Space use by Eurasian lynx in relation to reindeer migration

Abstract

Semi-domesticated reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus (L., 1758)) is the primary prey of Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx (L., 1758)) in northern Sweden. The reindeer migrate between winter range in the forest and summer range in the mountains, a distance of 100–150 km. We studied space use by Eurasian lynx in relation to seasonal fluctuations of their primary prey in northern Sweden. The seasonal activity range sizes for males and single females were not significantly different between the three periods of the year (December–April, May–July, and August–November). The activity range size for family groups (i.e., female with kittens) was significantly smaller during summer than during autumn and winter. The mean distance between the centre of an individual lynx's activity range in one season to the centre of the activity range in the season immediately following did not differ significantly between seasons; mean distances were 6.6 km for males, 7.3 km for single females, and 8.4 km for family groups. This is about one order of magnitude shorter than the distance between summer and winter ranges for reindeer (100–150 km). The grand mean overlap between a lynx's activity range in one season and the next season was more than 40%. Hence, Eurasian lynx in northern Sweden do not appear to move with the migrating semi-domesticated reindeer.