Antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains
The caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Spatsizi Provincial Park, northern British Columbia, seek high south slopes in mountains as calving locations as an antipredator tactic. By being dispersed in heterogeneous and rugged mountains and away from moose (Alces alces), they force wolves (Canis lupus) and...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
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Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
1984
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z84-229 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z84-229 |
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z84-229 2024-10-13T14:01:05+00:00 Antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains Bergerud, A. T. Butler, H. E. Miller, D. R. 1984 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z84-229 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z84-229 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 62, issue 8, page 1566-1575 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1984 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z84-229 2024-09-19T04:09:47Z The caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Spatsizi Provincial Park, northern British Columbia, seek high south slopes in mountains as calving locations as an antipredator tactic. By being dispersed in heterogeneous and rugged mountains and away from moose (Alces alces), they force wolves (Canis lupus) and bears (Ursus arctos) to search large areas, reducing their capture success. By remaining at high elevation for 2–3 weeks in June, females with calves had to forego foraging in plant associations with high phytomass and nutrient concentrations. The antipredator tactic of dispersion in mountains was only relatively successful in 1976 and 1977; 90% of the calves still died prior to 6 months of age, largely from predation. The relatively recent invasion of moose into northern British Columbia in the early 1900's has resulted in more wolves per unit area than formerly and their combined searching has reduced the utility of leaving valley bottoms and being dispersed in mountains as a tactic to increasing the searching effort of predators. Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Ursus arctos Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 62 8 1566 1575 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
The caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in Spatsizi Provincial Park, northern British Columbia, seek high south slopes in mountains as calving locations as an antipredator tactic. By being dispersed in heterogeneous and rugged mountains and away from moose (Alces alces), they force wolves (Canis lupus) and bears (Ursus arctos) to search large areas, reducing their capture success. By remaining at high elevation for 2–3 weeks in June, females with calves had to forego foraging in plant associations with high phytomass and nutrient concentrations. The antipredator tactic of dispersion in mountains was only relatively successful in 1976 and 1977; 90% of the calves still died prior to 6 months of age, largely from predation. The relatively recent invasion of moose into northern British Columbia in the early 1900's has resulted in more wolves per unit area than formerly and their combined searching has reduced the utility of leaving valley bottoms and being dispersed in mountains as a tactic to increasing the searching effort of predators. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bergerud, A. T. Butler, H. E. Miller, D. R. |
spellingShingle |
Bergerud, A. T. Butler, H. E. Miller, D. R. Antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains |
author_facet |
Bergerud, A. T. Butler, H. E. Miller, D. R. |
author_sort |
Bergerud, A. T. |
title |
Antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains |
title_short |
Antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains |
title_full |
Antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains |
title_fullStr |
Antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains |
title_full_unstemmed |
Antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains |
title_sort |
antipredator tactics of calving caribou: dispersion in mountains |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1984 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z84-229 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z84-229 |
genre |
Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Ursus arctos |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Ursus arctos |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 62, issue 8, page 1566-1575 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z84-229 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
62 |
container_issue |
8 |
container_start_page |
1566 |
op_container_end_page |
1575 |
_version_ |
1812819711254069248 |