REMARKS ON DEVON ISLAND MUSKOXEN

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Author: Harington, C. R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1964
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; Devon Island; muskox; ovibos moschatus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z64-008; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z64-008

Important muskox range on northeastern Devon Island generally lies beneath the 100-ft contour, being limited in area to a coastal strip comprising about 74 square miles. Average carrying capacity of the range over the past half century has probably been one animal per 1.4 square miles, while under nearly optimum conditions it may have approached one animal per 0.74 square miles.Muskoxen of northeastern Devon Island are referred to the subspecies Ovibos moschatus wardi Lydekker on the basis of taxonomic evidence. The post-Wisconsin dispersal pattern postulated for the subspecies in conjunction with recent signs of muskox movement between Ellesmere and Devon Islands tends to support this proposal.