Habitat selection by lynx in the Northwest Territories
An understanding of habitat selection by lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the northern boreal forest is needed to evaluate the potential impacts of habitat modification (wildfire and timber harvesting) on lynx populations. We quantified habitat selection by lynx in a 290-km 2 study area in the western Nort...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1996
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z96-098 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z96-098 |
id |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z96-098 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z96-098 2024-05-19T07:46:16+00:00 Habitat selection by lynx in the Northwest Territories Poole, Kim G. Wakelyn, Leslie A. Nicklen, Paul N. 1996 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z96-098 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z96-098 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 74, issue 5, page 845-850 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1996 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z96-098 2024-05-02T06:51:27Z An understanding of habitat selection by lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the northern boreal forest is needed to evaluate the potential impacts of habitat modification (wildfire and timber harvesting) on lynx populations. We quantified habitat selection by lynx in a 290-km 2 study area in the western Northwest Territories from 1989 to 1993 by radio-collaring 27 adult lynx (12 females and 15 males). An 8-class habitat map, produced using Landsat thematic mapper data, was used to assess habitat selection. Lynx used habitats disproportionately to their availability (P < 0.001), both at the landscape level and within home ranges. Dense coniferous and dense deciduous forests had higher selection indices than other habitat classes, and wetland – lake bed complexes and open black spruce (Picea mariana) forests had lower selection indices. Habitat selection did not differ between the sexes or among years (P ≥ 0.4) Habitat alteration by wildfire in the northern boreal forest could significantly affect populations of the lynx and its primary prey, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), particularly by maintaining or increasing the availability of dense forest and other preferred habitats. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northwest Territories Lynx Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 74 5 845 850 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
An understanding of habitat selection by lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the northern boreal forest is needed to evaluate the potential impacts of habitat modification (wildfire and timber harvesting) on lynx populations. We quantified habitat selection by lynx in a 290-km 2 study area in the western Northwest Territories from 1989 to 1993 by radio-collaring 27 adult lynx (12 females and 15 males). An 8-class habitat map, produced using Landsat thematic mapper data, was used to assess habitat selection. Lynx used habitats disproportionately to their availability (P < 0.001), both at the landscape level and within home ranges. Dense coniferous and dense deciduous forests had higher selection indices than other habitat classes, and wetland – lake bed complexes and open black spruce (Picea mariana) forests had lower selection indices. Habitat selection did not differ between the sexes or among years (P ≥ 0.4) Habitat alteration by wildfire in the northern boreal forest could significantly affect populations of the lynx and its primary prey, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), particularly by maintaining or increasing the availability of dense forest and other preferred habitats. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Poole, Kim G. Wakelyn, Leslie A. Nicklen, Paul N. |
spellingShingle |
Poole, Kim G. Wakelyn, Leslie A. Nicklen, Paul N. Habitat selection by lynx in the Northwest Territories |
author_facet |
Poole, Kim G. Wakelyn, Leslie A. Nicklen, Paul N. |
author_sort |
Poole, Kim G. |
title |
Habitat selection by lynx in the Northwest Territories |
title_short |
Habitat selection by lynx in the Northwest Territories |
title_full |
Habitat selection by lynx in the Northwest Territories |
title_fullStr |
Habitat selection by lynx in the Northwest Territories |
title_full_unstemmed |
Habitat selection by lynx in the Northwest Territories |
title_sort |
habitat selection by lynx in the northwest territories |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1996 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z96-098 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z96-098 |
genre |
Northwest Territories Lynx |
genre_facet |
Northwest Territories Lynx |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 74, issue 5, page 845-850 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z96-098 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
74 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
845 |
op_container_end_page |
850 |
_version_ |
1799486417075699712 |