Behavioural interactions among Canada Lynx (<i>Lynx canadensis</i>) during pre-estrous

Information is lacking on the behaviour of free-roaming Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) during the breeding season, likely because they are rarely observed in the wild. Other wild solitary felid males compete with each other to mate with promiscuous females. However, the behavioural context or sequence of this competition among wild male Canada Lynx remains unreported. We describe the behaviour of three adult wild lynx during the breeding season. We observed the first two lynx together; an adult male and an inferred adult female remained together non agonistically for nearly 2 h before they were interrupted by another adult male. Our observation of interaction between the two males includes agonistic behaviours, vocalizations, scent marking, fighting, and a long-distance (1.7-km) expulsion of the intruding male lynx by the first male. These observations add to the limited information available on the social ecology of lynx during the breeding season.

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Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) detection and behaviour using remote cameras during the breeding season

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v127i4.1512 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 127 (4) ◽

pp. 310 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Shannon M. Crowley ◽

Dexter P. Hodder ◽

Karl W. Larsen

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Survey Methods ◽

Scent Marking ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Lynx Canadensis ◽

Detection Rates ◽

Canada Lynx ◽

Remote Cameras ◽

Trail Camera

The efficacy of surveys in detecting Canada Lynx (Lynx canadensis) can vary considerably by geographic area. We conducted surveys using digital passive infrared trail video-cameras from January to April 2013, during the breeding season of the Canada Lynx, in the John Prince Research Forest in central British Columbia. We used snow-track surveys to test the efficacy of our camera surveys. We measured trail camera detection rates by survey week and location and we noted Canada Lynx activity and behaviours recorded by the cameras. The detection rate increased between January and April, reaching a peak of 8 Canada Lynx/100 camera-days in early April. Canada Lynx spent more time at camera sites displaying behaviours such as scent-marking and cheek-rubbing in late March. The combination of both snow-track and trail camera surveys was especially effective, with Canada Lynx detected at 77% of all monitored sites. Depending on survey objectives, it may be beneficial to conduct camera as well as other non-invasive survey methods for Canada Lynx during the breeding season, when survey efficacy and detection rates are maximized.

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Fine-scale genetic structure and dispersal in Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) within Alberta, Canada

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z06-099 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 84 (8) ◽

pp. 1112-1119 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Véronique Campbell ◽

Curtis Strobeck

Keyword(s):

Genetic Structure ◽

Geographic Distance ◽

Field Studies ◽

Significant Negative Correlation ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Lynx Canadensis ◽

Long Distance ◽

Canada Lynx ◽

The Individual

Although mammals are typically characterized by male-biased dispersal, field studies of lynx conflict as to whether dispersal is male-biased or lacks sex-bias. To resolve this issue we dissect fine-scale genetic structure and analyze dispersal in regard to gender using 19 microsatellite loci, teemed with extensive sampling (n = 272 adults) of Canada lynx ( Lynx canadensis Kerr, 1792) throughout Alberta. The level of genetic variation was high (mean He = 71.6%), as reported in previous genetic studies of lynx. No significant barriers to gene flow were detected within Alberta’s lynx population. Despite several reports of long-distance movements in lynx, we observed a slight significant negative correlation between pairwise relatedness values and geographic distance (rM = –0.025, P = 0.048), indicating a decrease in relatedness between individuals as their sampling distance increases. When the same analysis was performed separately on sexes, the slopes of the individual regressions did not differ significantly between males and females (P = 0.708). Our molecular results suggest a lack of sex-biased dispersal in Canada lynx, similar to reports on other lynx species.

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Spatio-temporal responses of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) to silvicultural treatments in the Northern Rockies, U.S.

