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1 August 2013 Does Grey Wolf Presence Affect Habitat Selection of Wolverines?
Anni Koskela, Salla Kaartinen, Jouni Aspi, Ilpo Kojola, Pekka Helle, Seppo Rytkönen
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Abstract

Scavengers can improve their foraging possibilities by associating with predators that provide food. Therefore, the presence of grey wolves (Canis lupus) may increase scavenging opportunities for wolverines (Gulo gulo). There have been many observations of wolverines utilizing wolf-killed moose (Alces alces), but quantitative information is lacking. We analysed wolverine and wolf habitat selection in eastern Finland, where the two species are sympatric. Generalized linear mixed-effect models were constructed to explain the location of wolverines in terms of their distance from settlements, the forest type and the presence of wolves. We found that wolverines favoured wolf presence, coniferous forests, mixed forests and mires; and avoided settlements, young forests and deciduous forests. These findings improve our understanding of wolverine habitat selection by demonstrating the importance of remote forest areas, as well as the presence of other carnivore species, to wolverines in boreal forests in Finland.

© Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board 2013
Anni Koskela, Salla Kaartinen, Jouni Aspi, Ilpo Kojola, Pekka Helle, and Seppo Rytkönen "Does Grey Wolf Presence Affect Habitat Selection of Wolverines?," Annales Zoologici Fennici 50(4), 216-224, (1 August 2013). https://doi.org/10.5735/085.050.0405
Received: 27 April 2012; Accepted: 1 March 2013; Published: 1 August 2013
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