Responses of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) to clear-cutting in east-central Newfoundland

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tony E. Chubbs ◽  
Lloyd B. Keith ◽  
Shane P. Mahoney ◽  
Michael J. McGrath
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
East Central ◽  
Clear Cutting ◽  
Summer Range ◽  
Selection Of

Movements, sex and age structure, and habitat selection of adult woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) were examined in relation to clear-cutting on summer range in east-central Newfoundland during 1987 – 1990. We obtained 2473 locations of 35 radio-collared caribou during at least two consecutive summers. Locations relative to clearcuts were determined for eight males and 27 females. Distances to existing clearcuts were compared with distances to those same geographic points prior to and following the summer in which clear-cutting occurred. Four males and 10 females maintained similar mean distances from clearcuts, 3 males and 12 females were farther away, and 2 females were closer. Three other females and one male were assumed to be too distant to be affected by clear-cutting. Of those found farther away from clearcuts, females were 2 – 3 times farther away than males. Among female caribou that maintained similar mean distances to clearcuts, habitat use during clear-cutting was similar to that before and afterwards. Females displaced by clear-cutting avoided open burns and hardwoods and selected mature black-spruce forest, whereas prior to cutting they used habitats in proportion to their availability. Sex and age ratios indicated that significantly fewer females and calves were present near clearcuts than elsewhere in the study area. Our results demonstrate that clear-cutting mature forests on summer range may affect the movements and distribution of woodland caribou.

Habitat selection and spatial relationships of black bears (Ursus americanus) with woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in northeastern Alberta

2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 267-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.D.M. Latham ◽  
M.C. Latham ◽  
M.S. Boyce
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Black Bears ◽  
Spatial Relationships ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Northeastern Alberta

Populations of woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) have declined across much of their range. Wolves ( Canis lupus L., 1758) are believed to be responsible for the majority of mortality in adult female caribou; however, we hypothesize that other predators such as black bears ( Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) may be important contributors to calf mortality. We assessed habitat selection by black bears and spatial relationships of caribou – black bears during the caribou calving season in northeastern Alberta, Canada. Black bears avoided bogs and fens, while selecting upland mixed woods and various industrial features. Conversely, caribou showed strong selection for bogs and fens relative to bears, supporting the hypothesis that caribou in the boreal forest attempt to minimize predation risk by selecting peatlands to avoid areas frequented by predators. However, habitat selection by individual black bears was highly variable and some bears selected habitats similar to those selected by caribou, i.e., bogs and fens. Bears that specialize on foraging in peatlands might be responsible for some of the predation on caribou calves. Because declines in caribou populations have resulted from a combination of high adult female and calf mortalities, management actions to conserve woodland caribou should consider the entire suite of potential predators rather than focusing only on wolves.

scholarly journals Seasonal resource selection of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) across a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan L. Hornseth ◽  
Robert S. Rempel
Keyword(s):  
Anthropogenic Disturbance ◽  
Resource Selection ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
The Other ◽  
Hudson Bay ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Selection Probability ◽  
Hudson Bay Lowlands ◽  
Selection Of

Resource selection functions are useful tools for land-use planning, especially for wide-ranging species with sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance. We evaluated five a priori hypotheses describing seasonal habitat selection of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) across three regions in northern Ontario. Two regions were Boreal Shield dominated, one area with relatively high anthropogenic disturbance (due to commercial forestry) and the other with relatively low anthropogenic disturbance. The final region was located on the wetland-dominated Hudson Bay Lowlands. Each region encompassed two caribou management ranges: one was used for model development and the other for model evaluation. We developed seasonal resource selection probability functions using seasonal utilization distributions and isopleths derived from GPS collar data (from 212 caribou) to identify high- and low-use areas. We explored selection across five spatial scales; selection patterns were strongest at the 10 000 ha scale. We found temporal and spatial variations in all environmental predictors across ranges and seasons, especially in the Hudson Bay Lowlands. Our results consistently supported the integrated global model (with common variables but range-specific coefficients) where caribou habitat use is related to minimizing apparent competition with moose (Alces alces (L., 1758)) while avoiding disturbed areas, and utilizing areas with adequate forage.

