Demographic and behavioural response of woodland caribou to forest harvesting

Abstract

We investigated whether woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) would remain in a 2772 km2 area in eastern Quebec where the forest management plan included the preservation of large forest blocks (35–182 km2) linked with >400 m wide corridors and where cuts were amalgamated in large zones. To evaluate changes in caribou abundance and habitat selection, we conducted five aerial surveys and followed by telemetry 13 to 22 female caribou each year, from March 1998 to March 2005. Caribou numbers declined by 59% between 1999 and 2001 but gradually recovered to initial abundance. Female survival increased from 73.3% in 1999 to 87.3%–93.4% in 2004 and 2005. Caribou selected protected blocks, used corridors in proportion to their availability, and avoided logged areas. They preferred closed conifer stands without terrestrial lichens and open conifer stands with or without terrestrial lichens throughout the study. Open habitats (clearcuts and burns), regenerating sites, mixed and deciduous stands, and water bodies were avoided. The main zones used by caribou gradually shifted towards the southwest of the study area, likely as a result of disturbance and habitat loss due to logging of mature conifers in the east. We conclude that caribou numbers were maintained within the managed area as a result of the presence of protected blocks and uncut continuous forest.

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

“…While the global model used a common set of variables, in most cases the coefficients associated with the model were range specific. Our models provide support for the theory of spatial segregation, whereby caribou avoid areas with high moose density and high predator encounter rates such as deciduous and mixed forests, naturally disturbed areas, and linear features (James et al 2004;Courtois et al 2008;Fortin et al 2008;Bowman et al 2010;Avgar et al 2015). Caribou select areas of "refuge" such as peatlands and conifer forests to forage and minimize predation risk (Rettie and Messier 2000;McLoughlin et al 2010).…”

Influence of post-harvest silviculture on understory vegetation: Implications for forage in a multi-ungulate system

“…For the same region, moose, white-tailed deer and wolf populations were largest, and woodland caribou populations smallest, in forests with a higher deciduous component (Bowman et al, 2010), suggesting a link between the increased prevalence of deciduous cover and increased predator abundances. Woodland caribou have been found to use less young, shrub-rich habitat than what is available to them (Hillis et al, 1998), they also avoid mixed and deciduous stands (Courtois et al, 2008). Conversely, both moose and white-tailed preferentially occupy deciduous forests (Krefting and Phillips, 1970), where higher food availability of forage results in earlier sexual maturity and more frequent multiple births (McNicol and Timmermann, 1981).…”

Potential conflict between future development of natural resources and high-value wildlife habitats in boreal landscapes

“…In addition, habitat alterations are known to disrupt range fidelity (Faille et al 2010) and reduce availability of winter refugia where caribou can segregate from predators and alternative prey (Seip 1992;James et al 2004;Courbin et al 2009). Caribou may be restricted to smaller remaining areas of suitable forest rather than spreading out at low density to avoid predators Courtois et al 2008;Lesmerises et al 2013), or be forced to migrate long distances between late-successional forest blocks across a landscape with high predation risk (Johnson et al 2002). Consequently, increases in predation rates, particularly by wolves (Dussault et al 2012;Leclerc et al 2012aLeclerc et al , 2014, and reductions in survival rates often occur following extensive forest harvesting (Wittmer et al 2007;Faille et al 2010).…”