Trophic Dynamics of the Boreal Forests of the Kluane Region

Predator-driven population cycles, not food availability or habitat quality, primarily regulate the 9–10-year snowshoe hare cycle in Kluane’s boreal forests. This was revealed through decades of large-scale experiments manipulating predator pressure, food supplies, and soil nutrients at the Kluane Lake Research Station since 1973. Predators not only limit hare numbers but also induce stress in females, reducing reproductive potential during population declines. While some species, like Arctic ground squirrels, align with the hare cycle, others—such as red squirrels (linked to white spruce seed masting) and deer mice (showing erratic fluctuations)—respond differently. Small rodents exhibit distinct 3–4-year cycles tied to food and social behavior. Climate change, including warming and reduced hare browsing, has also altered shrub abundance. The study underscores the complexity of trophic interactions in boreal ecosystems, highlighting the need for continued monitoring to predict future changes under shifting climates.

Krebs, C. J., Boonstra, R., Boutin, S., Sinclair, A. R. E., Smith, J. N. M., Gilbert, B. S., Martin, K., O’Donoghue, M., & Turkington, R. (2014). Trophic Dynamics of the Boreal Forests of the Kluane Region. Arctic, 67(5), 71. https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic4350