Article
Immunology
O. Alejandro Aleuy, Michele Anholt, Karin Orsel, Fabien Mavrot, Catherine A. Gagnon, Kimberlee Beckmen, Steeve D. Cote, Christine Cuyler, Andrew Dobson, Brett Elkin, Lisa-Marie Leclerc, Joelle Taillon, Susan Kutz
Summary: This study investigated the epidemiology and environmental factors of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in the Arctic and found that seropositivity was highest during warmer months and among adult males. Summer seroprevalence increases were associated with oestrid index, icing and snowing events, and precipitation from the same year, but decreased with growing degree days in the same year. The findings provide valuable insights into disease prevalence and can help in anticipating and mitigating climate change-related diseases among Arctic wildlife and human populations.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Craig A. DeMars, Sophie Gilbert, Robert Serrouya, Allicia P. Kelly, Nicholas C. Larter, Dave Hervieux, Stan Boutin
Summary: Climate change has direct impacts on woodland caribou populations, affecting vital rates like juvenile recruitment and adult female survival. The correlation between annual climatic variation and these vital rates underscores the importance of considering adverse climate conditions in conservation efforts for declining caribou populations.
Article
Ecology
J. C. Richert, A. J. Leffler, D. E. Spalinger, J. M. Welker
Summary: Caribou rely on the short Arctic growing season to restore body condition and prepare for the long winter, making them susceptible to changes in forage availability. Deeper snow in winter may increase growing season leaf protein levels in deciduous shrubs, potentially extending the window of opportunity for foraging and promoting winter survival and successful calving in caribou populations in northern Alaska.
Article
Zoology
John G. Cook, Allicia P. Kelly, Rachel C. Cook, Brad Culling, Diane Culling, Ashley McLaren, Nicholas C. Larter, Megan Watters
Summary: The study found that rearing calves affected the condition of female caribou, with nutritional condition not declining in northeastern BC but slightly declining in NT. Body fat peaked in December, remained stable over winter, but decreased to a minimum by early summer, coinciding with elevated rates of adult female mortality.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Steven F. Wilson, Thomas D. Nudds, Andrew de Vries
Summary: With the urgency of conservation actions increasing, the identification of causal relationships becomes crucial for the successful recovery of endangered species. While observational studies are the main source of information, limitations in experimental conditions may lead to weak inferences, constraining decision-making.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rebecca S. Taylor, Micheline Manseau, Cornelya F. C. Klutsch, Jean L. Polfus, Audrey Steedman, Dave Hervieux, Allicia Kelly, Nicholas C. Larter, Mary Gamberg, Helen Schwantje, Paul J. Wilson
Summary: The study found that a major population expansion of caribou occurred at the start of the last glacial period, with effective population sizes reaching 700,000 to 1,000,000 individuals, one of the highest for any mammal species recorded. Mitochondrial analyses dated introgression events prior to the last glacial maximum, demonstrating the importance of pre-LGM events in shaping demographic history.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Martin-Hugues St-Laurent, Yan Boulanger, Dominic Cyr, Francis Manka, Pierre Drapeau, Sylvie Gauthier
Summary: This study evaluated how climate change will affect boreal caribou habitat, finding that it may lead to a decrease in habitat quality, a reduction in high-quality habitat, and a northward recession of suitable habitat. Timber harvesting was found to be the most important factor of change for the 2030-2050 horizon, although it may be replaced by changes in fire regime by 2100.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Timothy J. Fullman, Ryan R. Wilson, Kyle Joly, David D. Gustine, Paul Leonard, Wendy M. Loya
Summary: This study explores the behavior patterns of migratory species and their impact on development projects, presenting a technique that uses circuit theory to predict future effects of development. Caribou avoid dense vegetation, rugged terrain, and other natural environmental features during migration, with different relationships between resource selection and landscape resistance observed during spring and fall migrations.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John P. Severson, Heather E. Johnson, Stephen M. Arthur, William B. Leacock, Michael J. Suitor
Summary: Phenological changes in spring can have significant impacts on the behavior and space utilization patterns of migratory barren-ground caribou, with future climate conditions projected to further shift their distributions westward.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Doug MacNearney, Barry Nobert, Laura Finnegan
Summary: The study found that oil and gas development has a dynamic impact on woodland caribou habitat selection, with wellsites having the greatest influence when human activity is highest, continuing to affect habitat selection even after activity ceases. Caribou tend to avoid wellsites, with avoidance increasing based on the level of activity at the nearest wellsites. Management practices and land-use planning are needed to minimize impacts on caribou and their habitat.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Samantha McFarlane, Micheline Manseau, Teri B. B. Jones, Darren Pouliot, Gabriela Mastromonaco, Gigi Pittoello, Paul J. J. Wilson
