Co-occurrence of reintroduced and resident ungulates on a shared winter range in northwestern Canada

Jung, Thomas S.; Hegel, Troy; Stotyn, Shannon A.; Czetwertynski, Sophie M.

doi:10.1080/11956860.2015.1047133

Cited by 19 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…For competition between species to occur, species must also overlap in habitat use and forage resources must be limited (de Boer and Prins ). Some data on habitat overlap exist for our study area and it appears that bison, moose, caribou, and sheep, have low habitat overlap values (Jung et al , S. M. Czetwertynski, Yukon Department of Environment, unpublished data). Importantly, forage resources for most ungulate species are likely not limited in our study area.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Similar estimates of moose were not available for the study area; however, a decade earlier Hayes et al () estimated densities of moose in the Aishihik region at 173 per 1,000 km 2 during an era of wolf ( Canis lupus ) control. Bison and moose occurred throughout the study area, in both alpine and lowland habitats and occasionally moved between elevations; whereas, caribou and sheep were patchily distributed throughout the study area (Jung et al ), and found almost exclusively in alpine habitats (≥1,200 m ASL) with little movement between elevations within seasons. Horses, deer, and elk were restricted to the southern third of the study area and occurred in lowland habitats only (<1,200 m ASL).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 95%

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Dietary overlap and potential competition in a dynamic ungulate community in Northwestern Canada

2015

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The potential for interspecific competition for food resources is a key consideration when newly introduced ungulates occupy a shared range with resident native species. Management plans in Yukon, Canada, for reintroduced bison (Bison bison) and introduced elk (Cervus canadensis) called for an assessment of competition for food resources between these species and resident populations of caribou (Rangifer tarandus), thinhorn sheep (Ovis dalli), and moose (Alces americanus). To assess potential competition among ungulates, we examined dietary overlap of 7 ungulate species in southwestern Yukon, Canada. We compared diet composition at the forage class level and composite diet indices (diversity, evenness, and niche breadth) among species found at 2 elevation classes (high [!1,200 m ASL] and low [<1,200 m ASL]) during summer and winter, using data derived from microhistological analyses of feces. Composite indices and percent of key forage classes in diets differed among ungulates during summer and winter and at both high and low elevations. Potential dietary overlap for most species pairs was low to moderate (0.07-0.60). However, for bison and thinhorn sheep at high elevations, and bison and semi-feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) at low elevations, it was high (0.82-0.97) during both summer and winter, indicating potential for food competition. Dietary overlap between species appeared to be based primarily on morphophysiological classification (i.e., browser-intermediate-grazer), rather than body size. Bison, horses, and sheep were all grazers. Intermediate species, such as introduced elk, had only moderate dietary overlap with several species. We concluded that the potential for competition for food resources based on dietary overlap between bison and sheep and bison and horses may be high in our study area, depending on forage availability, but for all other species pairs in our study area the potential for forage competition is low to moderate. Ó 2015 The Wildlife Society.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 95%

Dietary overlap and potential competition in a dynamic ungulate community in Northwestern Canada

2015

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“…In 2011, the population was estimated at 1,151 (90% CI = 998–1,355) and was growing during the study period (Hegel et al ). In addition to being subject to natural ecological and evolutionary processes such as competition (Jung et al , ) and natural predation (Jung ), they were hunted by humans during winter.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Short‐term effect of helicopter‐based capture on movements of a social ungulate

