Habitat loss is often the ultimate cause of species endangerment and is also a leading factor inh... more Habitat loss is often the ultimate cause of species endangerment and is also a leading factor inhibiting species recovery. For this reason, species‐at‐risk legislation, policies and plans typically focus on habitat conservation and restoration as mechanisms for recovery. To assess the effectiveness of these instruments in decelerating habitat loss, we evaluated spatiotemporal habitat changes for an iconic endangered species, woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). We quantified changes in forest cover, a key proxy of caribou habitat, for all caribou subpopulations in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Despite efforts under federal and provincial recovery plans, and requirements listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act, caribou subpopulations lost twice as much habitat as they gained during a 12‐year period (2000–2012). Drivers of habitat loss varied by ecotype, with Boreal and Northern Mountain caribou affected most by forest fire and Southern Mountain caribou affected...
Community and ecosystem changes are happening in the pristine boreal forest ecosystem of the Yuko... more Community and ecosystem changes are happening in the pristine boreal forest ecosystem of the Yukon for two reasons. First, climate change is affecting the abiotic environment (temperature, rainfall, growing season) and driving changes in plant productivity and predator-prey interactions. Secondly, simultaneously change is occurring because of mammal species reintroductions and rewilding. The key ecological question is the impact these faunal changes will have on trophic dynamics. Primary productivity in the boreal forest is increasing because of climatic warming, but plant species composition is unlikely to change significantly during the next 50-100 years. The 9-10- year population cycle of snowshoe hares will persist but could be reduced in amplitude if winter weather increases predator hunting efficiency. Small rodents have increased in abundance because of increased vegetation growth. Arctic ground squirrels have disappeared from the forest because of increased predator hunting ...
General and comparative endocrinology, Jan 23, 2017
Male reproductive success in most mammals is determined by their success in direct inter-male com... more Male reproductive success in most mammals is determined by their success in direct inter-male competition through aggression and conflict, resulting in female-defense mating systems being predominant. This is linked to male testosterone levels and its dynamics. However, in certain environments, a scramble-competition mating system has evolved, where female reproductive behavior takes precedence and male testosterone dynamics are unlikely to be related to inter-male competition. We studied the North American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), a species with a well-established scramble-competition system. Using an ACTH hormonal challenge protocol as a proxy for competitive interactions, we compared the testosterone dynamics in breeding males in late winter with that in nonbreeding males in late spring in the Yukon. To gain an integrated picture of their physiological state, we also assessed changes in their stress response, body mass, energy mobilization, and indices of immune fu...
The recent trend for journals to require open access to primary data included in publications has... more The recent trend for journals to require open access to primary data included in publications has been embraced by many biologists, but has caused apprehension amongst researchers engaged in long-term ecological and evolutionary studies. A worldwide survey of 73 principal investigators (Pls) with long-term studies revealed positive attitudes towards sharing data with the agreement or involvement of the PI, and 93% of PIs have historically shared data. Only 8% were in favor of uncontrolled, open access to primary data while 63% expressed serious concern. We present here their viewpoint on an issue that can have non-trivial scientific consequences. We discuss potential costs of public data archiving and provide possible solutions to meet the needs of journals and researchers.
Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and their predators fluctuate cyclically in abundance every 9–1... more Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and their predators fluctuate cyclically in abundance every 9–11 years in the southwestern Yukon. Peak populations occurred in 1980–1981 and in 1989–90 around Kluane Lake. During the first cycle (1977–84) we tested food limitation hypotheses by providing three hare populations with supplemental food (rabbit chow). Extra food did not prevent the cyclic decline, and neither the timing nor the rate of the decline from 1981-84 was affected by food addition, in comparison with controls. During the second cycle (1986-present) we have been testing the predator hypothesis, and are trying to find out if there is an interaction between predators and food. We have constructed two mammalian predator exclosures (1 km2) and on one of these areas we are adding food. We have fertilized two large areas with nitrogenphosphorus-potassium fertilizer to increase plant production, and we have added hare food to two unfenced areas as well. Within the next 4 years we should be able to evaluate the effects of these manipulations on the snowshoe hare cycle.
Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of... more Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of their North American range. These cycles show large variations in cyclic amplitude and we ask what factors could cause amplitude variation. We gathered data from 1976 to 2012 on hare numbers in the boreal forest of Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia to describe the amplitude of hare fluctuations and to evaluate four possible causes. First, weather could cause variation in amplitude via hare reproduction or survival, but this mechanism does not fit our data. Second, bottom-up processes involving forest succession could explain amplitude variation through changes in winter forage availability, but succession is too slow a variable in our study areas. Third, plant defenses entrained by hare over-browsing in one cycle can produce variation in plant quality and quantity in subsequent cycles. A mathematical model suggests this is a possible explanation. Fourth...
We evaluated hypotheses of the dynamics of predators (lynx) relative to prey (snowshoe hares) and... more We evaluated hypotheses of the dynamics of predators (lynx) relative to prey (snowshoe hares) and predator abundance in the Yukon, Canada. The hypotheses were that predator (lynx) dynamics are influenced by prey density, or by both prey and predator densities. Annual lynx population growth rate (r), estimated from lynx counts, was positively related to previous hare density and negatively related to previous lynx density, as described by the best-fitting additive model (R2 = 0.85). Annual lynx growth rate (r) estimated from lynx tracks was positively related to the ratio of hares per lynx in the best-fitting model (R2 = 0.55). There was most support for the prey- and predator-dependent hypothesis of predator dynamics. Projected lynx tracks showed similar trends to observed abundance but lagged one year, emphasising the need for evaluation of projected predator trends.
Thank Your Mother Maternal effects and influence can sometimes prepare unborn offspring for some ... more Thank Your Mother Maternal effects and influence can sometimes prepare unborn offspring for some of the environmental conditions they may face. Dantzer et al. (p. 1215 , published online 18 April) monitored a population of red squirrels and found that both natural and artificially induced increases in the number of conspecific calls increased the growth rate of pups because of increased glucocorticoid levels in the mother. The density stress experienced by mothers thus appears to stimulate them to produce pups that will grow faster and hopefully outcompete the many other pups expected to be produced in the dense population.
Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of... more Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of their North American range. Regional synchrony has been assumed to be the rule for these cycles, so that hare populations in virtually all of northwestern North America have been assumed to be in phase. We gathered qualitative and quantitative data on hare numbers and fur returns of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis Kerr, 1792) in the boreal forest regions of Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia to describe synchrony in the time window of 1970–2012. Broad-scale synchrony in lynx fur returns was strong from 1970 to about 1995 but then seemed to break down in different parts of this region. Hare populations at 20 sites in Alaska, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories showed peak populations that lagged by 1–4 years during the 1990s and 2000s cycles. The simplest hypothesis to explain these patterns of asynchrony in hare cycles is the movement of predators from Bri...
Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) play a central role in the ecology and culture of much of... more Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) play a central role in the ecology and culture of much of Canada, where they were once the most abundant cervid. Most populations are currently declining, and some face extirpation. In southern Canada, caribou range has retreated considerably over the past century. The ultimate reason for their decline is habitat alterations by industrial activities. The proximate causes are predation and, to a lesser extent, overharvest. The most southerly populations of “Mountain” caribou are at imminent risk of extirpation. Mountain caribou are threatened by similar industrial activities as Boreal caribou, and face increasing harassment from motorized winter recreational activities. Most populations of “Migratory Tundra” caribou are currently declining. Although these caribou fluctuate in abundance over decades, changing harvest technologies, climate change, increasing industrial development and human presence in the North raise doubts over whether recent d...
