Fitness correlates of arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) fur coloration in Norway

Poster 16 Fitness correlates of Arctic fox fur coloration in Norway Cecilia Di Bernardi1,2, Anne-Mathilde Thierry1, Nina E. Eide1, Luigi Boitani2,Arild Landa1 1Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Department of Terrestrial Ecology 2Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Biology and Biotechnology Charles Darwin Arctic foxes exist in two distinct colour morphs, white and blue, and the proportion of the two morphs varies geographically. Since 2007, both white and blue Arctic foxes have been released in Norway through the captive-breeding and reintroduction programme, as part of the national action plan to support threatened Arctic fox populations. The main objective of this study is to assess the contribution of the two colour morphs to the recovery of the Arctic fox population of Dovrefjell, central Norway. I will describe the current distribution of the two colour morphs and compare it to the proportion of released foxes in this mountain area where the Arctic fox was practically absent until (2007). I will compare the fitness of the two colour morphs according to the average snow cover, in looking at both survival and reproductive success. This will allow us to discuss the influence of released foxes on the proportion of white and blue morphs and estimate their contribute to the wild population. The results of this study may offer unique insights into the Arctic fox’s ability to adapt to changes in snow cover as the climate changes. Cecilia Di Bernardi, cecilia.dibernardi@gmail.com