Population Cycles in Arctic Lemmings: Winter Reproduction and Predation by Weasels

Winter nests of brown and collared lemmings were examined following melt-off in 1969 through 1973 for evidence of predation by weasels during the preceding winter. In the winter of 1968-69 heavy weasel predation (34.7% of nests examined) contributed to the decline of a breeding lemming population. Weasel and bird predation in summer 1969 then drove the lemmings to a very low density. Weasel predation remained low for the duration of the study. Lemming population changes were related to the intensity of summer and, especially, winter reproduction. Reproduction was impaired in winters of unusually shallow snow cover and cold subnivean conditions. We conclude that subnivean conditions, as they affect winter reproduction, influence the timing of the rise to a population peak, and thus influence the period of the cycle. Pred

• Publication year

  1974

• Venue

  Arctic and Alpine Research

• Publication date

  1974-02-01

• Fields of study

  Biology, Environmental Science

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.2307/1550365
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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