Reproduction and Mortality of the High Arctic Wolf, <em>Canis lupus arctos</em>, in Northeast Greenland, 1978-1998

Reproduction and mortality of the High Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos) in northeast Greenland were investigated through a temporal and spatial analysis of data on litter sizes from direct counts of pups during 21 years (1978-1998). A minimum of 22 pups were produced in a total of six areas. Overall mean litter size was 2.0 pups/litter. This was the lowest mean litter size recorded for Wolves in North America through observations of pups in summer and was probably related to low availability and vulnerability of ungulate prey. Pack size and litter size were very strongly positively correlated. Large packs (4-7 adults) produced significantly more pups than smaller packs. Mean maximum litter size from 17 North American studies employing similar methods, suggested that maximum productivity of wolves in Greenland was 58% below that of wolves elsewhere. The number of Wolf pups born in North America was negatively correlated with increasing latitude. Eight mortalities were identified and were predominantly caused by humans despite the fact that this Wolf population inhabits a national park with year-round protection.

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The problems with pooling poop: confronting sampling method biases in wolf (Canis lupus) diet studies

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2016-0308 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 95 (11) ◽

pp. 843-851 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

T.D. Gable ◽

S.K. Windels ◽

J.G. Bruggink

Keyword(s):

Canis Lupus ◽

Temporal Variability ◽

National Park ◽

Sampling Method ◽

Wolf Population ◽

Scat Analysis ◽

Collection Method ◽

Age Class ◽

Voyageurs National Park ◽

Collection Methods

Wolf (Canis lupus L., 1758) diet is commonly estimated via scat analysis. Several researchers have concluded that scat collection method can bias diet estimates, but none of these studies properly accounted for interpack, age class, and temporal variability, all of which could bias diet estimates. We tested whether different scat collection methods yielded different wolf diet estimates after accounting for these other potential biases. We collected scats (n = 2406) monthly from four packs via three scat collection methods (at home sites, at clusters of GPS locations, and opportunistically) in and adjacent to Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, USA, during April–October 2015. Diet estimates were not affected by scat collection method but did vary temporally, among packs, and by age class. To more accurately estimate wolf population diets, researchers should collect 10–20 adult scats/pack per month from home sites and (or) opportunistically from packs that are representative of the population of interest. Doing so will minimize the potential biases associated with temporal, interpack, and age-class variability.

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Diatoms from Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska, USA

PhytoKeys ◽

10.3897/phytokeys.113.29456 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 113 ◽

pp. 33-57

Author(s):

Loren Bahls ◽

Tara Luna

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

North America ◽

National Park ◽

First Record ◽

High Arctic ◽

The United States ◽

Disjunct Distribution ◽

Northern Rocky Mountains ◽

Taxa Richness ◽

North America North

As a contribution to our knowledge of diatom biodiversity and biogeography in the United States, high resolution light microscope images are provided for 139 diatom taxa recorded from lake, stream, spring and glacier habitats in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska. The spring had the highest taxa richness of the four habitats that were sampled, likely owing to the relative stability of this habitat compared to the others. Most of the taxa were described from northern and alpine locations in Europe and North America and are typical of habitats in the northern Rocky Mountains, with two notable exceptions. Surirellaarctica had been reported previously only from locations in the High Arctic of North America, north of 68°N latitude. Gomphonemacaperatum has a disjunct distribution in montane regions of the eastern and far western contiguous United States. This may be the first record of this taxon from Alaska.

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Demographic Patterns and Limitation of Grey Wolves, Canis lupus, in and Near Pukaskwa National Park, Ontario

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v118i1.889 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 118 (1) ◽

pp. 95 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. Anne Forshner ◽

Paul C. Paquet ◽

Frank G. M. Burrows ◽

Graham K. Neale ◽

Keith D. Wade ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Growth ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

National Park ◽

Limiting Factors ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Wolf Population ◽

Rate Of Increase ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Pukaskwa National Park ◽

Demographic Patterns

In response to concern regarding the growth and long-term viability of the wolf population in and near Pukaskwa National Park, a study of demographic patterns and limitation of radio-collared wolves (Canis lupus) was completed between 1994 and 1998. The mean annual finite rate of increase (0.96) suggested that population growth of wolves was limited and declining slightly. Small pack sizes, high cumulative mortality, and low reproductive success also suggested a declining population. Two limiting factors, ungulate biomass and human-caused mortality, were examined to determine the importance of each in limiting the population growth of wolves. Ungulate biomass was involved because occurrence of natural-caused mortality was high (9 of 17 wolves) compared with other studies. In addition, consumption rates were low and similar to other studies where starvation and other signs of malnutrition were noted. Further, Moose densities in the study area were low to moderate and below thresholds indicating nutritional stress for wolves. Occurrence of human-caused mortality was high (8 of 17 wolves) suggesting that it was also an important limiting factor, particularly given the low availability of ungulate biomass and reproduction noted in this study. Based on present demographic patterns, ungulate biomass, and human-caused mortality, the wolf population likely will remain at present low densities or continue to decline.

