<p>Habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic development influence the level of isolation and security in and around protected habitats affecting wolf movements and the distribution and abundance of their prey. In light of recent concern about the ecology of animals in protected areas, I initiated a research project to investigate the molecular and foraging ecology of grey wolves in and around Prince Albert National Park (PANP), Saskatchewan. <p>Estimates of genetic diversity and population structure can be used as surrogates to detect effects of habitat degradation on wolves. Genetic diversity was high in these populations relative to other North American wolf populations. My results suggest that wolves in central Saskatchewan form a panmictic population, however there is some evidence showing partial isolation of one group of wolves within PANP. I speculate that the level of human activity such as road networks, hunting, and trapping act as dispersal impediments to this isolated group. Further, the genetic homogenization, indicating high population turnover, of wolf groups that use the periphery and adjacent areas of PANP may also contribute to the observed genetic subdivision. The partially isolated NW group, characterized by slightly lower diversity indices, low migration rates, and higher levels of allele fixation, indicated this group was a more stable social unit comprised of more related individuals.</p><p>Knowledge of wolf food habits and how they change over time is a fundamental component to understanding wolf ecology. Using scat analysis I evaluated wolf foraging ecology by calculating indices of occurrence/faeces (OF) and percent prey biomass contribution: white tailed deer contributed 43% and 33% respectively to wolf diet; elk (33%, 50%), moose (7%, 14%), beaver (5%, 2%), and snowshoe hare (2%, <1%). I found no evidence of livestock depredation nor did wolves prey on bison or caribou. There were no differences in OF indices between years. Prey selectivity was apparent in both years with wolves selecting elk and avoiding beaver. A diversity of ungulate prey are readily available to wolves in this system; however, scat analysis and tests for prey selection indicate a preference for elk. I presume this is a choice made to balance risk with profitability of food items in concordance with optimal foraging theory.</p><p>I examined trophic relationships between the grey wolf and 18 mammalian species from the boreal forest of central Saskatchewan, Canada, using ä13C and ä15N stable isotope values measured in hair samples. Variance in isotope values for wolves and other carnivores was investigated as a proxy for dietary variation. IsoSource, an isotopic source partitioning model, quantified the relative proportions of 5 most likely prey items in the diets of wolves.</p><p>I compared these results with investigations of faecal contents using percent biomass contributions of prey items in wolf diet. I found no difference between percent biomass measures and mean percent contributions derived from IsoSource. Despite social foraging, my results indicate highly variable diets among individual wolves and I discuss this in terms of boreal wolf ecology.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:usask.ca:etd-12202004-141051 |
| Date | 20 December 2004 |
| Creators | Urton, Erin Jaime Moira |
| Contributors | Shury, Todd, Paquet, Paul, Messier, François, Hobson, Keith A., Gillott, Cedric |
| Publisher | University of Saskatchewan |
| Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-12202004-141051/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University of Saskatchewan or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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