The following is a near complete list of native land mammals found in the East Atlantic Arctic, as well as examples of introduced, invasive, or human-dependent land mammals of the East Atlantic Arctic. They are classified by order and family, which are genetic groups that highlight a common ancestor. Family describes a closer genetic closeness than order. Sizes are given from nose to tail, and males are usually larger than females.
All size information is taken from Richard Sale's Complete guide to Arctic Wildlife.
HB: Head and body length
T: Tail length
SH: Shoulder height
W: Weight
All size information is taken from Richard Sale's Complete guide to Arctic Wildlife.
HB: Head and body length
T: Tail length
SH: Shoulder height
W: Weight
- Arctic land mammals are very sensitive to climate change, because changes in temperature can change their habitat in ways that make it more difficult for them to find food. For example, more rain and warmer temperatures in winter can mean that there is more ice on the ground compared to snow. Reindeer and muskox dig in the snow to access vegetation, so this can prevent them from finding food. Reduced snow also makes it harder for lemmings to reproduce, as they reproduce in winter. Lemmings are an important prey in their range, so this can have an impact on predators as well.
- Some land mammals that were not previously adapted to the high arctic are now able to move to more northern areas because of changes in habitat. For example, warmer climates are causing more shrubs and trees to grow in what was previously tundra, making better habitats for mammals like the moose.
- The relationship between different species is changing. For example, the red fox may be able to take over some areas that were previously the territory of arctic foxes. Red foxes have been found to take over arctic fox dens, and even to prey on arctic foxes.
- Human introduction of non-native mammals is also changing mammal distribution, such as in the case of the introduction of the American mink in Eurasia.
- Research which mammals are present where you live
- Are they invasive?
- Were they introduced by people or are they native?
- What do they eat?
- What kind of habitat do they need?
- How is climate change affecting them in the arctic?
- When you see a wild mammal, note down
- The species
- The number of individuals
- The date
- The time
- The weather
- Is there a lot of wind?
- Is it raining? Snowing?
- What is the temperature?
- How much cloud cover is there in percentage, approximately? (0% = no clouds, 100% = sky is entirely covered)
- The location using an app on your phone
- Any comments, like if you could tell the sex, if it was young, injured, etc...
Pictures
- "Arctic Fox Glowing in the Sun" by Eric Kilby is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
- "Red Squirrel Collecting Moss" by volesandfriends is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
References
- Reid, D. G., Berteaux, D., & Laidre, K. L. (2013). Mammals. In Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (pp. 78–141). https://www.caff.is/assessment-series/arctic-biodiversity-assessment/208-arctic-biodiversity-assessment-2013-chapter-3-mammals