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A numerical response of wolves to bison abundance in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z00-036 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 78 (6) ◽

pp. 1101-1104 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Damien O Joly ◽

François Messier

Keyword(s):

Population Size ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

National Park ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽

Bison Bison ◽

Numerical Response ◽

Wolf Population ◽

Predator Prey ◽

Wood Buffalo National Park ◽

The Relationship

The numerical response of predators to changing prey density is an important component of predator-prey dynamics. We examined factors influencing two indices of wolf (Canis lupus) abundance in Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada: historical wolf pelt harvests from 1970 to 1988 and sightings of wolves by park staff on survey flights from 1973 to 1991. We tested the effect of pelt price (adjusted to 1986-equivalent Canadian dollars), number of trappers, and bison (Bison bison) population size on wolf pelt returns for an 18-year period using a multiple linear regression model. We then tested the relationship between wolf sightings on survey flights and bison population size for an overlapping 19-year period. Wolf pelt price was a significant determinant of wolf harvest, whereas numbers of bison or trappers were not significant predictors of wolf harvest. However, there was a significant relationship between wolf sightings and bison population size. This analysis suggests that wolf population size was correlated with bison numbers, similar to the numerical response seen in other wolf-prey systems.

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Litter size, sex ratio, and age structure of gray wolves, Canis lupus, in relation to population fluctuations in northern Belarus

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z07-001 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 85 (2) ◽

pp. 295-300 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

V.E. Sidorovich ◽

V.P. Stolyarov ◽

N.N. Vorobei ◽

N.V. Ivanova ◽

B. Jędrzejewska

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Litter Size ◽

Age Structure ◽

Canis Lupus ◽

Gray Wolf ◽

Population Fluctuations ◽

Wolf Population ◽

Hunting Pressure ◽

Gray Wolves ◽

The Mean

Gray wolf ( Canis lupus L., 1758) population fluctuations in northern Belarus (Vitebsk region) between 1990 and 2003 were significantly affected by hunting pressure by humans. Mean litter size was inversely density dependent and varied from 4.8 to 7.7 pups (range 2–10). The increase in litter size with declining density of wolf population concerned only female pups, whereas the number of male pups in a litter was not related to population density. The sex ratio of pups varied significantly: the proportion of females reached 70% in a low-density wolf population and declined to 40%–50% in a high-density population. The age structure also varied. In years following heavy hunting pressure, 55% of individuals shot were juveniles <1 year old (with a strong predominance of females that constituted 69% of juveniles shot), and only 11% of wolves were older than 4 years. The mean age of all wolves shot was 1.5 years. In years following low hunting pressure, 34% of animals shot were juveniles and 20% exceeded 4 years. The mean age was 2.8 years. A female-biased sex ratio of wolf pups conforms to Hiraiwa-Hasegawa’s hypothesis of the advantaged daughter, proposed for species in which mothers are able to influence the reproductive success of their daughters through transmission of rank.

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Political orientation and moral foundations

Restaurant Business ◽

10.26643/rb.v118i11.10325 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 118 (11) ◽

pp. 365-371

Author(s):

J Dorasamy ◽

Mr Jirushlan Dorasamy

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

North America ◽

American Studies ◽

Political Orientation ◽

The Political ◽

Moral Foundations ◽

Open Approach ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Moral Foundation ◽

The North

Studies, especially in the North America, have shown a relationship between political orientation and moralfoundation. This study investigated whether moral judgements differ from the political orientation of participantsin South Africa moral judgment and the extent to which moral foundations are influenced by politicalorientation.Further, the study investigated the possibility of similar patterns with the North AmericanConservative-Liberal spectrum and the moral foundation. There were 300participants, 78 males and 222 females,who completed an online questionnaire relating to moral foundation and political orientation. The results partiallysupported the hypothesis relating to Liberal and Conservative orientation in South Africa. Further, this studypartially predicted the Liberal-Conservative orientation with patterns in the moral foundation, whilst showingsimilar findings to the North American studies. A growing rate of a neutral/moderate society is evidenced in SouthAfrica and abroad, thereby showing the emergence of a more open approach to both a political and generalstance.”””

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