Niche
Fig 1: The lynx in search of food
The Canadian Lynx is a mammel and a heterotroph, most specifically a carnivore. The Canada Lynx is most often a predator, and thus is often the top consumer. Its winter diet consists 90%-95% of snowshoe hares. A hungry lynx will often consume one hare per day, in times of a hare shortage, the lynx will ration the hare for several days. That is why the lynx heavily depends on the snowshoe hare as it is it's main source for food. The lynx also consumes small mammels (rodents, grouse), birds and in rare cases, a lynx can hunt and consume large animals such as carribou. The diet of the Canada lynx in southern areas (United States) are more varied, but the populations are less dense and less productive.
That is why the lynx is an important role in the food chain. The Canada Lynx ensures the snowshoe hare population does not exceed it's biotic potential and indirectly makes sure the producers (grass, other plants) do not have a shortage (from over consumption due to excessive snowshoe hares). The lynx is also prey to animals such as cougars, wolves and coyotes. However, the lynx often competes with cougars for food and shelter. The Great Horned Owl also competes with the lynx. The lynx captures and kills the prey but the owl then swoops down and takes the prey from the lynx. The biggest threat to their species is humans. Trappers like their beautiful fur and kill the animals to obtain this fur.
That is why the lynx is an important role in the food chain. The Canada Lynx ensures the snowshoe hare population does not exceed it's biotic potential and indirectly makes sure the producers (grass, other plants) do not have a shortage (from over consumption due to excessive snowshoe hares). The lynx is also prey to animals such as cougars, wolves and coyotes. However, the lynx often competes with cougars for food and shelter. The Great Horned Owl also competes with the lynx. The lynx captures and kills the prey but the owl then swoops down and takes the prey from the lynx. The biggest threat to their species is humans. Trappers like their beautiful fur and kill the animals to obtain this fur.
The Canada Lynx and Snowshoe Hare The Canada Lynx and snowshoe hare evolved together, both are suited for cold weather and snowy conditions. The lynx kills an average of 1 hare every 1-2 days. (See Fig 2), as you can see the hare consumes the grass and the lynx then consumes the hare. The tranfer of carbon occurs this way. The lynx is the top and secondary consumer.
(See Fig 3), the graph shows that the population of the lynx has a correlation with the population of the hare. There relationship is a common predator-prey pattern. As the snowshoe hare population increases, the lynx population also increases. When it decreases, the lynx also decreases. There is a small time lag (1 year) because it takes time for the lynx to be affected. When the snowshoe hare population is at a high, factors such as food shortage (overgrazing leading to starvation) and the high amount of predators brings it back down. The lynx, with the main source of food declining, also declines (from starvation, lack of offspring). With the lack of predators, the snowshoe hare population begins to increase. This pattern is continous. Generally, the population increases/decreases regulary every 9-10 years related to population of prey. |
The Canadian Lynx © / Site Author: Sabrina.M (The Professer) ® / Meadowvale Secondary School / Published December 13 2011 / Last updated December 19 2011