Food Habits of Arctic Wolves in Greenland
Abstract
Analysis of feces was used to determine natural prey of arctic wolves (Canis lupus) in Nansen Land, North Greenland (83°N, 43°W), and Hold with Hope, East Greenland (74°N, 22°W). A total of 461 feces was collected during summers 1991–1995. In Nansen Land (n = 110), muskox (Ovibos moschatus) was the major food of wolves with a frequency of occurrence of 79.4%. Lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus) were the next most-important group with a frequency of 19.6%, followed by arctic hares (Lepus arcticus) at 7.5%, wolves at 0.9%, and arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) at 0.9%. Plastic and nylon rope occurred in three feces, suggesting scavenging on garbage. In Hold with Hope (n = 351), muskoxen also were the predominant prey with a frequency of 65.4%, followed by geese and other birds at 35.5%, lemmings at 10.2%, arctic hares at 2.3%, and beetles at 0.3%. Remains of garbage (paper and paint chips) occurred in one fece. Differences in availability of regional prey may best explain dissimilarity in food habits between areas, but seasonal differences in contents of feces also may be important.
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Historically, wolves were considered the main predator in muskox ecosystems.
“Historically, wolves (Canis lupus) were considered the main predator in muskox ecosystems (Marquard-Petersen 1998; Gunn and Adamczewski 2003; Mech 2011).”
From Muskox status, recent variation, and uncertain future (2020) · cites this paper as Marquard-Petersen 1998
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Muskox status, recent variation, and uncertain future
Cuyler, C., Rowell, J., Adamczewski, J., Anderson, M., Blake, J., Bretten, T., Brodeur, V., Campbell, M., Checkley, S. L., Cluff, H. D., et al. (2020) · Ambio · doi:10.1007/s13280-019-01205-x · Cited by 77 · see citing works
- Authors
- Marquard-Petersen, U.
- Venue
- Journal of Mammalogy
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1998-02-20
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 236-244
- ISSN
- 0022-2372 (ISSN-L)
- 1545-1542
- OpenAlex
- W2078120787
- Cited by
- 41
- References
- 17
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 2.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Mammalogy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Marine animal studies overview
- Keywords
- Arctic wolf, wolf, diet, prey selection, fecal analysis, Ovibos moschatus, lemmings, Dicrostonyx groenlandicus, Arctic hare, arctic fox, scavenging, garbage, East Greenland, seasonal variation, prey availability
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