Effects of Mid-winter Snow Depth on Stand Selection by Wolverines, Gulo gulo luscus, in the Boreal Forest

Wolverines (Gulo gulo luscus) in a study area in the boreal upland forests of northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia (approximately 57°N) were noted to be limited to upland landscapes, despite abundant food in adjacent lowland landscapes. Snow-tracking suggested that the species was...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Canadian Field-Naturalist
Main Authors: Wright, Jonathan D., Ernst, Jessica
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club 2004
Subjects:
Wolverine
Gulo gulo luscus
snow depth
boreal forest
stand
landscape
animal behaviour
climax
buffering effect
timber harvesting
Alberta
British Columbia
Midwinter
Gulo gulo
wolverine
Online Access:https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/882
https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v118i1.882
Description
Summary:Wolverines (Gulo gulo luscus) in a study area in the boreal upland forests of northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia (approximately 57°N) were noted to be limited to upland landscapes, despite abundant food in adjacent lowland landscapes. Snow-tracking suggested that the species was selecting for the densest climax conifer stands for travel in search of food. It was hypothesized that snow depth was a limiting factor for Wolverines in the boreal forest during midwinter, and that they selected for this stand-type because of the buffering effect of this type of canopy on ground snow-depths. A series of snow-depth measurements were collected. Snow depths collected along Wolverine trails were very significantly lower than random snow depths collected under upland canopy (F = 32.84, df = 1, P << 0.010). There was a significant buffering effect on snow depth indicated for upland canopy (F = 11.1, df = 1, P < 0.010), while adjacent lowland canopy had no significant buffering effect on snow depth (F = 3.45, df = 1, P > 0.05). Wolverines were hypothesized to be limited to upland landscapes in the study area because of the buffering effect on snow-depth of the stand types found there, and not for reasons of food availability. Climax conifer stands were interpreted as being of high importance to Wolverine survival during winter. Conservation implications include the detrimental effect on Wolverine populations likely to result from current timber harvesting practices in the boreal forest.

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