fox is expanding their range from the south into arc-tic habitats. Thus, within large parts of the northern tundra areas the two species are sympatric which gives opportunities for direct interactions including interference competition. However, direct Wrst-hand observations of such interactions are rare, especially in the Russian Arctic. In the present study, we observed one red fox taking over an arc-tic fox breeding den which resulted in den abandonment by the arctic fox. On July 19, eight arctic fox pups were observed on the den before the red fox was observed on the same den July 22. The pups were never seen at the den or elsewhere after the red fox was observed on the den for as long as we stayed in the area (until August 10). Our observation supports the view that direct interference with red fox on breeding dens may contribute to the range retraction of arctic foxes from the southern limits of the Arctic tundra in Russia.
Snow is a critically important and rapidly
changing feature of the Arctic. However, snow-cover an... more Snow is a critically important and rapidly changing feature of the Arctic. However, snow-cover and snowpack conditions change through time pose challenges for measuring and prediction of snow. Plausible scenarios of how Arctic snow cover will respond to changing Arctic climate are important for impact assessments and adaptation strategies. Although much progress has been made in understanding and predicting snow-cover changes and their multiple consequences, many uncertainties remain. In this paper, we review advances in snow monitoring and modelling, and the impact of snow changes on ecosystems and society in Arctic regions. Interdisciplinary activities are required to resolve the current limitations on measuring and modelling snow characteristics through the cold season and at different spatial scales to assure human well-being, economic stability, and improve the ability to predict manage and adapt to natural hazards in the Arctic region.
Climate change has been characterized as the most serious threat to Arctic biodiversity. In addit... more Climate change has been characterized as the most serious threat to Arctic biodiversity. In addition to gradual changes such as climate warming, extreme weather events, such as melting temperatures in winter and rain on snow, can have profound consequences for ecosystems. Rain-on-snow events lead to the formation of ice layers in the snow pack, which can restrict access to forage plants and cause crashes of herbivore populations. These direct impacts can have cascading effects on other ecosystem components, often mediated by trophic interactions. Here we document how heavy rain in early winter, leading to the formation of a thick layer of ice, was associated with dramatic mortality of domestic reindeer on Yamal Peninsula, Russia. In the subsequent summer, breeding of two boreal generalist predators, red fox and Hooded Crow, was recorded for the first time in a monitoring area in the Low Arctic tundra of this region. We suggest that the resource pulse created by the abnormally high reindeer mortality and abundance of carrion may have facilitated these breeding events north of the known breeding range of the two species. Our observations provide an example of how specific emergent weather events may indirectly pave the way for more abrupt, although possibly temporary, species range changes. RÉSUMÉ. Le changement climatique a été caractérisé comme la plus grande menace à la biodiversité de l'Arctique. En plus des changements graduels comme le réchauffement climatique, les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes comme les températures positives en hiver et la pluie tombant sur la neige peuvent avoir de profondes conséquences sur les écosystèmes. La pluie tombant sur la neige mène à la formation de couches de glace dans le manteau neigeux, ce qui peut avoir pour effet de restreindre l'accès aux plantes fourragères et d'entraîner l'effondrement des populations herbivores. Ces impacts directs peuvent avoir des effets en cascade sur d'autres composantes des écosystèmes, et cette propagation passe souvent par des interactions trophiques. Dans cette communication, nous décrivons comment une pluie abondante en début