Can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) through harvest?
We analyzed a 51-year time series of harvest data from a small population of wild mountain reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) in southern Norway and examined the relative role of biological and management related processes as drivers of its population dynamics. The population is monitored annu...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z11-123 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/z11-123 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z11-123 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z11-123 2023-12-17T10:49:08+01:00 Can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) through harvest? Strand, O. Nilsen, E.B. Solberg, E.J. Linnell, J.C.D. 2012 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z11-123 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/z11-123 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z11-123 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 90, issue 2, page 163-171 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2012 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z11-123 2023-11-19T13:39:00Z We analyzed a 51-year time series of harvest data from a small population of wild mountain reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) in southern Norway and examined the relative role of biological and management related processes as drivers of its population dynamics. The population is monitored annually to obtain information on population size and structure, and since 1980, managers have attempted to stabilize the population at about 1.1 reindeer/km 2 . The harvest increased at a higher rate than the population size and was thus probably sufficient to not only limit but also regulate population size. Phase plot analyses showed that the population has varied around a density attractor of about 1.0 reindeer/km 2 since 1980 and is therefore close to the targeted population size of 1.1 reindeer/km 2 . However, the annual harvest explained only 49% of the variation in population growth rate (λ) in a linear regression model, despite relatively low variation in population productivity (proportion of calves). Between 1999 and 2006, the population in Forolhogna declined by almost 50% before recovering to its previous size. We suggest that both imprecise population estimates and high harvest effectiveness at reduced population densities contributed to this decline. As such, this study points to some of the obstacles managers are facing when trying to stabilize productive ungulate populations even when they live in closed populations and in stable, predator-free environments. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rangifer tarandus Canadian Science Publishing (via Crossref) Norway Canadian Journal of Zoology 90 2 163 171 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Strand, O. Nilsen, E.B. Solberg, E.J. Linnell, J.C.D. Can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) through harvest? |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
We analyzed a 51-year time series of harvest data from a small population of wild mountain reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus (L., 1758)) in southern Norway and examined the relative role of biological and management related processes as drivers of its population dynamics. The population is monitored annually to obtain information on population size and structure, and since 1980, managers have attempted to stabilize the population at about 1.1 reindeer/km 2 . The harvest increased at a higher rate than the population size and was thus probably sufficient to not only limit but also regulate population size. Phase plot analyses showed that the population has varied around a density attractor of about 1.0 reindeer/km 2 since 1980 and is therefore close to the targeted population size of 1.1 reindeer/km 2 . However, the annual harvest explained only 49% of the variation in population growth rate (λ) in a linear regression model, despite relatively low variation in population productivity (proportion of calves). Between 1999 and 2006, the population in Forolhogna declined by almost 50% before recovering to its previous size. We suggest that both imprecise population estimates and high harvest effectiveness at reduced population densities contributed to this decline. As such, this study points to some of the obstacles managers are facing when trying to stabilize productive ungulate populations even when they live in closed populations and in stable, predator-free environments. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Strand, O. Nilsen, E.B. Solberg, E.J. Linnell, J.C.D. |
author_facet |
Strand, O. Nilsen, E.B. Solberg, E.J. Linnell, J.C.D. |
author_sort |
Strand, O. |
title |
Can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) through harvest? |
title_short |
Can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) through harvest? |
title_full |
Can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) through harvest? |
title_fullStr |
Can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) through harvest? |
title_full_unstemmed |
Can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) through harvest? |
title_sort |
can management regulate the population size of wild reindeer ( rangifer tarandus ) through harvest? |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z11-123 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/full-xml/10.1139/z11-123 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z11-123 |
geographic |
Norway |
geographic_facet |
Norway |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 90, issue 2, page 163-171 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z11-123 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
90 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
163 |
op_container_end_page |
171 |
_version_ |
1785573495534518272 |