Caribou and reindeer migrations in the changing Arctic

Joly, Kyle; Gunn, Anne; Côté, Steeve D.; Panzacchi, Manuela; Adamczewski, Jan; Suitor, Michael J.; Gurarie, Eliezer

doi:10.1515/ami-2020-0110

Cited by 13 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 116 publications

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“…Consequences related to phenological mismatch for caribou have been debated (Gustine et al, 2017; Kerby & Post, 2013; Mallory et al, 2020; Post et al, 2008). As caribou calving in the Arctic takes place in advance of green‐up, we concur with Joly, Gunn, et al (2021) that mismatch impacts will be subtle at first and that monitoring parturition timing will remain an important task going forward.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Continental synchrony and local responses: Climatic effects on spatiotemporal patterns of calving in a social ungulate

et al. 2023

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Warming temperatures and advancing spring are affecting annual snow and ice cycles, as well as plant phenology, across the Arctic and boreal regions. These changes may be linked to observed population declines in wildlife, including barren‐ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus), a key species of Arctic environments. We quantified how barren‐ground caribou, characteristically both gregarious and migratory, synchronize births in time and aggregate births in space and investigated how these tactics are influenced by variable weather conditions. We analyzed movement patterns to infer calving dates for 747 collared female caribou from seven herds across northern North America, totaling 1255 calving events over a 15‐year period. By relating these events to local weather conditions during the 1‐year period preceding calving, we examined how weather influenced calving timing and the ability of caribou to reach their central calving area. We documented continental‐scale synchrony in calving, but synchrony was greatest within an individual herd for a given year. Weather conditions before and during gestation had contrasting effects on the timing and location of calving. Notably, a combination of unfavorable weather conditions during winter and spring, including the pre‐calving migration, resulted in a late arrival on the calving area or a failure to reach the greater calving area in time for calving. Though local weather conditions influenced calving timing differently among herds, warm temperatures and low wind speed, which are associated with soft, deep snow, during the spring and pre‐calving migration, generally affected the ability of female caribou to reach central calving areas in time to give birth. Delayed calving may have potential indirect consequences, including reduced calf survival. Overall, we detected considerable variability across years and across herds, but no significant trend for earlier calving by caribou, even as broad indicators of spring and snow phenology trend earlier. Our results emphasize the importance of monitoring the timing and location of calving, and to examine how weather during summer and winter are affecting calving and subsequent reproductive success.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Continental synchrony and local responses: Climatic effects on spatiotemporal patterns of calving in a social ungulate

et al. 2023

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“…Due to distinct seasonal ranges, migratory caribou grow antlers in different areas from where they are shed (Miller et al, 2021). This is true for both male and female caribou, which grow and shed antlers according to different schedules (Espmark, 1971;Bergerud, 1976;Bubenik et al, 1997) a near constant state of movement, which is broadly true for individuals in migratory herds (Fancy et al, 1989;Griffith et al, 2002;Joly et al, 2021a). An exception to this comes immediately following the birth of their calves (generally around June 1 for the PCH; Griffith et al, 2002), after which daily movement rates of female caribou are dramatically reduced.…”

Section: Inefficient Recycling Of Antlers Contributes To a Redistribu...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These include calving in areas with reduced predator pressure, abundant early-greening spring vegetation, and that are in close proximity to habitats used for insect avoidance later in the spring/summer (Griffith et al, 2002;Russell and Gunn, 2019). Thus, maintaining access to spring calving grounds and associated migration routes are top management and conservation priorities that are generally considered critical for maintaining herd viability (Griffith et al, 2002;Gunn et al, 2009;Russell and Gunn, 2019;Joly et al, 2021a). However, migratory patterns of caribou and their seasonal landscape use are sensitive to a variety of factors including annual weather patterns, larger-scale shifts in climate, changes in herd size, development of roads and industrial infrastructure, and a variety of other ecological and anthropogenic influences (Skoog, 1968;Russell et al, 1993;Cameron et al, 2005Cameron et al, , 2020Hinkes et al, 2005;Vistnes and Nellemann, 2008;Vors and Boyce, 2009;Joly et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shed female caribou antlers extend records of calving activity on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by millennia

Miller

Wald²,

Druckenmiller³

2023

Front. Ecol. Evol.

