Demography of lemmings in response to changing snow conditions in the High Arctic.

ABSTRACT: Changing snow conditions due to climate warming may negatively affect the northern fauna that depend on it for their winter survival. To avoid cold temperatures, Arctic lemmings seek refuge in areas with deep snowpack where they build nests in which they can reproduce if conditions are favorable. The presence of a soft depth hoar layer ensures efficient digging and facilitates lemming movement in the snow, but such favorable conditions are highly dependent on weather conditions at the beginning of winter. Using a 17-year time series, we assessed the impact of snow conditions and specific weather events on lemming winter reproduction and population growth on Bylot Island in the Canadian High Arctic, a site characterized by a cold and dry Arctic climate. We focused on snow onset date, snow d

SUBMITTER: Poirier M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12457247 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature