Brent goose colonies near snowy owls: Internest distances in relation to breeding arctic fox densities

• Published in: Biology Bulletin
• Main Authors: Kharitonov, S.P., Ebbinge, B.S., De Fouw, J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: international; Arctic; Arctic Fox; brent geese; Brent goose; Taimyr
• Online Access: https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/af5cab5e-ffca-442b-84b7-5024005113a7; https://doi.org/10.1134/S106235901301007X; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11755/af5cab5e-ffca-442b-84b7-5024005113a7

It was shown that in the years when the numbers of the Arctic foxes are high, even though the lemming numbers are high as well, Brent geese nest considerably closer to owls' nests than in the years with low Arctic fox numbers. At values of the Arctic fox densities greater than one breeding pair per 20 km(2), the factor of lemming numbers ceases to affect the distance between owl and geese nests. This distance becomes dependent on the Arctic fox density (numbers). When the Arctic fox density is greater than the pronounced threshold, the owl-Brent internest distance is inversely and linearly related to the Arctic fox density. DOI:10.1134/S106235901301007X [KEYWORDS: rough-legged buzzards peregrine falcons taimyr peninsula lemmings] It was shown that in the years when the numbers of the Arctic foxes are high, even though the lemming numbers are high as well, Brent geese nest considerably closer to owls' nests than in the years with low Arctic fox numbers. At values of the Arctic fox densities greater than one breeding pair per 20 km(2), the factor of lemming numbers ceases to affect the distance between owl and geese nests. This distance becomes dependent on the Arctic fox density (numbers). When the Arctic fox density is greater than the pronounced threshold, the owl-Brent internest distance is inversely and linearly related to the Arctic fox density. DOI:10.1134/S106235901301007X [KEYWORDS: rough-legged buzzards peregrine falcons taimyr peninsula lemmings]