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Ungulate migration, plant phenology, and large carnivores: The times they are a‐changin'
Author(s) -
Mysterud Atle
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/12-0505.1
Subject(s) - ungulate , phenology , ecology , citation , geography , biology , library science , computer science , habitat
Those of us living in a strongly seasonal environment at northern latitudes know how to appreciate longer days and a warming sun after months of winter cold. We can only barely grasp how an ungulate must feel when the spring flush of new green, protein-rich grass emerges after months of starvation and misery. It is no wonder that many ungulates wish to prolong this period of access to fresh spring vegetation by migrating. How will migratory animals cope with changes in plant dynamics due to climate change? What are the consequences of expanding large-carnivore populations in these systems? Why do some individuals remain stationary in nearly all populations of migratory animals? The study by Middleton et al. (2013) shed light on all these issues, without giving a definite answer to the relative role of each process.