![]() ![]() Afin d’améliorer la capacité de gérer les écosystèmes arctiques dans un contexte de modification de l’environnement, des connaissances sur les régimes alimentaires des prédateurs dans l’Arctique sont nécessaires. Le réchauffement planétaire devrait accroître l’importance de la prédation pour la régulation des écosystèmes dans les milieux arctiques. Si le régime alimentaire du loup est bien étudié, peu d’information est disponible pour les régions de l’Extrême-Arctique. Le loup gris ( Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) est un des grands carnivores les plus répandus sur terre et est présent à la grandeur de l’Arctique. We suggest that climate change may alter the dynamics among wolves, arctic hare, muskoxen, and caribou, and we encourage further studies evaluating how climate change influences predator–prey interactions in high Arctic environments. A literature compilation suggested that arctic wolves ( Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935) preferentially feed on caribou ( Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) and muskoxen, but can sustain themselves on arctic hares and Greenland collared lemmings ( Dicrostonyx groenlandicus (Traill, 1823)) in areas with limited or no ungulate populations. Prey remains in 54 wolf scats collected at three sites in the high Arctic region surrounding the Hall Basin (Judge Daly Promontory, Ellesmere Island, Canada, and Washington Land and Hall Land, both in northwestern Greenland) pointed to a dietary importance of arctic hare ( Lepus arcticus Ross, 1819 55% frequency of occurrence) and muskoxen ( Ovibos moschatus (Zimmermann, 1780) 39% frequency of occurrence), although we observed diet variation among the sites. To improve our ability to manage Arctic ecosystems under environmental change, we therefore need knowledge about Arctic predator diets. ![]() Global warming is expected to increase the importance of predation for ecosystem regulation in Arctic environments. Although wolf diet is well studied, we have scant information from high Arctic areas. The grey wolf ( Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most widespread large carnivores on Earth, and occurs throughout the Arctic. ![]()
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