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| Mowat, G.; Slough, B.G. | |
| Habitat preference of Canada lynx through a cycle in snowshoe hare abundance | |
| 2003 Canadian Journal of Zoology (81): 1736-1745 | |
We assed habitat preference of a lynx (lynx canadensis) population through 8 years of a snowshoe hare (lepus americanus) cycle. Seventy-four percent of our southern Yukon study area was approximately 30-year-old regenrating forest resulting from a large wildfire. The study area was not trapped and lynx density was very high compared with other populations in North America. Contrary to our prediction, there was no discernable shift in habitat preference through the hare cycle; however, our habitat types were coarsely mapped and our radiolocations relatively inaccurate. Lynx may have altered their habitat preferences at finer scales (for patches <2 ha). Lynx showed strong preference for regenating habitats over mature white spruce (Picea glauca) and alpine-subalpine. Lodgepole pine (Pinus controta) dominated regenerating stands were preferred over spruce-willow (salix spp.) stands of equal age. Riparian willow stands were also preferred over mature spruce forest and alpine. Lynx used riparian willow stands more in winter, but we detected no other shifts in habitat preference between snow-free and winter periods. We dit not detect any difference in habitat preference between sexes. Independet juveniles made greater use of mature forest and perhaps riparian willow than adults, but no other difference in preference between the two age groups was noted. Lynx preference for regenarating habitat over mature forest suggests that burns will benefit lynx, especially if the regenerating community is pine dominated. Logging will only likely provide similar benefit if a dense pine understory results, which is unlikely in intensively managed stands. The suppression of forest fires in recent decades may have contributed to the decline of lynx numbers in the south of their range. |
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