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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Simulating Impacts of Ice Storms on Forest Ecosystems
Published on: June 30, 2020
Snow conditions may create an invisible barrier for lynx
Nils Chr Stenseth1, Amir Shabbar, Kung-Sik Chan
1Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1050 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway. n.c.stenseth@bio.uio.no
Abstract:
The dynamics of Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis) abundance are geographically structured according to the influence of large-scale climatic regimes. Here we demonstrate that this structuring matches zones of differential snow conditions, in particular surface hardness, as determined by the frequency of winter warm spells. Through a modified functional response curve, we show that various features of the snow may influence lynx interaction with its main prey species, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). This study highlights the importance of snow, and exemplifies how large-scale climatic fluctuations can mechanistically influence population biological patterns.
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