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2018.04.018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 422 ◽

pp. 114-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Joseph D. Holbrook ◽

John R. Squires ◽

Barry Bollenbacher ◽

Russ Graham ◽

Lucretia E. Olson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lynx Lynx ◽

Lynx Canadensis ◽

Canada Lynx ◽

Silvicultural Treatments ◽

Northern Rockies ◽

Spatio Temporal

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A LONGEVITY RECORD FOR CANADA LYNX, LYNX CANADENSIS, IN WESTERN MONTANA

Western North American Naturalist ◽

10.3398/1527-0904(2006)66[535:alrfcl]2.0.co;2 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 535-536 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jay A. Kolbe ◽

John R. Squires

Keyword(s):

Western Montana ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Lynx Canadensis ◽

Canada Lynx

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Behavioural responses of lynx to declining snowshoe hare abundance

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z85-421 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 63 (12) ◽

pp. 2817-2824 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Richard M. P. Ward ◽

Charles J. Krebs

Keyword(s):

Home Range Size ◽

High Rate ◽

Snowshoe Hare ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Lynx Canadensis ◽

Long Distance ◽

Behavioural Responses ◽

Straight Line ◽

Daily Travel

The behavioural responses of lynx (Lynx canadensis) to declines in snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) abundance were examined in the southwestern Yukon. Between April 1982 and June 1984, 11 lynx were radio tagged and monitored in and near the Kluane Game Sanctuary. Lynx home range size increased from 13.2 to 39.2 km2 concurrent with a decline in snowshoe hare abundance from 14.7 to 0.2 hares/ha. Below about 0.5 hares/ha, several lynx abandoned their home ranges and became nomadic, although they remained within the general study area. Lynx concentrated their foraging efforts in areas of relatively high snowshoe hare abundance and abandoned these areas after hares declined. Straight-line daily travel distance remained constant at 2.2−2.7 km/day above 1.0 hare/ha. Below 1.0 hares/ha, straight-line daily travel distances increased rapidly, reaching 5.5 km/day at 0.2 hares/ha. Three of seven radio-tagged lynx dispersed 250 km or more from the study area during the 1982 period of rapid hare decline. No similar long-distance emigrations were recorded after hare densities stabilized at less than 1.0 hares/ha. Trapping mortality was responsible for the loss of seven of nine radio-tagged lynx that travelled outside the game sanctuary. One lynx probably starved during the winter or spring of 1984. The high rate of trapping mortality outside the game sanctuary suggests that refugia in wilderness areas are important in maintaining lynx populations during periods of low recruitment.

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56 EFFECTS OF PHYLOGENIC GENERA OF RECIPIENT CYTOPLASTS ON DEVELOPMENT AND VIABILITY OF CANADA LYNX (LYNX CANADENSIS) CLONED EMBRYOS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv22n1ab56 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 186 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. C. Gómez ◽

J. I. Lyons ◽

C. E. Pope ◽

M. Biancardi ◽

C. Dumas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Donor Cell ◽

Domestic Cat ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Phylogenetic Distance ◽

