Activity budgets and group size of caribou during spring migration

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Zoology
• Main Authors: Duquette, Laurel S., Klein, David R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1987
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics; caribou
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z87-023; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z87-023

Activity budgets and group size of caribou were described throughout the early spring migration in 1982 and 1983. Pregnant cows were the predominant cohort under observation. Activity budgets and group size of migrating caribou are compared with data from nonmigrating caribou and reindeer to test the hypothesis that the spring migration of pregnant cow caribou will occur with minimal disruption of the normal grazing pattern to ensure maintenance of body condition. The average proportion of time migrating caribou spent feeding, lying, standing, and walking was 61, 28, 1, and 9%, respectively, in 1982 and 64, 24, 1, and 11%, respectively, in 1983. Grazing was consistently the dominant activity throughout migration while lying time was negatively correlated with walking time. Migrating caribou spent more time grazing and walking and less time standing and lying than nonmigrating caribou and reindeer during this season. Discrete caribou groups were difficult to identify because mixing of caribou between groups was common. Groups were identifiable at four study sites and group size ranged from 8 to 393 caribou. At three study sites, caribou were associated with aggregations of 500+ animals. Large social aggregations may be important for stimulating migratory movements through the process of social facilitation.