Population cycles in Lynx & its
prey (Elton 1925)
Changes
in the abundance of Lynx (Lynx canadensis) and various prey
species such as Snowshoe Hare (Lepus
americana) are documented in records of the
numbers of pelts
brought
into the Hudson Bay Company. Note that the Lynx cycle peaks slightly
later
than the hare cycle. This suggests a hypothesis that an abundance of
hares
feeds an increase in the number of lynx, which in turn depresses the
number
of hare and so on. [Unfortunately, hares also cycle in the absence of
lynx].
The original data set was compiled by Charles Elton, and is notable as one of the longest time series in ecology.
Text material © 2005 by Steven M. Carr