Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration
Abstract Animals living in seasonal environments have adopted a wide array of tactics used to deal with seasonal resource scarcity. Many species migrate between habitats to reach areas where food resources are more plentiful as an attempt to address energetic demands through foraging. We assessed th...
Published in: | Journal of Mammalogy |
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2024
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae100 https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/jmammal/gyae100/59066176/gyae100.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/jmammal/gyae100 2024-09-30T14:30:36+00:00 Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration Joly, Kyle Cameron, Matthew D White, Robert G Jacques, Chris National Park Service Alaska Department of Fish and Game 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae100 https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/jmammal/gyae100/59066176/gyae100.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ Journal of Mammalogy ISSN 0022-2372 1545-1542 journal-article 2024 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae100 2024-09-17T04:32:20Z Abstract Animals living in seasonal environments have adopted a wide array of tactics used to deal with seasonal resource scarcity. Many species migrate between habitats to reach areas where food resources are more plentiful as an attempt to address energetic demands through foraging. We assessed the winter behavioral adaptations of Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), a large ungulate inhabiting Arctic and sub-Arctic regions known for seasonal resource scarcity. Movement rates of Caribou are the lowest of the year during winter, revealing 1 mechanism individuals use to reduce energy expenditures. However, migratory individuals moved nearly twice as much as nonmigratory individuals during winter, suggesting that migratory individuals rely more upon income (forage), whereas nonmigratory individuals rely more upon capital (bodily reserves). Lichens are the primary winter forage for large, migratory herds of Caribou, and migratory individuals experienced more than 2.5 times greater lichen cover than nonmigratory individuals. We documented that both groups slowed their movement in areas of greater lichen cover, suggesting increased foraging time in these areas. Movement rates were greater near villages, which may be suggestive of disturbance, but the effect was weak. Overall energy saved by reduced movement rates was modest. However, energy savings were 11% of daily body energy lost or 47% of the demands of early pregnancy, which potentially could affect individual condition and/or fetal growth if not offset by increases in forage intake. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Rangifer tarandus Oxford University Press Arctic Journal of Mammalogy |
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Oxford University Press |
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croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Animals living in seasonal environments have adopted a wide array of tactics used to deal with seasonal resource scarcity. Many species migrate between habitats to reach areas where food resources are more plentiful as an attempt to address energetic demands through foraging. We assessed the winter behavioral adaptations of Caribou (Rangifer tarandus), a large ungulate inhabiting Arctic and sub-Arctic regions known for seasonal resource scarcity. Movement rates of Caribou are the lowest of the year during winter, revealing 1 mechanism individuals use to reduce energy expenditures. However, migratory individuals moved nearly twice as much as nonmigratory individuals during winter, suggesting that migratory individuals rely more upon income (forage), whereas nonmigratory individuals rely more upon capital (bodily reserves). Lichens are the primary winter forage for large, migratory herds of Caribou, and migratory individuals experienced more than 2.5 times greater lichen cover than nonmigratory individuals. We documented that both groups slowed their movement in areas of greater lichen cover, suggesting increased foraging time in these areas. Movement rates were greater near villages, which may be suggestive of disturbance, but the effect was weak. Overall energy saved by reduced movement rates was modest. However, energy savings were 11% of daily body energy lost or 47% of the demands of early pregnancy, which potentially could affect individual condition and/or fetal growth if not offset by increases in forage intake. |
author2 |
Jacques, Chris National Park Service Alaska Department of Fish and Game |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Joly, Kyle Cameron, Matthew D White, Robert G |
spellingShingle |
Joly, Kyle Cameron, Matthew D White, Robert G Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration |
author_facet |
Joly, Kyle Cameron, Matthew D White, Robert G |
author_sort |
Joly, Kyle |
title |
Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration |
title_short |
Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration |
title_full |
Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration |
title_fullStr |
Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration |
title_full_unstemmed |
Behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration |
title_sort |
behavioral adaptation to seasonal resource scarcity by caribou ( rangifer tarandus) and its role in partial migration |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae100 https://academic.oup.com/jmammal/advance-article-pdf/doi/10.1093/jmammal/gyae100/59066176/gyae100.pdf |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Arctic Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
Journal of Mammalogy ISSN 0022-2372 1545-1542 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyae100 |
container_title |
Journal of Mammalogy |
_version_ |
1811635473955684352 |