Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta
Twenty-four woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the mountains and foothills of west central Alberta were radio collared to obtain information on seasonal movements, location and extent of seasonal ranges, rutting and calving areas, and population status. The study was conducted from Dece...
Published in: | Canadian Journal of Zoology |
---|---|
Main Author: | |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1988
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-121 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z88-121 |
id |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z88-121 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z88-121 2024-09-09T20:04:45+00:00 Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta Edmonds, E. Janet 1988 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-121 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z88-121 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 66, issue 4, page 817-826 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 journal-article 1988 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z88-121 2024-06-20T04:11:52Z Twenty-four woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the mountains and foothills of west central Alberta were radio collared to obtain information on seasonal movements, location and extent of seasonal ranges, rutting and calving areas, and population status. The study was conducted from December 1979 to June 1984 (fall composition surveys continued to 1986). Two populations of woodland caribou resided in the foothills winter range: a migratory mountain variety that moved west to the mountains in spring and returned in fall, and a more sedentary woodland variety that remained year round in the forested foothills. Calving and rutting grounds of the two populations were widely separated (minimum of 60 km). The mountain population ranged over a much larger area (11 000 km 2 ) than the woodland population (4000 km 2 ). Woodland caribou were fewer (maximum estimate 50) than the mountain caribou (maximum estimate 200). Population sex–age structure of the mountain caribou population, based on six surveys during the rut (October), averaged 54 males: 100 females: 27 calves (15% calves). Annual minimum adult mortality was 22% for the mountain and woodland populations, and both populations appeared to be declining. Predation, primarily by wolves, was strongly implicated in adult mortality, but causes of calf mortality were not determined. Human-caused mortality was an additional factor. Intensive management is required to ensure the viability of these caribou populations in the face of increasing industrial and recreational development. A short-term wolf reduction program and long-term public education, law enforcement, and habitat protection programs are recommended. Article in Journal/Newspaper Rangifer tarandus Canadian Science Publishing Canadian Journal of Zoology 66 4 817 826 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
description |
Twenty-four woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the mountains and foothills of west central Alberta were radio collared to obtain information on seasonal movements, location and extent of seasonal ranges, rutting and calving areas, and population status. The study was conducted from December 1979 to June 1984 (fall composition surveys continued to 1986). Two populations of woodland caribou resided in the foothills winter range: a migratory mountain variety that moved west to the mountains in spring and returned in fall, and a more sedentary woodland variety that remained year round in the forested foothills. Calving and rutting grounds of the two populations were widely separated (minimum of 60 km). The mountain population ranged over a much larger area (11 000 km 2 ) than the woodland population (4000 km 2 ). Woodland caribou were fewer (maximum estimate 50) than the mountain caribou (maximum estimate 200). Population sex–age structure of the mountain caribou population, based on six surveys during the rut (October), averaged 54 males: 100 females: 27 calves (15% calves). Annual minimum adult mortality was 22% for the mountain and woodland populations, and both populations appeared to be declining. Predation, primarily by wolves, was strongly implicated in adult mortality, but causes of calf mortality were not determined. Human-caused mortality was an additional factor. Intensive management is required to ensure the viability of these caribou populations in the face of increasing industrial and recreational development. A short-term wolf reduction program and long-term public education, law enforcement, and habitat protection programs are recommended. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Edmonds, E. Janet |
spellingShingle |
Edmonds, E. Janet Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta |
author_facet |
Edmonds, E. Janet |
author_sort |
Edmonds, E. Janet |
title |
Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta |
title_short |
Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta |
title_full |
Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta |
title_fullStr |
Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta |
title_full_unstemmed |
Population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central Alberta |
title_sort |
population status, distribution, and movements of woodland caribou in west central alberta |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1988 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z88-121 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z88-121 |
genre |
Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 66, issue 4, page 817-826 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z88-121 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
66 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
817 |
op_container_end_page |
826 |
_version_ |
1809937040885678080 |