Scale-dependent microhabitat selection by threatened mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in cedar–hemlock forests during winter

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1082-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Serrouya ◽  
Bruce N. McLellan ◽  
John P. Flaa
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Microhabitat Selection ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Conservation Measures

Mountain caribou, an endangered ecotype of woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou Gmelin, 1788), live in late-successional coniferous forests where they depend largely on arboreal lichens as winter forage. While radio-telemetry has been used to understand caribou habitat selection patterns at broad scales among and within populations, here we use snow-trailing in old cedar–hemlock forests between 1992 and 2003 to study three finer scales of habitat selection: (1) forest stands used for foraging from available forest stands (among-stand selection), (2) foraging paths within selected stands relative to random paths within those same stands (within-stand selection), and (3) feeding items along foraging paths. Relative to stands that were available on the landscape, caribou selected stands with more windthrown trees and standing snags. Within stands, caribou selected paths that had more live trees, snags with branches and bark, and trees with larger diameters. All of these habitat attributes facilitate access to arboreal lichen. Of the potential forage items encountered along foraging paths, caribou preferred to feed on windthrown trees, lichen litterfall and falsebox ( Paxistima myrsinites (Pursh.) Raf.). Our results go beyond telemetry studies by revealing that not all old forests are of equal value to mountain caribou. Prioritization among old stands will help refine conservation measures, as will silvicultural systems that incorporate key habitat attributes to maintain winter habitat in low-elevation cedar–hemlock ecosystems.

Seeking sanctuary: the neonatal calving period among central mountain woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou)

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (12) ◽  
pp. 837-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.R. Nobert ◽  
S. Milligan ◽  
G.B. Stenhouse ◽  
L. Finnegan
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Seismic Line ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Movement Rates

Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) populations have declined throughout their range. With the goal of better understanding habitat selection and fidelity during the neonatal calving period (0–4 weeks), we applied a noninvasive method that estimates calving events and subsequent survival based on changes in movement rates among GPS-collared female caribou. We examined a long-term GPS-collar data set (1998–2014) collected from 81 adult female caribou in two central mountain herds in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Although we were unable to validate our results with aerial surveys and pregnancy tests, our estimates of parturition rates, survival rates, calving dates, and habitat selection were consistent with previous studies. We identified 83 calving sites. Female caribou selected calving sites and postparturition habitat on high-elevation ridgetops with gradual slopes and avoided anthropogenic linear features. Female caribou displayed low fidelity to interannual calving ranges with a mean distance of 8.7 km between calving ranges. Fidelity was lower in areas with high seismic-line density. Conservation of high-elevation habitat with limited anthropogenic disturbance is likely to provide the greatest benefit to central mountain caribou during the neonatal calving period, and represents a potential management strategy for population recovery efforts.

Fascioloides magna (Trematoda) in woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) of the George River herd, Labrador

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 475-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murray W. Lankester ◽  
Stu Luttich
Keyword(s):  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Liver Weight ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus Caribou ◽  
Woodland Caribou ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Fascioloides Magna ◽  
The Mean ◽  
George River ◽  
Liver Flukes

Fifty-eight percent of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) of the George River herd, Labrador, were infected with up to 110 giant American liver flukes (Fascioloides magna). The prevalence and intensity of infection did not differ between 2 sampling years or between sexes. Prevalence tended to increase with age while intensity did not differ among age groups. Liver weight increased with intensity of infection but condition, as measured by the mean depth of back fat, did not differ between infected and uninfected animals. Caribou must be considered a suitable host of F. magna since the growth and maturation of the parasite and lesions produced in Rangifer resemble those in deer and wapiti.

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