Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus)
Changes in reproduction may be closely linked to population density and often manifest in various behaviours. Thus, variation in behaviours associated with reproduction can provide insights into the mechanisms influencing the distribution and abundance of populations as well as broader community dyn...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecological Indicators |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015024 |
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| author | Shannon M. Crowley Chris J. Johnson Dexter P. Hodder |
| author_facet | Shannon M. Crowley Chris J. Johnson Dexter P. Hodder |
| author_sort | Shannon M. Crowley |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Changes in reproduction may be closely linked to population density and often manifest in various behaviours. Thus, variation in behaviours associated with reproduction can provide insights into the mechanisms influencing the distribution and abundance of populations as well as broader community dynamics. We used a combination of occurrence and behavioural data from camera traps to measure variation in the abundance of Canada lynx during two time periods with contrasting abundance of their primary prey, snowshoe hare. Our first objective was to determine if N-mixture models, camera occurrence rates, and behaviours could be used to monitor trends in cyclic abundance. Our second objective was to investigate the underlying environmental and ecological factors influencing lynx reproductive behaviours (cheek-rubbing, scent-marking, and grouping). We found that lynx behaviours and relative abundance were correlated among years and that those relationships varied with the abundance of snowshoe hare. Consistent with our predictions, years with greater abundance of lynx and hare were characterized by increases in cheek-rubbing, scent-marking, and grouping behaviours. Variation in behaviour and estimates of abundance proved to be strong co-occurring indicators of the cyclic population dynamics of Canada lynx. Behaviour can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms (i.e., prey availability, breeding activity) that influence population distributions and abundance. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f615c9101a034c33896b2cee45cd898f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1470-160X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Indicators |
| spelling | doaj-art-f615c9101a034c33896b2cee45cd898f2025-01-31T05:10:39ZengElsevierEcological Indicators1470-160X2025-01-01170113045Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus)Shannon M. Crowley0Chris J. Johnson1Dexter P. Hodder2John Prince Research Forest, University of Northern British Columbia, PO Box 2378, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0, Canada; Corresponding author.Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC V2N 4Z9, CanadaJohn Prince Research Forest, University of Northern British Columbia, PO Box 2378, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0, CanadaChanges in reproduction may be closely linked to population density and often manifest in various behaviours. Thus, variation in behaviours associated with reproduction can provide insights into the mechanisms influencing the distribution and abundance of populations as well as broader community dynamics. We used a combination of occurrence and behavioural data from camera traps to measure variation in the abundance of Canada lynx during two time periods with contrasting abundance of their primary prey, snowshoe hare. Our first objective was to determine if N-mixture models, camera occurrence rates, and behaviours could be used to monitor trends in cyclic abundance. Our second objective was to investigate the underlying environmental and ecological factors influencing lynx reproductive behaviours (cheek-rubbing, scent-marking, and grouping). We found that lynx behaviours and relative abundance were correlated among years and that those relationships varied with the abundance of snowshoe hare. Consistent with our predictions, years with greater abundance of lynx and hare were characterized by increases in cheek-rubbing, scent-marking, and grouping behaviours. Variation in behaviour and estimates of abundance proved to be strong co-occurring indicators of the cyclic population dynamics of Canada lynx. Behaviour can provide valuable insights into the mechanisms (i.e., prey availability, breeding activity) that influence population distributions and abundance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015024Lynx canadensisLepus americanusBehaviourPopulation cyclesAbundanceMonitoring |
| spellingShingle | Shannon M. Crowley Chris J. Johnson Dexter P. Hodder Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) Ecological Indicators Lynx canadensis Lepus americanus Behaviour Population cycles Abundance Monitoring |
| title | Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) |
| title_full | Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) |
| title_fullStr | Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) |
| title_short | Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) |
| title_sort | behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of canada lynx lynx canadensis and snowshoe hare lepus americanus |
| topic | Lynx canadensis Lepus americanus Behaviour Population cycles Abundance Monitoring |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1470160X24015024 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shannonmcrowley behaviourasanindicatorofcyclictrendsinabundanceofcanadalynxlynxcanadensisandsnowshoeharelepusamericanus AT chrisjjohnson behaviourasanindicatorofcyclictrendsinabundanceofcanadalynxlynxcanadensisandsnowshoeharelepusamericanus AT dexterphodder behaviourasanindicatorofcyclictrendsinabundanceofcanadalynxlynxcanadensisandsnowshoeharelepusamericanus |