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Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) have among the longest annual migrations of any terrestrial mammal as they move from winter ranges to spring calving grounds. Biomonitoring records indicate broad consistencies in calving geography across the last several decades, but how long have herds used particular calving grounds? Furthermore, how representative are modern patterns of calving geography to periods that pre-date recent climatic perturbations and increased anthropogenic stresses? While modern ecological datasets are not long enough to address these questions, bones from past generations of caribou lying on the tundra provide unique opportunities to study historical calving geography. This is possible because female caribou shed their antlers within days of giving birth, releasing a skeletal indicator of calving. Today, the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Alaska) is a key calving ground for the Porcupine Caribou Herd (PCH). To test the duration across which caribou have used this area as a calving ground, we radiocarbon dated three highly weathered female antlers collected from tundra surfaces on the Coastal Plain. Calibrated radiocarbon dates indicate that these antlers were shed between ~1,600 and more than 3,000 calendar years ago. The antiquity of these shed antlers provides the first physical evidence of calving activity on the PCH calving grounds from previous millennia, substantiating the long ecological legacy of the Coastal Plain as a caribou calving ground. Comparisons to published lake core records also reveal that dates of two of the antlers correspond to periods with average summer temperatures that were warmer than has been typical during the last several decades of biomonitoring. This finding expands the range of climatic settings in which caribou are known to use the current PCH calving grounds and suggests that the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge may remain an important caribou calving ground during at least portions of predicted future warming. Discarded skeletal materials provide opportunities to assess the historical states of living populations, including aspects of reproductive biology and migration. Particularly in high-latitude settings, these insights can extend across millennia and offer rare glimpses into the past that can inform current and future management policies.

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“…Here, we focus on the impact of hydropower development in Norway on a terrestrial and migratory species of high conservation value and societal interest: wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus tarandus ). The development of infrastructure following the industrial revolution caused significant habitat loss and fragmentation for Rangifer, both in Norway (Vistnes and Nellemann 2008 ; Panzacchi et al 2013a , b ; Panzacchi et al 2015 , 2016 ; Beyer et al 2016 ; Gundersen et al 2019 ; van Moorter et al 2020 ) and worldwide (Hebblewhite 2017 ; Joly et al 2021 ; Skarin et al 2015 ). Several Norwegian valleys have been transformed into hydropower reservoirs, submerging calving areas and migration routes (e.g., Panzacchi et al 2013a , b ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New indicator of habitat functionality reveals high risk of underestimating trade-offs among sustainable development goals: The case of wild reindeer and hydropower

Dorber

Panzacchi

Strand

et al. 2023

Ambio

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Although biodiversity is crucial for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), following the current trajectory, we risk failing SDG 15. Using a new indicator quantifying the loss of functional habitat (habitat that is simultaneously suitable and well-connected), we show that the real impact of renewable energy is far larger than previously assumed. Specifically, we estimate that the construction of hydropower reservoirs in south Norway caused a loss of ca. 222 km2 of functional habitat for wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)—which is far larger than assumed based on land inundation indices (110 km2). Fully mitigating these impacts is challenging: scenario analyses reveal that the measures proposed by societal actors would yield only a fraction of the habitat lost (2–12 km2) and could cause trade-off risks with other SDGs. Using indices of functional connectivity is crucial for environmental impact assessments, as entire ecological networks for several species can be affected far beyond the reservoirs.

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Caribou and reindeer migrations in the changing Arctic

Cited by 13 publications

References 116 publications

Continental synchrony and local responses: Climatic effects on spatiotemporal patterns of calving in a social ungulate

Continental synchrony and local responses: Climatic effects on spatiotemporal patterns of calving in a social ungulate

Shed female caribou antlers extend records of calving activity on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by millennia

New indicator of habitat functionality reveals high risk of underestimating trade-offs among sustainable development goals: The case of wild reindeer and hydropower

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