d'hiver, menant à la formation d'une couche de glace épaisse, a été accompagnée par une mortalité dramatique des rennes domestiques dans la péninsule de Yamal, en Russie. L'été suivant, la reproduction de deux prédateurs boréaux généralistes, soit celui du renard roux et celui de la corneille mantelée, a été enregistrée pour la première fois dans une aire d'étude de la toundra du Bas-Arctique de cette région. Nous suggérons que l'abondance de ressources créée par le taux de mortalité anormalement élevé de rennes et l'abondance de charognes aurait pu susciter ces épisodes de reproduction au nord de l'aire de répartition connue des deux espèces. Nos observations fournissent un exemple selon lequel des phénomènes météorologiques émergents particuliers peuvent, indirectement, ouvrir la voie à des changements plus abrupts en matière d'aire de répartition des espèces, bien que ces changements puissent être temporaires. Mots clés : renard arctique (Vulpes lagopus); renard roux (Vulpes vulpes), corneille mantelée (Corvus cornix); renne domestique; englacement du sol; pluie tombant sur la neige; réseau alimentaire; agrandissement de l'aire de répartition Traduit pour la revue Arctic par Nicole Giguère. РЕЗЮМЕ. В настоящее время, изменения климата представляются наиболее серьезной угрозой для биоразнообразия Арктики. В дополнение к постепенным изменениям, таким как потепление климата, экстремальные погодные явления (зимние потепления до температуры таяния или жидкие осадки на снежный покров) могут иметь серьезные последствия для экосистем. Погодный феномен «дождь-на-снег» приводит к формированию слоев льда в снежном покрове, что может ограничивать доступ к кормовым растениям, и явиться причиной падения популяций
Here, we report from the Wrst direct observation of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) intrusion on an arc... more Here, we report from the Wrst direct observation of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) intrusion on an arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) breeding den from the southern Arctic tundra of Yamal Peninsula, Russia in 2007. At the same time, as a current range retraction of the original inhabitant of the circumpolar tundra zone the arctic fox is going on, the red fox is expanding their range from the south into arc-tic habitats. Thus, within large parts of the northern tundra areas the two species are sympatric which gives opportunities for direct interactions including interference competition. However, direct Wrst-hand observations of such interactions are rare, especially in the Russian Arctic. In the present study, we observed one red fox taking over an arc-tic fox breeding den which resulted in den abandonment by the arctic fox. On July 19, eight arctic fox pups were observed on the den before the red fox was observed on the same den July 22. The pups were never seen at the den or elsewhere after the red fox was observed on the den for as long as we stayed in the area (until August 10). Our observation supports the view that direct interference with red fox on breeding dens may contribute to the range retraction of arctic foxes from the southern limits of the Arctic tundra in Russia.
Snow is a critically important and rapidly
changing feature of the Arctic. However, snow-cover an... more Snow is a critically important and rapidly changing feature of the Arctic. However, snow-cover and snowpack conditions change through time pose challenges for measuring and prediction of snow. Plausible scenarios of how Arctic snow cover will respond to changing Arctic climate are important for impact assessments and adaptation strategies. Although much progress has been made in understanding and predicting snow-cover changes and their multiple consequences, many uncertainties remain. In this paper, we review advances in snow monitoring and modelling, and the impact of snow changes on ecosystems and society in Arctic regions. Interdisciplinary activities are required to resolve the current limitations on measuring and modelling snow characteristics through the cold season and at different spatial scales to assure human well-being, economic stability, and improve the ability to predict manage and adapt to natural hazards in the Arctic region.