et al. 2019

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Capture and handling of wildlife is often an important component of studies where detailed demographic, behavioral, physiological, or health data are required. Yet, capturing and handling wildlife is sometimes controversial and lacking public support because of concern about effects on individuals. Investigating potential effects of capturing wildlife is also important to inform data-censoring protocols when using information obtained from captured animals. We investigated the short-term effect of helicopter-based capture and handling on movements of free-ranging bison (Bison bison) that were chemically immobilized in Yukon, Canada. We examined daily movement rates, home range size, and displacement of global positioning system-collared individuals immediately after capture and for 20 days thereafter. Our results indicate that there is a minimal short-term effect of helicopter-based capture on bison movements. Significant differences from apparent pre-capture movement behavior were observed only within 24 hours after capture. We observed variation among individuals, however, with some animals taking up to 10 days to return to apparent pre-capture movement rates, whereas others had no measurable response to capture. Despite individual variation, >80% of individuals had returned to apparent pre-capture movement behavior within the first 5 days after capture. Furthermore, sex-based effects were evident: females increased their daily movement rates, home range size, and displacement after capture, whereas males had either no effect or decreased movement rates. Our results suggest that movement rates are altered for only a short period after capture and, therefore, should not have severe negative effects on bison using our protocols. Accordingly, researchers should censor the first 10 days after capture from their analyses to avoid using biased information. Our study should also help inform public discourse regarding capturing and handling wildlife for research or management purposes. Ó

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“…Woodland caribou have a patchy distribution in the region, and occur at low densities (Hegel et al 2013;Jung et al 2015b). The Kluane herd at the north end of Kluane Lake is small (303 individuals, estimated in 2015) and is reported as stable (Yukon Department of Environment, unpublished data), and given the small number of animals, it appears to be a minor component of the ecosystem.…”

Section: Small Herbivoresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At present, and likely carrying forward into the foreseeable future, bison and elk populations in the boreal forest will remain relatively small and local, and efforts by local wildlife management agencies are being taken to control range expansion for bison (Shury et al 2015;Jung 2017). Moreover, in the case of bison, they and other resident ungulates co-occurred in the boreal forest for thousands of years and have likely co-evolved to partition resources on a shared landscape, reducing the potential for interspecific competition (Jung et al 2015b).…”

Section: Rewildingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of rewilding, species introductions and climate change on the structure and function of the Yukon boreal forest ecosystem

Boonstra

Boutin

Jung

et al. 2018

Integrative Zoology

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Community and ecosystem changes are happening in the pristine boreal forest ecosystem of the Yukon for 2 reasons. First, climate change is affecting the abiotic environment (temperature, rainfall and growing season) and driving changes in plant productivity and predator–prey interactions. Second, simultaneously change is occurring because of mammal species reintroductions and rewilding. The key ecological question is the impact these faunal changes will have on trophic dynamics. Primary productivity in the boreal forest is increasing because of climatic warming, but plant species composition is unlikely to change significantly during the next 50–100 years. The 9–10‐year population cycle of snowshoe hares will persist but could be reduced in amplitude if winter weather increases predator hunting efficiency. Small rodents have increased in abundance because of increased vegetation growth. Arctic ground squirrels have disappeared from the forest because of increased predator hunting efficiency associated with shrub growth. Reintroductions have occurred for 2 reasons: human reintroductions of large ungulates and natural recolonization of mammals and birds extending their geographic ranges. The deliberate rewilding of wood bison (Bison bison) and elk (Cervus canadensis) has changed the trophic structure of this boreal ecosystem very little. The natural range expansion of mountain lions (Puma concolor), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and American marten (Martes americana) should have few ecosystem effects. Understanding potential changes will require long‐term monitoring studies and experiments on a scale we rarely deem possible. Ecosystems affected by climate change, species reintroductions and human alteration of habitats cannot remain stable and changes will be critically dependent on food web interactions.

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Co-occurrence of reintroduced and resident ungulates on a shared winter range in northwestern Canada

Cited by 19 publications

References 39 publications

Dietary overlap and potential competition in a dynamic ungulate community in Northwestern Canada

Dietary overlap and potential competition in a dynamic ungulate community in Northwestern Canada

Short‐term effect of helicopter‐based capture on movements of a social ungulate

Impact of rewilding, species introductions and climate change on the structure and function of the Yukon boreal forest ecosystem

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