Demographic and behavioural response of woodland caribou to forest harvesting

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Forest Research
• Main Authors: Courtois, Réhaume, Gingras, André, Fortin, Daniel, Sebbane, Aïssa, Rochette, Bruno, Breton, Laurier
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 2008
• Subjects: Ecology; Forestry; Global and Planetary Change; Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x08-119; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/X08-119; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/X08-119

We investigated whether woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) would remain in a 2772 km 2 area in eastern Quebec where the forest management plan included the preservation of large forest blocks (35–182 km 2 ) 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.