Climate change has been characterized as the most serious threat to Arctic biodiversity. In addit... more Climate change has been characterized as the most serious threat to Arctic biodiversity. In addition to gradual changes such as climate warming, extreme weather events, such as melting temperatures in winter and rain on snow, can have profound consequences for ecosystems. Rain-on-snow events lead to the formation of ice layers in the snow pack, which can restrict access to forage plants and cause crashes of herbivore populations. These direct impacts can have cascading effects on other ecosystem components, often mediated by trophic interactions. Here we document how heavy rain in early winter, leading to the formation of a thick layer of ice, was associated with dramatic mortality of domestic reindeer on Yamal Peninsula, Russia. In the subsequent summer, breeding of two boreal generalist predators, red fox and Hooded Crow, was recorded for the first time in a monitoring area in the Low Arctic tundra of this region. We suggest that the resource pulse created by the abnormally high reindeer mortality and abundance of carrion may have facilitated these breeding events north of the known breeding range of the two species. Our observations provide an example of how specific emergent weather events may indirectly pave the way for more abrupt, although possibly temporary, species range changes. RÉSUMÉ. Le changement climatique a été caractérisé comme la plus grande menace à la biodiversité de l'Arctique. En plus des changements graduels comme le réchauffement climatique, les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes comme les températures positives en hiver et la pluie tombant sur la neige peuvent avoir de profondes conséquences sur les écosystèmes. La pluie tombant sur la neige mène à la formation de couches de glace dans le manteau neigeux, ce qui peut avoir pour effet de restreindre l'accès aux plantes fourragères et d'entraîner l'effondrement des populations herbivores. Ces impacts directs peuvent avoir des effets en cascade sur d'autres composantes des écosystèmes, et cette propagation passe souvent par des interactions trophiques. Dans cette communication, nous décrivons comment une pluie abondante en début d'hiver, menant à la formation d'une couche de glace épaisse, a été accompagnée par une mortalité dramatique des rennes domestiques dans la péninsule de Yamal, en Russie. L'été suivant, la reproduction de deux prédateurs boréaux généralistes, soit celui du renard roux et celui de la corneille mantelée, a été enregistrée pour la première fois dans une aire d'étude de la toundra du Bas-Arctique de cette région. Nous suggérons que l'abondance de ressources créée par le taux de mortalité anormalement élevé de rennes et l'abondance de charognes aurait pu susciter ces épisodes de reproduction au nord de l'aire de répartition connue des deux espèces. Nos observations fournissent un exemple selon lequel des phénomènes météorologiques émergents particuliers peuvent, indirectement, ouvrir la voie à des changements plus abrupts en matière d'aire de répartition des espèces, bien que ces changements puissent être temporaires. Mots clés : renard arctique (Vulpes lagopus); renard roux (Vulpes vulpes), corneille mantelée (Corvus cornix); renne domestique; englacement du sol; pluie tombant sur la neige; réseau alimentaire; agrandissement de l'aire de répartition Traduit pour la revue Arctic par Nicole Giguère. РЕЗЮМЕ. В настоящее время, изменения климата представляются наиболее серьезной угрозой для биоразнообразия Арктики. В дополнение к постепенным изменениям, таким как потепление климата, экстремальные погодные явления (зимние потепления до температуры таяния или жидкие осадки на снежный покров) могут иметь серьезные последствия для экосистем. Погодный феномен «дождь-на-снег» приводит к формированию слоев льда в снежном покрове, что может ограничивать доступ к кормовым растениям, и явиться причиной падения популяций
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Papers by A. Sokolov
changing feature of the Arctic. However, snow-cover and
snowpack conditions change through time pose challenges
for measuring and prediction of snow. Plausible scenarios
of how Arctic snow cover will respond to changing Arctic
climate are important for impact assessments and
adaptation strategies. Although much progress has been
made in understanding and predicting snow-cover changes
and their multiple consequences, many uncertainties
remain. In this paper, we review advances in snow
monitoring and modelling, and the impact of snow
changes on ecosystems and society in Arctic regions.
Interdisciplinary activities are required to resolve the
current limitations on measuring and modelling snow
characteristics through the cold season and at different
spatial scales to assure human well-being, economic
stability, and improve the ability to predict manage and
adapt to natural hazards in the Arctic region.
changing feature of the Arctic. However, snow-cover and
snowpack conditions change through time pose challenges
for measuring and prediction of snow. Plausible scenarios
of how Arctic snow cover will respond to changing Arctic
climate are important for impact assessments and
adaptation strategies. Although much progress has been
made in understanding and predicting snow-cover changes
and their multiple consequences, many uncertainties
remain. In this paper, we review advances in snow
monitoring and modelling, and the impact of snow
changes on ecosystems and society in Arctic regions.
Interdisciplinary activities are required to resolve the
current limitations on measuring and modelling snow
characteristics through the cold season and at different
spatial scales to assure human well-being, economic
stability, and improve the ability to predict manage and
adapt to natural hazards in the Arctic region.