Another mention of meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) found in pellets of snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) in northern Ungava Peninsula, Canada.

Louis Arbez (1, 2) , Aurélien Royer (2, 3) , Jean-François Therrien (4) , Sophie Montuire (1, 2)

1 EPHE - École Pratique des Hautes Études
2 BGS - Biogéosciences [UMR 6282]
3 CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
4 Hawk Mountain Sanctuary [Pennsylvania]

The examination of raptor pellets can be used to evaluate Arctic biodiversity. We found the remains of Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and Ungava Collared Lemming (Dicrostonyx hudsonius) in pellets from Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) nesting in the northern part of the Ungava Peninsula. We differentiated the two species by visual identification and geometric morphometric analysis of molar shape. The results of our study combined with historical data suggest that most commonly used range maps of Meadow Vole should be revised.

Mots clés: Ungava peninsula; Microtus pennsylvanicus; Dicrostonyx hudsonius; morphological identification; Meadow Vole; Ungava Collared Lemming

Domaines: Biodiversité et Ecologie; Zoologie des vertébrés

Louis Arbez, Aurélien Royer, Jean-François Therrien, Sophie Montuire. Another mention of meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) found in pellets of snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) in northern Ungava Peninsula, Canada.. Canadian Field - Naturalist, 2021, 135 (4), pp.329-336. ⟨10.22621/cfn.v135i4.2719⟩. ⟨hal-03760725⟩