Summary: This study examines the effects of variable density on demographic parameters in a wild population of boreal woodland caribou. The results show that density affects individual reproductive success, female pregnancy status, and dispersal distance. The study suggests that remnant habitat patches may create population sinks.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chloe Morineau, Yan Boulanger, Philippe Gachon, Sabrina Plante, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: The contraction of species range is a significant symptom of biodiversity loss. This study assesses the potential effects of recent climate change on the observed range contraction of boreal populations of woodland caribou in Quebec. The results suggest that the range recession of caribou in Quebec is mainly caused by anthropogenic drivers rather than climate change.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Steven F. Wilson, Wendy Crosina, Elston Dzus, Dave Hervieux, Philip D. McLoughlin, Laura M. Trout, Thomas D. Nudds
Summary: Delineating relevant local populations of widely distributed species is a common challenge in conservation ecology. In this study, the researchers used GPS telemetry data and network analysis to identify local population boundaries of caribou populations, providing valuable information for conservation planning.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
A. Smith, C. J. Johnson
Summary: Populations of barren-ground caribou have declined due to climate change, natural fluctuations, human harvest, and industrial activities. This decline poses a significant threat to the Indigenous peoples who rely on caribou. Roads, especially those with high traffic, can impede caribou movement. A study in Canada found that caribou rarely crossed a winter road when any level of traffic was present. The research suggests that mitigation strategies should focus on minimizing traffic volume or providing breaks in traffic when caribou are near winter roads.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Quinn M. R. Webber, Eric Vander Wal
Summary: Group size can vary depending on population density, habitat type, and season. Factors such as foraging benefits of social aggregation and ecological contexts can influence group size. The study found that group size decreased with increasing population density, was larger in winter compared to calving and summer, and was affected differently by habitat openness in various ecological contexts.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alistair J. Bath, Monica T. Engel, Ryan C. van der Marel, Tyler S. Kuhn, Thomas S. Jung
Summary: Public support is crucial for restoring large mammals to their native habitats. In this study, the views of the public, hunters, and wildlife managers on bison management in Yukon, Canada, were compared. The researchers found differences in values and beliefs between these three groups, indicating the need for improved communication between managers and their constituencies.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joanie L. Kennah, Michael J. L. Peers, Eric Vander Wal, Yasmine N. Majchrzak, Allyson K. Menzies, Emily K. Studd, Rudy Boonstra, Murray M. Humphries, Thomas S. Jung, Alice J. Kenney, Charles J. Krebs, Stan Boutin
Summary: Climate warming causes asynchronies between animal phenology and environments, and mismatched traits may decrease survival. However, coat color change can provide advantages other than camouflage. In this study, we found that mismatched snowshoe hares in Yukon had a significantly reduced autumn mortality risk, possibly due to the increased coat insulation and lower metabolic rates of winter-acclimatized hares. Mismatched hares also foraged less and had lower predation risk, leading to higher survival rates. However, mismatch did not affect spring mortality risk, suggesting a potential temperature limit where the costs of conspicuousness outweigh energetic benefits.
Article
Zoology
Thomas S. Jung
Summary: Variation in coat colour within mammal species is of interest, and the coat colour of the Canada lynx is usually stable, with occasional rare colourmorphs. A melanistic Canada lynx was observed and photographed during summer, exhibiting a black coat with grayish guard hairs and whitish gray hairs in specific regions. The adaptive significance of melanism in lynx is still unknown, but it may be maladaptive in terms of camouflage during winter hunting.
Editorial Material
Ecology
Tommaso Illarietti, Pelayo Acevedo, Paulo Alves, Thomas S. Jung, Horst Kierdorf, Gilliard Lach, Jorge Lopez-Olvera, Rory Putman, Massimo Scandura, Marcelo Vallinoto, Christian Gortazar
Summary: Expanding from Zeitschrift fur Jagdwissenschaft in 1955, European Journal of Wildlife Research (EJWR) publishes original research and reviews on wildlife science worldwide. After 18 years, we reflect on the journal and its audience, which includes researchers, wildlife biologists, and practitioners interested in wildlife science. With ecosystems under immense pressure due to global crisis, EJWR plays a vital role in sharing relevant research with the scientific community.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Edward H. Miller, Thomas S. Jung, Piia M. Kukka, John J. Reynolds, Robert A. Grove, Garry B. Stenson, Robert P. W. Rogers
Summary: Allometric analyses of sexually selected structures have revealed important patterns and adaptations in weapons, ornaments, and genitalia. In this study, we investigated the allometry of the baculum in three large mustelids, finding that baculum size is possibly adapted to the average size of the female reproductive tract. Additionally, bacular shape and size varied greatly among species, suggesting functional differences in intromission.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Thomas S. Jung, Caeley Thacker, Christopher J. Lewis
Summary: The epidermis of wild mammals occasionally gets lacerated or punctured, and wound care behaviors have evolved to maintain their health. Communal wound licking can help promote healing, relieve stress, and strengthen social bonds among individuals. This study reports observations of communal wound licking in free-ranging bison, indicating its occurrence in social ungulates and suggesting potential social benefits. Further research is needed to better understand the frequency, costs, and benefits of communal wound licking.
