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- Hersteinsson, P., et al.
(författare)
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The Arctic Fox in Fennoscandia and Iceland - Management Problems
- 1989
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Ingår i: Biological Conservation. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-3207 .- 1873-2917. ; 49:1, s. 67-81
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The arctic for Alopex lagopus was an important fur animal in Fennoscandia until the 1920s when numbers crashed, and in spite of total protection for over half a century has not recovered and is now regarded as vulnerable. In Iceland, on the other hand, the species is well established and can withstand heavy exploitation by man, being regarded as vermin and hunted at all seasons. In this paper we review the latest available information on the status of the arctic fox in the Nordic countries, both with regard to minimum sizes and fluctuations in population, and various factors which have been suggested as the cause of the non-recovery of the population in Fennoscandia. These include fewer available large mammal carcasses due to the near-disappearance of the wolf, increased competition with the red fox, increased predation by red foxes on arctic foxes, etc. The views that arctic foxes are an important predator on sheep in Iceland at present, and that foxhunting alone in its present form is capable of significantly reducing the population there, are challenged. At present there is insufficient information to make sound management programmes for the arctic fox populations in Fennoscandia and Iceland. Suggestions are made concerning those factors which need to be explored so that workable management programmes can be put into effect in the two regions.
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- Kaikusalo, A., et al.
(författare)
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The Arctic Fox Population in Finnish Lapland During 30 Years, 1964-93
- 1995
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Ingår i: Annales Zoologici Fennici. - 0003-455X .- 1797-2450. ; 32:1, s. 69-77
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have monitored the number of arctic foxes and microtine rodents in northern Finland for 30 years. Arctic fox densities were estimated by inventories at den sites, and microtine abundance by snap trapping. Time series analyses showed that the arctic fox population fluctuated widely but always close together with the microtines in a five year cycle. However, there was no time lag in the numerical response of foxes on microtines. The strong dependence on microtines was confirmed by analyses of faecal droppings and food remains at dens. In summer time microtines consisted in average of 45% of the diet and reindeer 30%, but during winters reindeer was the most important food source with 45% compared to 15% for microtines. There was a surprising positive correlation between number of voles and reindeer carcasses, suggesting competition or alternatively an external correlation from e.g. weather. Mean litter size of the arctic fox was also highly dependent on microtine abundance but decreased during the study period despite that food resources had not changed. Further, when microtines had high densities during two consecutive years, arctic foxes only responded to the first year. A feeding experiment resulted in an increase in number of red foxes but had no or little effect on arctic foxes. So, it is difficult to single out one explanation to the decline and second year effect. Food was probably not involved and we do not know if diseases and parasites have been involved. However, both competition and predation, primarily from the red fox, may be responsible together with climatic or weather changes.
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