Predation of ringed seal pups (Phoca hispida) by the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus)

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1610-1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Smith

The arctic fox (Alopex lagopus), commonly assigned the role of scavenger of marine mammal remains left by polar hears (Ursus maritimus), is for the first time quantitatively described as an important predator of the pups of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida). Foxes enter and kill the seal pups in their subnivean birth lairs. In no case were any seals other than pups killed by foxes. While predation was seen to vary over the 3 years of study, an average pup predation of 26.1% in nearshore sea ice is estimated. Estimates of the contribution of seal pups to the fox energy budget are calculated. Newborn seal pups contribute a maximum of 45.2 and a minimum of 30.2 days of maintenance energy. Almost weaned pups provide a maximum of 341.5 and a minimum of 227 days of maintenance energy.

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1297-1305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Smith ◽  
Ian Stirling

The subnivean lairs of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida) were studied in the Amundsen Gulf and Prince Albert Sound areas from 1971 through 1974. The structure of several different types of lairs are described. The existence of a birth-lair complex consisting of several closely adjacent lairs appears likely. The spacial distribution of lairs and lair types found on refrozen leads and in pressure ridges is described. Lairs were more abundant in inshore ice than in offshore ice. The function of subnivean lairs appears to be to provide thermal shelter, especially for neonate seals, and protection from predation by arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) and polar bears (Ursus maritimus).


2003 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Fuglei ◽  
Nils A. Øritsland

This work was conducted to determine effect of season and starvation on metabolic rate during running in the Arctic Fox (Alopex lagopus) on Svalbard (78°55’N, 11°56’E), Norway. Indirect calorimetry was used to measure metabolic rate of foxes running on a treadmill and heart rate was monitored using implanted radio transmitters. The relationship between heart rate and metabolic rate was also examined. Metabolic rate increased with running speed. In July the metabolic rate during running almost fitted general equations predicted for mammals, while it was up to 20% lower in January, indicating seasonal variation in metabolic rate. There was a significant positive linear relationship between heart rate and weight specific metabolic rate, suggesting that heart rate can be used as an indicator of metabolic rate. Starvation for 11 days decreased the net cost of running by 13% in January and 17% in July, suggesting that a starved fox runs more energetically efficient than when fed. Heart rate measured in July decreased by 27% during starvation. Re-feeding reversed the starvation-induced reduction in metabolic rate and heart rate during running almost up to post-absorptive levels. The present results are from one fox, and must be considered as preliminary data until further studies are conducted.


1993 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 440-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Skirnisson ◽  
M. Eydal ◽  
E. Gunnarsson ◽  
P. Hersteinsson
Keyword(s):  

Polar Record ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 25 (152) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Bennike ◽  
A. K. Higgins ◽  
M. Kelly

AbstractCentral North Greenland, an uninhabited and rarely visited region bordering the Arctic Ocean, supports arctic hare, collared lemming, wolf, arctic fox, polar bear, stoat, ringed seal and musk ox. Their distribution and abundance were noted during Geological Survey of Greenland expeditions in 1984–85, which visited virtually all land areas in the region, including nunataks and islands. Bones of reindeer, bearded seal and narwhal were also found. Ringed seal and reindeer are known to have been present in the region by the early Holocene.


2021 ◽  
Vol 937 (4) ◽  
pp. 042082
Author(s):  
T P Filippova

Abstract The article draws attention to the study of the historical experience of Russian science in the development of the Arctic and northern territories of Russia. Based on a wide range of archival and published sources, the role of the Geological Committee in the scientific study of the Ukhta oil-bearing region is analyzed. The chronological framework of the study covers the period of the organization’s activity from 1882 to 1929. The field studies carried out by the Geological Committee which started during this period in the Ukhta region are considered in detail. As a result of this activity, this territory was comprehensively studied for the first time, including a detailed geological survey, the search for oil deposits, and an assessment of its industrial potential. It has been determined that as a result of the surveys of the Geological Committee, new information about the features of the geological and orographic structure of the region was obtained and the oil-bearing potential was proved. It has been concluded that the research of the scientists of the committee laid a fundamental basis for the study of the Ukhta oil-bearing region and predetermined its further development history and great significance for the state.


2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 177-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Stasiak ◽  
B. Janicki

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the effect of age and reproductive season on selected properties of semen from the arctic fox, Alopex lagopus L. The experiment used 40 ejaculates collected manually from 6 animals (3 foxes aged one year and 3 foxes older than three years). Statistically less semen (0.39 cm3) was collected from the young compared to the older animals, and the ejaculates obtained were characterized by higher concentration of spermatozoa (195.04 x 106/cm3). In turn, sperm acrosomal extracts from the older animals contained statistically more acrosin (6,4 mU/106 spermatozoa). In the sperm acrosomal extracts prepared during the first semen sampling, the mean acrosin activity did not exceed 2.3 mU/million spermatozoa. At subsequent semen sampling dates, the activity of the analysed enzyme increased to reach 7.72mU/million spermatozoa. In the extracts obtained from the semen collected at the end of the breeding season of arctic foxes, the acrosin activity again reached a value obtained at the beginning of the season.


1974 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 1425-1426
Author(s):  
W. A. Webster

Cysticerci of Taenia crassiceps Rudolphi, 1810 and adult Andrya arctica Rausch, 1952 from Dicrostonyx torquatus, and Taenia polyacantha Leukart, 1856 from Alopex lagopus, are reported for the first time from Bathurst Island, Northwest Territories.


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