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Snow Conditions May Create an Invisible Barrier for Lynx

Overview
Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Specialty Science
Date 2004 Jul 14
PMID 15249676
Citations 17
Authors
Nils Chr Stenseth
Amir Shabbar
Kung-Sik Chan
Stan Boutin
Eli Knispel Rueness
Dorothee Ehrich
James W Hurrell
Ole Chr Lingjaerde
Kjetill S Jakobsen
Affiliations
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Abstract

The dynamics of Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis) abundance are geographically structured according to the influence of large-scale climatic regimes. Here we demonstrate that this structuring matches zones of differential snow conditions, in particular surface hardness, as determined by the frequency of winter warm spells. Through a modified functional response curve, we show that various features of the snow may influence lynx interaction with its main prey species, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). This study highlights the importance of snow, and exemplifies how large-scale climatic fluctuations can mechanistically influence population biological patterns.

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References
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