Decline and Recovery of a High Arctic Wolf-Prey System

Authors

  • David L. Mech

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic432

Keywords:

arctic hares, Canis lupus, climate change, Ellesmere Island, High Arctic, Lepus arcticus, muskoxen, Ovibos moschatus, wolves

Abstract

A long-existing system of wolves (Canis lupus), muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), and arctic hares (Lepus arcticus) in a 2600 km2 area of Canada’s High Arctic (80° N latitude) began collapsing in 1997 because of unusual adverse summer weather but recovered to a level at which all three species were reproducing by 2004. Recovery of wolf presence and reproduction appeared to be more dependent on muskox increase than on hare increase.

Downloads

Published

2010-01-29

Issue

Vol. 58 No. 3 (2005): September: 233–329

Section

Notes