Habitat loss is often the ultimate cause of species endangerment and is also a leading factor inh... more Habitat loss is often the ultimate cause of species endangerment and is also a leading factor inhibiting species recovery. For this reason, species‐at‐risk legislation, policies and plans typically focus on habitat conservation and restoration as mechanisms for recovery. To assess the effectiveness of these instruments in decelerating habitat loss, we evaluated spatiotemporal habitat changes for an iconic endangered species, woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). We quantified changes in forest cover, a key proxy of caribou habitat, for all caribou subpopulations in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Despite efforts under federal and provincial recovery plans, and requirements listed under Canada's Species at Risk Act, caribou subpopulations lost twice as much habitat as they gained during a 12‐year period (2000–2012). Drivers of habitat loss varied by ecotype, with Boreal and Northern Mountain caribou affected most by forest fire and Southern Mountain caribou affected...
Community and ecosystem changes are happening in the pristine boreal forest ecosystem of the Yuko... more Community and ecosystem changes are happening in the pristine boreal forest ecosystem of the Yukon for two reasons. First, climate change is affecting the abiotic environment (temperature, rainfall, growing season) and driving changes in plant productivity and predator-prey interactions. Secondly, simultaneously change is occurring because of mammal species reintroductions and rewilding. The key ecological question is the impact these faunal changes will have on trophic dynamics. Primary productivity in the boreal forest is increasing because of climatic warming, but plant species composition is unlikely to change significantly during the next 50-100 years. The 9-10- year population cycle of snowshoe hares will persist but could be reduced in amplitude if winter weather increases predator hunting efficiency. Small rodents have increased in abundance because of increased vegetation growth. Arctic ground squirrels have disappeared from the forest because of increased predator hunting ...
General and comparative endocrinology, Jan 23, 2017
Male reproductive success in most mammals is determined by their success in direct inter-male com... more Male reproductive success in most mammals is determined by their success in direct inter-male competition through aggression and conflict, resulting in female-defense mating systems being predominant. This is linked to male testosterone levels and its dynamics. However, in certain environments, a scramble-competition mating system has evolved, where female reproductive behavior takes precedence and male testosterone dynamics are unlikely to be related to inter-male competition. We studied the North American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), a species with a well-established scramble-competition system. Using an ACTH hormonal challenge protocol as a proxy for competitive interactions, we compared the testosterone dynamics in breeding males in late winter with that in nonbreeding males in late spring in the Yukon. To gain an integrated picture of their physiological state, we also assessed changes in their stress response, body mass, energy mobilization, and indices of immune fu...
The recent trend for journals to require open access to primary data included in publications has... more The recent trend for journals to require open access to primary data included in publications has been embraced by many biologists, but has caused apprehension amongst researchers engaged in long-term ecological and evolutionary studies. A worldwide survey of 73 principal investigators (Pls) with long-term studies revealed positive attitudes towards sharing data with the agreement or involvement of the PI, and 93% of PIs have historically shared data. Only 8% were in favor of uncontrolled, open access to primary data while 63% expressed serious concern. We present here their viewpoint on an issue that can have non-trivial scientific consequences. We discuss potential costs of public data archiving and provide possible solutions to meet the needs of journals and researchers.
Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and their predators fluctuate cyclically in abundance every 9–1... more Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) and their predators fluctuate cyclically in abundance every 9–11 years in the southwestern Yukon. Peak populations occurred in 1980–1981 and in 1989–90 around Kluane Lake. During the first cycle (1977–84) we tested food limitation hypotheses by providing three hare populations with supplemental food (rabbit chow). Extra food did not prevent the cyclic decline, and neither the timing nor the rate of the decline from 1981-84 was affected by food addition, in comparison with controls. During the second cycle (1986-present) we have been testing the predator hypothesis, and are trying to find out if there is an interaction between predators and food. We have constructed two mammalian predator exclosures (1 km2) and on one of these areas we are adding food. We have fertilized two large areas with nitrogenphosphorus-potassium fertilizer to increase plant production, and we have added hare food to two unfenced areas as well. Within the next 4 years we should be able to evaluate the effects of these manipulations on the snowshoe hare cycle.
Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of... more Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of their North American range. These cycles show large variations in cyclic amplitude and we ask what factors could cause amplitude variation. We gathered data from 1976 to 2012 on hare numbers in the boreal forest of Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia to describe the amplitude of hare fluctuations and to evaluate four possible causes. First, weather could cause variation in amplitude via hare reproduction or survival, but this mechanism does not fit our data. Second, bottom-up processes involving forest succession could explain amplitude variation through changes in winter forage availability, but succession is too slow a variable in our study areas. Third, plant defenses entrained by hare over-browsing in one cycle can produce variation in plant quality and quantity in subsequent cycles. A mathematical model suggests this is a possible explanation. Fourth...
We evaluated hypotheses of the dynamics of predators (lynx) relative to prey (snowshoe hares) and... more We evaluated hypotheses of the dynamics of predators (lynx) relative to prey (snowshoe hares) and predator abundance in the Yukon, Canada. The hypotheses were that predator (lynx) dynamics are influenced by prey density, or by both prey and predator densities. Annual lynx population growth rate (r), estimated from lynx counts, was positively related to previous hare density and negatively related to previous lynx density, as described by the best-fitting additive model (R2 = 0.85). Annual lynx growth rate (r) estimated from lynx tracks was positively related to the ratio of hares per lynx in the best-fitting model (R2 = 0.55). There was most support for the prey- and predator-dependent hypothesis of predator dynamics. Projected lynx tracks showed similar trends to observed abundance but lagged one year, emphasising the need for evaluation of projected predator trends.
Thank Your Mother Maternal effects and influence can sometimes prepare unborn offspring for some ... more Thank Your Mother Maternal effects and influence can sometimes prepare unborn offspring for some of the environmental conditions they may face. Dantzer et al. (p. 1215 , published online 18 April) monitored a population of red squirrels and found that both natural and artificially induced increases in the number of conspecific calls increased the growth rate of pups because of increased glucocorticoid levels in the mother. The density stress experienced by mothers thus appears to stimulate them to produce pups that will grow faster and hopefully outcompete the many other pups expected to be produced in the dense population.
Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of... more Snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) fluctuate in 9–10 year cycles throughout much of their North American range. Regional synchrony has been assumed to be the rule for these cycles, so that hare populations in virtually all of northwestern North America have been assumed to be in phase. We gathered qualitative and quantitative data on hare numbers and fur returns of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis Kerr, 1792) in the boreal forest regions of Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and northern British Columbia to describe synchrony in the time window of 1970–2012. Broad-scale synchrony in lynx fur returns was strong from 1970 to about 1995 but then seemed to break down in different parts of this region. Hare populations at 20 sites in Alaska, the Yukon, and Northwest Territories showed peak populations that lagged by 1–4 years during the 1990s and 2000s cycles. The simplest hypothesis to explain these patterns of asynchrony in hare cycles is the movement of predators from Bri...
Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) play a central role in the ecology and culture of much of... more Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) play a central role in the ecology and culture of much of Canada, where they were once the most abundant cervid. Most populations are currently declining, and some face extirpation. In southern Canada, caribou range has retreated considerably over the past century. The ultimate reason for their decline is habitat alterations by industrial activities. The proximate causes are predation and, to a lesser extent, overharvest. The most southerly populations of “Mountain” caribou are at imminent risk of extirpation. Mountain caribou are threatened by similar industrial activities as Boreal caribou, and face increasing harassment from motorized winter recreational activities. Most populations of “Migratory Tundra” caribou are currently declining. Although these caribou fluctuate in abundance over decades, changing harvest technologies, climate change, increasing industrial development and human presence in the North raise doubts over whether recent d...
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