The ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem
Through global positioning system (GPS) collar locations, remote cameras, field observations and the first wild wolf to be GPS-collared with a camera collar, we describe when, where and how wolves fish in a freshwater ecosystem. From 2017 to 2021, we recorded more than 10 wolves (Canis lupus) huntin...
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2023
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230210 https://doaj.org/article/5a3fde9bb37d4533bfbc7a055d8e2e02 |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:5a3fde9bb37d4533bfbc7a055d8e2e02 2023-06-11T04:10:49+02:00 The ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem Danielle R. Freund Thomas D. Gable Sean M. Johnson-Bice Austin T. Homkes Steve K. Windels Joseph K. Bump 2023-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230210 https://doaj.org/article/5a3fde9bb37d4533bfbc7a055d8e2e02 EN eng The Royal Society https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230210 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.230210 2054-5703 https://doaj.org/article/5a3fde9bb37d4533bfbc7a055d8e2e02 Royal Society Open Science, Vol 10, Iss 5 (2023) Canis lupus wolf predation ambush hunting predator prey relations fish spawning boreal forest Science Q article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230210 2023-05-28T00:35:17Z Through global positioning system (GPS) collar locations, remote cameras, field observations and the first wild wolf to be GPS-collared with a camera collar, we describe when, where and how wolves fish in a freshwater ecosystem. From 2017 to 2021, we recorded more than 10 wolves (Canis lupus) hunting fish during the spring spawning season in northern Minnesota, USA. Wolves ambushed fish in creeks at night when spawning fish were abundant, available and vulnerable in shallow waters. We observed wolves specifically targeting sections of rivers below beaver (Castor canadensis) dams, suggesting that beavers may indirectly facilitate wolf fishing behaviour. Wolves also cached fish on shorelines. We documented these findings across five different social groups at four distinct waterways, suggesting that wolf fishing behaviour may be widespread in similar ecosystems but has probably remained difficult to study given its annual brevity. Spawning fish may serve as a valuable pulsed resource for packs because the spring spawning season coincides with low primary prey (deer Odocoileus virginianus) availability and abundance, and when packs have higher energetic demands owing to newly born pups. We demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability of wolf hunting and foraging behaviour, and provide insight into how wolves can survive in a myriad of ecosystems. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Royal Society Open Science 10 5 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Canis lupus wolf predation ambush hunting predator prey relations fish spawning boreal forest Science Q |
spellingShingle |
Canis lupus wolf predation ambush hunting predator prey relations fish spawning boreal forest Science Q Danielle R. Freund Thomas D. Gable Sean M. Johnson-Bice Austin T. Homkes Steve K. Windels Joseph K. Bump The ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem |
topic_facet |
Canis lupus wolf predation ambush hunting predator prey relations fish spawning boreal forest Science Q |
description |
Through global positioning system (GPS) collar locations, remote cameras, field observations and the first wild wolf to be GPS-collared with a camera collar, we describe when, where and how wolves fish in a freshwater ecosystem. From 2017 to 2021, we recorded more than 10 wolves (Canis lupus) hunting fish during the spring spawning season in northern Minnesota, USA. Wolves ambushed fish in creeks at night when spawning fish were abundant, available and vulnerable in shallow waters. We observed wolves specifically targeting sections of rivers below beaver (Castor canadensis) dams, suggesting that beavers may indirectly facilitate wolf fishing behaviour. Wolves also cached fish on shorelines. We documented these findings across five different social groups at four distinct waterways, suggesting that wolf fishing behaviour may be widespread in similar ecosystems but has probably remained difficult to study given its annual brevity. Spawning fish may serve as a valuable pulsed resource for packs because the spring spawning season coincides with low primary prey (deer Odocoileus virginianus) availability and abundance, and when packs have higher energetic demands owing to newly born pups. We demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability of wolf hunting and foraging behaviour, and provide insight into how wolves can survive in a myriad of ecosystems. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Danielle R. Freund Thomas D. Gable Sean M. Johnson-Bice Austin T. Homkes Steve K. Windels Joseph K. Bump |
author_facet |
Danielle R. Freund Thomas D. Gable Sean M. Johnson-Bice Austin T. Homkes Steve K. Windels Joseph K. Bump |
author_sort |
Danielle R. Freund |
title |
The ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem |
title_short |
The ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem |
title_full |
The ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem |
title_fullStr |
The ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem |
title_full_unstemmed |
The ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem |
title_sort |
ethology of wolves foraging on freshwater fish in a boreal ecosystem |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230210 https://doaj.org/article/5a3fde9bb37d4533bfbc7a055d8e2e02 |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
Royal Society Open Science, Vol 10, Iss 5 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.230210 https://doaj.org/toc/2054-5703 doi:10.1098/rsos.230210 2054-5703 https://doaj.org/article/5a3fde9bb37d4533bfbc7a055d8e2e02 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.230210 |
container_title |
Royal Society Open Science |
container_volume |
10 |
container_issue |
5 |
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1768385477689212928 |