Spatial Separation of Caribou From Moose and Its Relation to Predation by Wolves

James, Adam R. C.; Boutin, Stan; Hebert, Daryll M.; Rippin, Andrew

doi:10.2193/0022-541x(2004)068[0799:ssocfm]2.0.co;2

Cited by 169 publications

(192 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Increased number of patches of recently logged areas may attract greater number of other ungulate species such as moose, elk and whitetailed deer (Brown et al, 2000a;James et al, 2004) and subsequently, higher densities of predators such as wolves (Bergerud & Elliot, 1986;Rettie & Messier, 1998). Ultimately, increased area logged can lead to range retraction (Bradshaw et al, 1997) as caribou actively avoid disturbance (Cumming & Beange, 1987;Chubbs et al, 1993;Smith et al, 2000;Johnson & Gilligham, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical changes in caribou distribution and land cover in and around Prince Albert National Park: land management implications

Arlt¹,

Manseau²

2011

Ran

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Abstract:In central Saskatchewan, boreal woodland caribou population declines have been documented in the 1940s and again in the 1980s. Although both declines led to a ban in sport hunting, a recovery was only seen in the 1950s and was attributed to wolf control and hunting closure. Recent studies suggest that this time, the population may not be increasing. In order to contribute to the conservation efforts, historical changes in caribou distribution and land cover types in the Prince Albert Greater Ecosystem (PAGE), Saskatchewan, were documented for the period of 1960s to the present. To examine changes in caribou distribution, survey observations, incidental sightings and telemetry data were collated. To quantify landscape changes, land cover maps were created for 1966 and 2006 using current and historic forest resources inventories, fire, logging, and roads data. Results indicate that woodland caribou are still found throughout the study area although their distribution has changed and their use of the National Park is greatly limited. Results of transition prob¬ abilities and landscape composition analyses on the 1966 and 2006 land cover maps revealed an aging landscape for both the National Park and provincial crown land portions of the PAGE. In addition, increased logging and the development of extensive road and trail networks on provincial crown land produced significant landscape fragmentation for woodland caribou and reduced functional attributes of habitat patches. Understanding historical landscape changes will assist with ongoing provincial and federal recovery efforts for boreal caribou, forest management planning activities, and landscape restoration efforts within and beyond the Park boundaries.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical changes in caribou distribution and land cover in and around Prince Albert National Park: land management implications

Arlt¹,

Manseau²

2011

Ran

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“…The apparent competition hypothesis (Bergerud & Elliot, 1986;Seip, 1992)-that links changes in forest age and structure following timber harvest and fire to increases in moose and wolf abundance-is now well accepted in the literature as one of the mechanisms involved in the North American caribou decline (James et al, 2004;Wittmer et al, 2005;Vors & Boyce, 2009). This hypothesis stipulates that caribou populations suffer from increased predation risk when wolf populations are maintained at high levels by alternative prey (Wittmer et al, 2007), a precarious situation for endangered populations (DeCesare et al, 2010).…”

Section: Changes In the Predator -Prey Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The reintroduction of boreal caribou as a conservation strategy: A long-term assessment at the southern range limit

St‐Laurent

Dussault

2012

Ran

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Boreal caribou were extirpated from the Charlevoix region (Québec) in the 1920s because of hunting and poaching. In 1965, the Québec government initiated a caribou reintroduction program in Charlevoix. During the winters of 1966 and 1967, a total of 48 boreal caribou were captured, translocated by plane, and released within enclosures; only their offspring (82 individuals) were released in the wild. Between 1967 and 1980, a wolf control program was applied to support caribou population growth. The caribou population, however, remained relatively stable at 45-55 individuals during this period. During the 1980s, the population grew slowly at a rate of approximately 5% each year to reach a peak of 126 individuals in 1992. At that time, Bergerud & Mercer (1989) reported that the Charlevoix experiment was the only successful attempt at caribou reintroduction in the presence of predators (in North America). Afterwards, the population declined and since then it has been relatively stable at about 80 individuals. Here we reviewed the literature regarding the ecology and population dynamics of the Charlevoix caribou herd since its reintroduction, in an attempt to critically assess the value of reintroduction as a conservation tool for this species. Indeed, the Charlevoix caribou herd is now considered at very high risk of extinction mostly because of its small size, its isolation from other caribou populations, and low recruitment. The Charlevoix region has been heavily impacted by forestry activities since the early 1980s. Recent studies have indicated that these habitat modifications may have benefited populations of wolves and black bears-two predators of caribou-and that caribou range fidelity may have exposed caribou to higher predation risk via maladaptive habitat selection. As females are ageing, and females and calves suffer high predation pressure from wolves and bears respectively, we suggest that the future of this reintroduced herd is in question and that they are facing a high probability of extinction in the near future if further action is not taken.

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“…During the calving season, the migratory ecotypes aggregate on calving grounds away from predator concentrations while sedentary ecotypes space out and use muskegs or islands as safe havens (Bergerud, 1988(Bergerud, , 1996Stuart-Smith et al,, 1997;Harris, 1999;Hummel & Ray, 2008). Thus, knowledge of movement behaviour is valuable to understand the distribution and abundance of caribou populations and the effects of factors such as predation (Bergerud, 1988;Seip, 1992;Stuart Smith et al, 1997;James et al 2004). Woodland caribou range across much of northern Ontario with isolated populations as far south as Lake Superior (Ontario Woodland Recovery Team, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movements of boreal caribou in the James Bay lowlands

Hazell¹,

Taylor²

2011

Ran

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).Abstract: Little is known about the movements and home range of boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in the James Bay lowlands, northern Ontario. Our preliminary study involves the use of GPS collars with Argos satellite system uplink to monitor movements of caribou and 10 animals were collared in December 2004. Animals appeared to have reduced rates of daily movement starting approximately in mid to late December and stretching until late February. Similarly, most animals appeared to have very reduced rates of movement from the beginning of May to the end of June indicating that this is their calving period (includes both parturition as well as the period immediately after parturition). Thus the over-wintering range was assumed to be where the animals were from mid-December to late February and the calving range was defined as the area they were in from the beginning of May to the end of June. Individual home-ranges were typically large, the mean 90% kernel home range for 2004 -2007 was 41 579 km 2 . Over wintering areas and calv¬ ing areas were small when compared to annual home-range size and reflect the reduced rates of movement during these time periods. Female caribou show site fidelity to calving grounds, using the same core areas year after year. However, the same level of site fidelity was not observed in over-wintering areas. The caribou in the James Bay lowlands display behaviours that are characteristic of both the forest-tundra and forest-forest ecotypes which may warrant the reconsidera¬ tion of the validity of proposed ecotypes with respect to protection under species-at-risk legislation.

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Spatial Separation of Caribou From Moose and Its Relation to Predation by Wolves

Cited by 169 publications

References 26 publications

Historical changes in caribou distribution and land cover in and around Prince Albert National Park: land management implications

Historical changes in caribou distribution and land cover in and around Prince Albert National Park: land management implications

The reintroduction of boreal caribou as a conservation strategy: A long-term assessment at the southern range limit

Movements of boreal caribou in the James Bay lowlands

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