Behavioral adaptations of Arctic fox, Vulpes lagopus in response to climate change

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ecology Department, Faculty of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University, Astana, Kazakhstan

2 UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Development, Faculty of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

3 UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development, Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

4 Department of History, Politics and International Relations, Webster University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

5 Associate Professor Candidate of Medical Sciences Department of Operative Surgery and Topographic Anatomy Samarkand State Medical University, Uzbekistan

6 Professor, Department of Pharmaceuticals and Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Alfraganus University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan & Western Caspian University, Scientific researcher, Baku, Azerbaijan

7 Ph.D., Associate Professor of Namangan State University, Uzbekistan

8 Navoi State University of Mining and Technologies, Navoi, Uzbekistan

9 PhD, Department of Pathological Physiology, Associate Professor, Samarkand State Medical University, Uzbekistan

10 teacher of the Department of Fruits and Vegetables At the Urganch State University, Uzbekistan

11 Samarkand State University named after Sharof Rashidov, University Boulevard, 15, Samarkand, 703004, Uzbekistan

12 Kokand State Pedagogical Institute 150700 Kokand, Fergana region, Uzbekistan

13 Teacher of the Department of Psychology. Uzbekistan-Finland Pedagogical Institute. Samarkand

10.22124/cjes.2024.8218

Abstract

Climate change is rapidly altering Arctic ecosystems, forcing native species to adapt. This study investigated the behavioral adaptations of Arctic foxes, Vulpes lagopus in response to climate change, focusing on changes in hunting patterns, den site selection, and social interactions. Over three years (2021-2023) in northern Alaska, we employed GPS tracking of 60 foxes, 100 remote camera traps, and direct field observations. We analyzed den site characteristics, prey availability, and environmental data. Generalized linear mixed models assessed relationships between environmental variables and fox behaviors. Significant shifts in behavior were observed: Diurnal foraging activity increased by 30.1%; den sites at elevations above 100m increased by 13%; cooperative hunting behaviors, particularly among non-kin groups, rose by 15.2%. Diet composition changed markedly, with lemming consumption decreasing from 62.3% to 33.7%, offset by increases in alternative prey. Hunting success rates for cooperative strategies improved, especially for marine prey (13.7% increase). Arctic foxes demonstrated remarkable behavioral plasticity in response to climate change, rapidly altering their hunting patterns, den site preferences, and social dynamics. While these adaptations suggest resilience, their long-term implications for Arctic fox populations and tundra ecosystems remain uncertain, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and conservation efforts.

Keywords

References

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Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume 22, Issue 5
Special Issue: Environmental Studies in the Caspian Littoral States, Guest Editors: Prof. Farhad Mashayekhi & Prof. Zivar Salehi
December 2024
Pages 1011-1019

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