Cougar predation on bighorn sheep in southwestern Alberta during winter

被引:80
|
作者
Ross, PI [1 ]
Jalkotzy, MG [1 ]
FestaBianchet, M [1 ]
机构
[1] ARC WILDLIFE SERV LTD,CALGARY,AB T3E 2W2,CANADA
来源
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE | 1997年 / 75卷 / 05期
关键词
D O I
10.1139/z97-098
中图分类号
Q95 [动物学];
学科分类号
071002 ;
摘要
Predation by cougars (Puma concolor) upon bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) was studied in southwestern Alberta during winters from 1985 - 1986 to 1993 - 1994. We examined 320 kills and found that ungulates provided >99% of the biomass consumed by cougars in November-April. All ungulate species found within the study area were taken by cougars. Predation on bighorn sheep varied greatly from year to year; cougars were known to kill 0-13% of the November sheep population, and 0-57% of over-winter sheep mortality consisted of known cougar kills. Of 29 bighorns killed by cougars, 13 were lambs. The remainder ranged in age from 1 to 17 years and included 9 ewes and 7 rams. Cougar predation on bighorn sheep appears to be largely an individual, learned behaviour; most cougars rarely killed sheep, but some preyed heavily upon them. One female killed 9% of the population and 26% of the lambs over a single winter. For mountain-dwelling ungulates that occur in small groups, the presence of one or a few individual specialist predators may strongly and unpredictably influence demography and behaviour.
引用
收藏
页码:771 / 775
页数:5
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