Biology & Ecology
Figure 1: Arctic with brown/grey/white coat in the summertime
The Arctic fox is one of the land-dwelling predators on the food chain and as such can be seen as a good indicator for the overall health of the Tundra biome (1). Versatile and adaptive, the Arctic fox is able to withstand frigid climates and coping with Arctic temperatures of -50°C (2). Arctic foxes predominantly make their homes in areas of Arctic Tundra, occurring in Canada, Greenland, Alaska, Iceland, Russia and Scandinavia (figure 2). One of the many coping mechanisms Arctic foxes have to the cold conditions include burrowing underground to avoid exposure (2). When seasons change the Arctic fox is one of the few among the Canidae family capable of altering the colouration of its coat, in response to seasonal changes of the environment (figure 1) (3). This allows the fox to blend in with its surroundings and ambush potential prey.