HOME-RANGE SIZES AND ALTITUDE SELECTION FOR ARCTIC FOXES AND WOLVERINES IN AN ALPINE ENVIRONMENT

We compared the use of space and habitat by wolverines, Gulo gulo, and arctic foxes, Alopex lagopus, on the Snohetta plateau and surrounding mountains in south-central Norway. The arctic foxes used smaller annu al home ranges than the wolverines, whose home ranges were among the l argest yet reported for the species. In both species, resident males u sed larger home ranges than resident females. Arctic foxes used a much narrower, and higher, range of altitudes than wolverines, always abov e the tree line. Wolverines used lower altitudes in winter than in sum mer. Female wolverines showed pronounced seasonal peaks in their use o f the peripheral areas of their home ranges. Both species showed an ab ility to cross at least some transportation corridors (road, rail, hum an settlements) in the area. The habitat available at Snohetta appears suitable for arctic foxes and does not explain the failure of the pop ulation to recover during 67 years of protection. Because of predation on domestic sheep, wolverines will probably be confined to a series o f core conservation areas (CCA). At present densities (0.28-0.36 wolve rines per 100 km(2)), the CCA surrounding Snohetta can contain from 36 to 50 wolverines.