Long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in Arctic hares on Ellesmere Island (Canada)
Abstract Animal migration contributes largely to the seasonal dynamics of High Arctic ecosystems, linking distant habitats and impacting ecosystem structure and function. In polar deserts, Arctic hares are abundant herbivores and important components of food webs. Their annual migrations have long b...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:4b60fd6919be48d4929018c3912cd6ad 2023-05-15T14:39:33+02:00 Long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in Arctic hares on Ellesmere Island (Canada) Jacob Caron-Carrier Sandra Lai François Vézina Andrew Tam Dominique Berteaux 2022-03-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08347-1 https://doaj.org/article/4b60fd6919be48d4929018c3912cd6ad EN eng Nature Portfolio https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08347-1 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08347-1 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/4b60fd6919be48d4929018c3912cd6ad Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2022) Medicine R Science Q article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08347-1 2022-12-31T04:30:15Z Abstract Animal migration contributes largely to the seasonal dynamics of High Arctic ecosystems, linking distant habitats and impacting ecosystem structure and function. In polar deserts, Arctic hares are abundant herbivores and important components of food webs. Their annual migrations have long been suspected, but never confirmed. We tracked 25 individuals with Argos satellite telemetry to investigate the existence of migration in a population living at Alert (Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada). During fall, 21 hares undertook directional, long-distance movements in a southwestern direction towards Lake Hazen. Daily movement rates averaged 1.3 ± 0.5 km, 4.3 ± 1.6 km, and 1.7 ± 0.9 km before, during, and after relocation, respectively. Straight-line and minimum cumulative distances traveled averaged 98 ± 18 km (range: 72–148 km) and 198 ± 62 km (range: 113–388 km), respectively. This is the first report of large-scale seasonal movements in Arctic hares and, surprisingly, in any lagomorph species. These movements may be part of an annual migratory pattern. Our results redefine our understanding of the spatial ecology of Arctic hares, demonstrate unsuspected mobility capacities in lagomorphs, and open new perspectives regarding the ecological dynamics of the northern polar deserts. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Ellesmere Island Lake Hazen Nunavut Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Nunavut Ellesmere Island Canada Lake Hazen ENVELOPE(-71.017,-71.017,81.797,81.797) Scientific Reports 12 1 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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English |
topic |
Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q Jacob Caron-Carrier Sandra Lai François Vézina Andrew Tam Dominique Berteaux Long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in Arctic hares on Ellesmere Island (Canada) |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Abstract Animal migration contributes largely to the seasonal dynamics of High Arctic ecosystems, linking distant habitats and impacting ecosystem structure and function. In polar deserts, Arctic hares are abundant herbivores and important components of food webs. Their annual migrations have long been suspected, but never confirmed. We tracked 25 individuals with Argos satellite telemetry to investigate the existence of migration in a population living at Alert (Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada). During fall, 21 hares undertook directional, long-distance movements in a southwestern direction towards Lake Hazen. Daily movement rates averaged 1.3 ± 0.5 km, 4.3 ± 1.6 km, and 1.7 ± 0.9 km before, during, and after relocation, respectively. Straight-line and minimum cumulative distances traveled averaged 98 ± 18 km (range: 72–148 km) and 198 ± 62 km (range: 113–388 km), respectively. This is the first report of large-scale seasonal movements in Arctic hares and, surprisingly, in any lagomorph species. These movements may be part of an annual migratory pattern. Our results redefine our understanding of the spatial ecology of Arctic hares, demonstrate unsuspected mobility capacities in lagomorphs, and open new perspectives regarding the ecological dynamics of the northern polar deserts. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jacob Caron-Carrier Sandra Lai François Vézina Andrew Tam Dominique Berteaux |
author_facet |
Jacob Caron-Carrier Sandra Lai François Vézina Andrew Tam Dominique Berteaux |
author_sort |
Jacob Caron-Carrier |
title |
Long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in Arctic hares on Ellesmere Island (Canada) |
title_short |
Long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in Arctic hares on Ellesmere Island (Canada) |
title_full |
Long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in Arctic hares on Ellesmere Island (Canada) |
title_fullStr |
Long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in Arctic hares on Ellesmere Island (Canada) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in Arctic hares on Ellesmere Island (Canada) |
title_sort |
long-distance, synchronized and directional fall movements suggest migration in arctic hares on ellesmere island (canada) |
publisher |
Nature Portfolio |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08347-1 https://doaj.org/article/4b60fd6919be48d4929018c3912cd6ad |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-71.017,-71.017,81.797,81.797) |
geographic |
Arctic Nunavut Ellesmere Island Canada Lake Hazen |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Nunavut Ellesmere Island Canada Lake Hazen |
genre |
Arctic Ellesmere Island Lake Hazen Nunavut |
genre_facet |
Arctic Ellesmere Island Lake Hazen Nunavut |
op_source |
Scientific Reports, Vol 12, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2022) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08347-1 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-2322 doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08347-1 2045-2322 https://doaj.org/article/4b60fd6919be48d4929018c3912cd6ad |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-08347-1 |
container_title |
Scientific Reports |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
1 |
_version_ |
1766311543109058560 |