Article
Ecology
Thomas S. Jung, Nicholas C. Larter, Christopher J. Lewis, Caeley Thacker, Shawn D. Taylor
Summary: While it is known that wolves prey on bison in certain populations, their ecological interactions with reintroduced small populations in the boreal forest are not well understood. This study provides verified observations of wolves hunting or scavenging bison from three reintroduced populations in northwestern Canada. The observations show that the reintroduced bison populations are integrating into local food webs and are under selective pressure from wolves, indicating ecological restoration.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Thomas S. Jung, Sarah M. Arnold, Alexandra L. Heathcote, Piia M. Kukka, Caitlin N. Willier, Alice M. McCulley, Shannon A. Stotyn, Kirsten A. Wilcox
Summary: Hoary marmots dig burrows as refuge from predators, and we found that they continue to use burrows even after they have been excavated by grizzly bears. The extent of their utility is unknown and further research is needed to understand why marmots use excavated burrows.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ines Peraza, John Chetelat, Murray Richardson, Thomas S. Jung, Malik Awan, Steve Baryluk, Ashu Dastoor, William Harrower, Piia M. Kukka, Christine McClelland, Garth Mowat, Nicolas Pelletier, Christine Rodford, Andrei Ryjkov
Summary: Limited information exists on mercury concentrations and environmental drivers of mercury bioaccumulation in high latitude terrestrial carnivores. In this study, wolverines in Arctic and boreal biomes of western Canada were analyzed for mercury concentrations and its environmental drivers. The results showed that diet was the strongest explanatory variable of mercury concentrations, followed by landscape variables and distance to the Arctic Ocean coast.
Article
Biology
Shotaro Shiratsuru, Emily K. Studd, Stan Boutin, Michael J. L. Peers, Yasmine N. Majchrzak, Allyson K. Menzies, Rachael Derbyshire, Thomas S. Jung, Charles J. Krebs, Rudy Boonstra, Dennis L. Murray
Summary: The study found that the activity patterns of snowshoe hares and Canada lynx are not necessarily related to predation risk, and lynx can still prey on hares during the daytime when hares are inactive. This suggests that the overlap of predator-prey activity may not always be a reliable proxy for predation risk, highlighting the need to examine the spatio-temporal behavior of predator and prey to improve our understanding of predation risk.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
Madan K. Oli, Alice J. Kenney, Rudy Boonstra, Stan Boutin, Dennis L. Murray, Michael J. L. Peers, B. Scott Gilbert, Thomas S. Jung, Vratika Chaudhary, James E. Hines, Charles J. Krebs
Summary: Some mammal species in high-latitude habitats have evolved a seasonal molt pattern to improve camouflage. However, reduced snow cover in high-latitude and high-altitude areas could disrupt this camouflage and decrease the survival rate of species that rely on it. A study on snowshoe hares found that the whiteness of their coat in autumn influenced winter survival, while the whiteness in spring did not affect summer survival. The timing of coat color change in autumn may negatively impact snowshoe hare population dynamics as climate change continues.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Thomas S. Jung, Michael J. L. Peers, Ryan Drummond, Shawn D. Taylor
Summary: This observation documents the interactions between a wolverine and a Canada lynx scavenging on a bison carcass, shedding light on their behavioral interactions at a rich food source. The study found that intraguild interactions between these species involve both tolerance and interference competition, with the wolverine being the dominant species. This observation contributes new information on interactions between mesocarnivores.
Article
Ecology
Charles J. Krebs, Stan Boutin, Rudy Boonstra, Dennis L. Murray, Thomas S. Jung, Mark O'Donoghue, B. Scott Gilbert, Piia M. Kukka, Shawn D. Taylor, T. Morgan, Ryan Drummond, Anthony R. E. Sinclair, Alice J. Kenney
Summary: The boreal forest, the world's largest terrestrial biome, is undergoing dramatic changes due to climate change and other human activities. To monitor these changes, a comprehensive monitoring program was conducted in five sites in the Yukon, Canada. The results showed significant variability in population dynamics of various ecosystem constituents, but keystone species such as snowshoe hares and Canada lynx exhibited similar population trends across the region.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Thomas S. Jung, Michael J. L. Peers, Ryan Drummond, Shawn D. Taylor
Summary: This study captured interactions between a Canada lynx and a wolverine scavenging on a bison carcass using a remote camera. The observations suggest that intraguild interactions between these two species may involve tolerance and interference competition, with the wolverine being dominant.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Thomas S. Jung, Troy D. Pretzlaw
Summary: This study evaluated the relative efficacy of Victor Mouse and Woodstream Museum Special snap traps for sampling boreal small mammals, finding that Museum Special traps caught almost twice as many small mammals as Victor traps and exhibited species-specific responses to trap type for certain species.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2022)