Low vulnerability of Arctic fox dens to climate change-related geohazards on Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada

Abstract

Climate change increases the risk of severe alterations to essential wildlife habitats. The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) uses dens as shelters against cold temperatures and predators. These dens, needed for successful reproduction, are generally dug into the active layer on top of permafrost and reused across multiple generations. We assessed the vulnerability of Arctic fox dens to the increasing frequency of geohazards (thaw settlement, mass movements, thermal erosion) that is arising from climate change. On Bylot Island (Nunavut, Canada) we developed, and calculated from field observations, a qualitative vulnerability index to geohazards for Arctic fox dens. Of the 106 dens studied, 14% were classified as highly vulnerable while 17% and 69% had a moderate and low vulnerability. Vulnerability was not related to the probability of use for reproduction. While climate change will likely impact Arctic fox reproductive dens, such impact is not a major threat to foxes of Bylot Island. Our research provides first insights into the climate-related geohazards potentially affecting Arctic fox ecology in the next decades. The developed method is flexible and could be applied to other locations or other species that complete their life cycle in permafrost regions.

Long-term satellite tracking reveals patterns of long-distance dispersal in juvenile and adult Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus)

“…We worked in the south plain of Bylot Island (73°N, 80°W), which is part of Sirmilik National Park, Nunavut, Canada. Between 100 and 110 fox dens were monitored annually in our 600 km 2 study area [ 56 ]. At this site, the Arctic fox is the main tundra predator [ 57 ] and its prey base consists mostly of brown ( Lemmus sibiricus ) and collared lemmings ( Dicrostonyx groenlandicus ), together with the greater snow goose ( Chen caerulescens atlantica ) [ 58 ].…”