NDLI: Summer kill rates and predation pattern in a wolf–moose system: can we rely on winter estimates?

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Sand, Håkan Wabakken, Petter Zimmermann, Barbara Johansson, Örjan Pedersen, Hans C. Liberg, Olof
Copyright Year	2008
Abstract	So far the vast majority of studies on large carnivore predation, including kill rates and consumption, have been based on winter studies. Because large carnivores relying on ungulates as prey often show a preference for juveniles, kill rates may be both higher and more variable during the summer season than during the rest of the year leading to serious underestimates of the total annual predation rate. This study is the first to present detailed empirical data on kill rates and prey selection in a wolf–moose system during summer (June–September) as obtained by applying modern Global Positioning System-collar techniques on individual wolves (Canis lupus) in Scandinavia. Moose (Alces alces) was the dominant prey species both by number (74.4%) and biomass (95.6%); 89.9% of all moose killed were juveniles, representing 76.0% of the biomass consumed by wolves. Kill rate in terms of the kilogram biomass/kilogram wolf per day averaged 0.20 (range: 0.07–0.32) among wolf territories and was above, or well above, the daily minimum food requirements in most territories. The average number of days between moose kills across wolf territories and study periods was 1.71 days, but increased with time and size of growing moose calves during summer. Over the entire summer (June–September, 122 days), a group (from two to nine) of wolves killed a total of 66 (confidence interval 95%; 56–81) moose. Incorporation of body growth functions of moose calves and yearlings and wolf pups over the summer period showed that wolves adjusted their kill rate on moose, so the amount of biomass/kilogram wolf was relatively constant or increased. The kill rate was much higher (94–116%) than estimated from the winter period. As a consequence, projecting winter kill rates to obtain annual estimates of predation in similar predator–prey systems may result in a significant underestimation of the total number of prey killed.
Starting Page	53
Ending Page	64
Page Count	12
File Format	PDF
ISSN	00298549
Journal	Oecologia
Volume Number	156
Issue Number	1
e-ISSN	14321939
Language	English
Publisher	Springer-Verlag
Publisher Date	2008-02-13
Publisher Place	Berlin, Heidelberg
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Alces alces Biomass consumption Canis lupus Global Positioning System Prey selection Plant Sciences Ecology
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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Data from: Diel movement patterns influence daily variation in wolf kill rates on moose (Dataset)

Problems with studying wolf predation on small prey in summer via global positioning system collars

Three approaches to estimate wolf Canis lupus predation rates on moose Alces alces populations

Data from: Moose movement rates are altered by wolf presence in two ecosystems (Dataset)

Encounter frequencies between GPS-collared wolves (Canis lupus) and moose (Alces alces) in a Scandinavian wolf territory

Environmental and anthropogenic features in relation to human hunting and wolf predation risk (Dataset)

Moose (Alces alces) calf survival rates in the presence of wolves (Canis lupus) in southeast Norway

The distribution of Echinococcus granulosus in moose: evidence for parasite-induced vulnerability to predation by wolves?

The causes and consequences of partial prey consumption by wolves preying on moose

Summer kill rates and predation pattern in a wolf–moose system: can we rely on winter estimates?

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Data from: Diel movement patterns influence daily variation in wolf kill rates on moose (Dataset)

Problems with studying wolf predation on small prey in summer via global positioning system collars

Three approaches to estimate wolf Canis lupus predation rates on moose Alces alces populations

Data from: Moose movement rates are altered by wolf presence in two ecosystems (Dataset)

Encounter frequencies between GPS-collared wolves (Canis lupus) and moose (Alces alces) in a Scandinavian wolf territory

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