Calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape
Abstract Logging negatively affects the threatened forest‐dwelling caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) through its positive effects on large predator populations. As recruitment is a key component of caribou population growth rate, we assessed calving rates of females and calf survival rates durin...
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crwiley:10.1002/jwmg.217 2024-10-13T14:06:35+00:00 Calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape Pinard, Véronique Dussault, Christian Ouellet, Jean‐Pierre Fortin, Daniel Courtois, Réhaume 2011 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.217 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjwmg.217 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jwmg.217 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor The Journal of Wildlife Management volume 76, issue 1, page 189-199 ISSN 0022-541X 1937-2817 journal-article 2011 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.217 2024-09-19T04:20:10Z Abstract Logging negatively affects the threatened forest‐dwelling caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) through its positive effects on large predator populations. As recruitment is a key component of caribou population growth rate, we assessed calving rates of females and calf survival rates during the most critical period for calf survival, the calving period. We also identified causes of calf mortality and investigated the influence of predation risk, food availability, and human disturbance on habitat selection of females during the calving period at both the home‐range and forest stand scales. We hypothesized that caribou should display habitat selection patterns to reduce predation risk at both scales. Using telemetry, we followed 22 females and their calves from 2004 to 2007 in a highly managed study area in Québec, Canada. Most females (78.5 ± 0.05 [SE]) gave birth each year, but only 46.3 ± 8.0% of the calves survived during the first 50 days following birth, and 57.3 ± 14.9% of them died from black bear ( Ursus americanus ) predation. At the home‐range scale, caribou selected calving areas located at upper slope positions and avoided high road density areas. Surprisingly, they also selected the forested habitat type having the lowest lateral cover (mixed and deciduous stands) while avoiding the highest cover (regenerating conifer stands). At the forest stand scale, caribou selected areas located at relatively high elevations and with a lower basal area of black spruce trees. The selection of upper slope positions likely favored spatial segregation between calving females and wolves ( Canis lupus ) but not black bear. Our results suggest that calving females used areas from which they could visually detect approaching predators. While wolf avoidance appeared to be effective in a highly managed landscape, caribou did not appear to have adjusted their predator avoidance strategy to the recent increase in black bear abundance, who have benefited from increased food abundance. This situation requires ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus Wiley Online Library Canada The Journal of Wildlife Management 76 1 189 199 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Logging negatively affects the threatened forest‐dwelling caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou ) through its positive effects on large predator populations. As recruitment is a key component of caribou population growth rate, we assessed calving rates of females and calf survival rates during the most critical period for calf survival, the calving period. We also identified causes of calf mortality and investigated the influence of predation risk, food availability, and human disturbance on habitat selection of females during the calving period at both the home‐range and forest stand scales. We hypothesized that caribou should display habitat selection patterns to reduce predation risk at both scales. Using telemetry, we followed 22 females and their calves from 2004 to 2007 in a highly managed study area in Québec, Canada. Most females (78.5 ± 0.05 [SE]) gave birth each year, but only 46.3 ± 8.0% of the calves survived during the first 50 days following birth, and 57.3 ± 14.9% of them died from black bear ( Ursus americanus ) predation. At the home‐range scale, caribou selected calving areas located at upper slope positions and avoided high road density areas. Surprisingly, they also selected the forested habitat type having the lowest lateral cover (mixed and deciduous stands) while avoiding the highest cover (regenerating conifer stands). At the forest stand scale, caribou selected areas located at relatively high elevations and with a lower basal area of black spruce trees. The selection of upper slope positions likely favored spatial segregation between calving females and wolves ( Canis lupus ) but not black bear. Our results suggest that calving females used areas from which they could visually detect approaching predators. While wolf avoidance appeared to be effective in a highly managed landscape, caribou did not appear to have adjusted their predator avoidance strategy to the recent increase in black bear abundance, who have benefited from increased food abundance. This situation requires ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Pinard, Véronique Dussault, Christian Ouellet, Jean‐Pierre Fortin, Daniel Courtois, Réhaume |
spellingShingle |
Pinard, Véronique Dussault, Christian Ouellet, Jean‐Pierre Fortin, Daniel Courtois, Réhaume Calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape |
author_facet |
Pinard, Véronique Dussault, Christian Ouellet, Jean‐Pierre Fortin, Daniel Courtois, Réhaume |
author_sort |
Pinard, Véronique |
title |
Calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape |
title_short |
Calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape |
title_full |
Calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape |
title_fullStr |
Calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape |
title_full_unstemmed |
Calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape |
title_sort |
calving rate, calf survival rate, and habitat selection of forest‐dwelling caribou in a highly managed landscape |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.217 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1002%2Fjwmg.217 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jwmg.217 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus Rangifer tarandus |
op_source |
The Journal of Wildlife Management volume 76, issue 1, page 189-199 ISSN 0022-541X 1937-2817 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.217 |
container_title |
The Journal of Wildlife Management |
container_volume |
76 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
189 |
op_container_end_page |
199 |
_version_ |
1812812780354404352 |