Space use and territoriality of wolverines () in northern Scandinavia

Jens Persson (1) , Per Wedholm (2) , Peter Segerström (1)

1 Grimsö Wildlife Research Station
2 Örebro County Administrative Board

Space use and territoriality influence population structure and dynamics and is therefore an important aspect in understanding the ecology of animals. We investigated spatial and temporal space use of wolverines () in northern Scandinavia. We estimated home ranges of 24 radio-marked individuals (17 females and seven males). Male home ranges (mean 669 km; SE = 211) were significantly larger than female home ranges (mean 170 km; Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney;  = 0.001) and encompassed or included parts of up to five different females. Home range sizes of reproducing (170 km; SE = 51) and barren (171 km; SE = 63) adult females did not differ. Wolverines in Scandinavia exhibit intrasexual territoriality, with male home ranges totally exclusive and female home ranges either exclusive or with little home range overlap. Overlap between wolverine territories is most likely explained by intrasexual tolerance and kinship.

Mots clés: Carnivore; Home range; Mustelid; Overlap; Social organisation

Jens Persson, Per Wedholm, Peter Segerström. Space use and territoriality of wolverines () in northern Scandinavia. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2009, 56 (1), pp.49-57. ⟨10.1007/s10344-009-0290-3⟩. ⟨hal-00535233⟩