Ebook Diet of Canada Lynx in Minnesota Estimated from Scat Analysis
Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) range throughout the boreal forest region in Canada and Alaska, with portions of their range extending into the northern United States (DeVos 1964). The distribution of lynx coincides with the distribution of snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) in North America (Aubry et al. 2000). Snowshoe hare is the primary prey of lynx in northern boreal forest regions (Mowat et al. 2000, Koehler 1990, Squires and Ruggiero 2007). Snowshoe hare and Canada lynx populations demonstrate a cyclic predator-prey relationship (Elton and Nicholson 1942). Although lynx feed primarily on snowshoe hare, at low points in the hare population cycle alternate prey species are used (Mowat et al. 2000). About 50% of kills recorded while snowtracking were snowshoe hare during a low in the hare cycle (Apps 2000), compared to up to 100% when snowshoe hare densities were high (Aubry et al. 2000). When body mass was considered, snowshoe hare would have accounted for over 80% of the diet even during a low in the hare population cycle (Murray et al. 2008).
Food habit studies can be based on tracking to predation sites, stomach and intestinal content analysis, and scat analysis. Scat analysis is the method primarily employed for studying carnivore diets (Goodbois et al. 2005). Scat collection can be non-invasive and cost-effective, while analysis of scat contents provides an accurate estimate of dietary habits (Ciucci et al. 1996, 2004). From 60 to 100 scats should be analyzed to detect prey species that comprise at least 5% of the diet (Trites and Joy 2005).
Alternative prey species could be of more importance in southern boreal forests because the density of snowshoe hare is similar to that of northern populations during cyclic lows (Squires and Ruggiero 2007). Small prey species eaten by lynx include red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), marten (Martes americana,) and voles (Microtus pennsylvanica). Lynx can also kill deer (Odocoileus spp.) in deep snow conditions (Fuller 2004, Squires and Ruggerio 2007). Lynx will also scavenge on road-killed ungulates such as white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) and mule deer (O. hemionus) (Apps 2000, Mowat et. al 2000).
Because lynx are at the southern edge of their range, it is possible prey species other than snowshoe hare could be an important part of lynx diets in northeastern Minnesota. We identified prey remains present in scats to estimate diet composition of lynx in Minnesota. We compared estimates from scats confirmed to be from lynx against scats which may have been from lynx but not confirmed. Finally, we list prey species not detected in scats that we or others have observed in Minnesota while tracking lynx or through incidental observations.
Contents
Summary
Introduction
Methods
Results
Discussion
Acknowledgements
References Cited
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