Lynx Canadensis ◽

Gestational Length ◽

Canada Lynx ◽

Oocyte Donor

Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis; CL) once occupied 16 states in the Unites States of America, but small populations remain in only 3 states. Interspecies-somatic cell nuclear transfer (Is-SCNT) offers the possibility of preventing their extinction; however, developmental constraints on Is-SCNT embryos are proportional to the phylogenetic distance between the donor cell and the recipient oocyte. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) heteroplasmy may be involved in nuclear-cytoplasmic incompatibilities, thus inhibiting development of cloned embryos at the time of genomic activation. Minimizing the phylogenetic distance between the donor cell and recipient oocyte may enhance development of clone embryos. Caracal (Caracal caracal) may be suitable as an oocyte donor for SCNT and a recipient of CL cloned embryos because caracals hybridize with other felid species and share physical characteristics with the lynx family, marked by being previously classified in the lynx genera and having similar gestational length. To ensure compatibilities between the donor nuclei of the CL and the mitochondria of recipient oocytes, we (1) compared in vitro development of CL cloned embryos reconstructed with domestic cat (Felis catus; DSH) or caracal cytoplasts, (2) examined the mtDNA genotypes in CL cloned embryos, and (3) evaluated in vivo developmental competence of CL cloned embryos after transfer into caracal recipients. A total of 160 and 217 preovulatory oocytes were collected by laparoscopy from gonadotropin-treated caracals (n = 8) and DSH (n = 10) and used as recipient cytoplasts for reconstructing CL embryos. Results indicated that the phylogenetic genera of recipient cytoplasts did not affect embryo cleavage at Day 2 (caracal 50/55, 91% v. DSH 63/65, 97%), but development of CL cloned embryos to the blastocyst stage was higher when caracal oocytes were used as recipient cytoplasts (15/50; 30%) than with DSH cytoplasts (9/63, 14%; P < 0.05). The extent of mtDNA homoplasmy or heteroplasmy in CL cloned embryos was calculated by the number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) derived from the DSH or caracal oocyte donors and from the somatic cell donor CL. DNA was isolated from 25 and 35 CL cloned embryos reconstructed with caracal or DSH cytoplasts, respectively. All amplified products after PCR were sequenced and SNP analyzed. All CL embryos reconstructed with DSH cytoplasts were homoplasmic, carrying mtDNA only from the DSH oocyte donor (n = 35; SNP DSH = 2-6). Embryos reconstructed with caracal cytoplasts were homoplasmic for CL mtDNA (n = 9; SNPCL = 10-12) or heteroplasmic (caracal × CL, n = 17; SNPCL = 7-9; SNP caracal = 2-3). A total of 69 (mean = 34.5 ± 4.9 per caracal) and 70 (mean = 35.0 ± 9.8 per caracal) CL cloned embryos reconstructed with caracal and DSH cytoplasts, respectively, were transferred into 4 caracal recipients; however, no pregnancies were established. In summary, Is-SCNT between 2 phylogenetically closer species favors retention of the donor’s mitochondria, which might lead to a better nucleo-cytoplasmic interaction for reprogramming of donor nucleus.

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Evaluating evolutionary history and adaptive differentiation to identify conservation units of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis)

Global Ecology and Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00708 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

pp. e00708

Author(s):

Melanie B. Prentice ◽

Jeff Bowman ◽

Dennis L. Murray ◽

Cornelya FC. Klütsch ◽

Kamal Khidas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Evolutionary History ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Lynx Canadensis ◽

Conservation Units ◽

Canada Lynx ◽

Adaptive Differentiation

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Latitudinal gradient in cortisol concentrations in Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is not explained by diet

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/cjz-2018-0204 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (8) ◽

pp. 748-753

Author(s):

C.M. Burstahler ◽

C.V. Terwissen ◽

J.D. Roth

Keyword(s):

Stable Isotope ◽

Food Limitation ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Stress Axis ◽

Stable Isotope Ratios ◽

Lynx Lynx ◽

Alternative Prey ◽

Lynx Canadensis ◽

Canada Lynx

Food limitation is an important stressor for most wildlife, and many specialist consumers will expand their dietary niche to contend with preferred prey limitation. How these dietary responses feed back into stress-axis regulation, however, is unknown. If alternative prey does not sufficiently fill the energetic requirements normally satisfied by preferred resources, then long-term glucocorticoid concentrations could be elevated in individuals consuming alternative prey. We measured cortisol concentrations and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) in hair of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis Kerr, 1792) across their distribution to determine the influence of diet on glucocorticoids while controlling for harvest location. We calculated the Euclidean distance between lynx and regional snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus Erxleben, 1777) stable isotope ratios as an index of diet specialization. We found no relationship between this index and cortisol, suggesting that prey types are interchangeable for lynx in terms of long-term stress axis activation. However, lynx cortisol increased significantly towards the northwestern region of lynx distribution, contrasting with our prediction, and highlighting important considerations for future research. This combination of glucocorticoid and diet analyses suggests that dietary plasticity does not necessarily alter an individual’s experience of potential stressors, despite important implications to population and community dynamics.

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